One less worthless Criminal inside the Beltway...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...060801444.html
By Joanne Kenen
Reuters
Thursday, June 8, 2006; 6:56 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fallen Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas left the U.S. House of Representatives he once led on Thursday with a ringing defense of conservatism and his no-holds barred brand of partisanship.
"Partisanship ... properly understood is not a symptom of a democracy's weakness but of its health and strength, especially from the perspective of a political conservative," said the former Republican leader, who has been indicted on campaign finance charges in Texas.
"Conservatives, especially, less enamored of government's lust for growth, must remember that our principles must always drive our agenda, and not the other way around."
DeLay excoriated liberal ideology as always wanting more government, more taxes but also said he recognized that liberals too had a "great tradition in this country" and were motivated by patriotism.
In his farewell to the House, DeLay spent more time talking about Washington's monuments to Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson than about social issues like abortion or gun control that he has emphasized in his career.
Elected in 1984, DeLay began as a minority backbencher who was conservative even by the House Republican standards of the time. With the party's House takeover in 1994, he became part of the inner circle and rose to Majority Leader.
After his indictment last September, he at first left his leadership post on a temporary basis and later made it permanent. In April he also announced his resignation from Congress, effective Friday, June 9, as more links emerged between his office and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Two former aides have pleaded guilty to corruption charges.
DeLay has not been charged in the still-unfolding Abramoff investigation and he has repeatedly said the Texas indictment is politically motivated. He said he had served "at all times honorably and honestly" and that he was leaving Congress with few regrets and no doubts.
If he had to do it all over again, he said, "I would fight even harder."
'SPEAR-THROWER'
Most House Republicans attended the speech, applauding and giving him several ovations. Several dozen Democrats were present at the start of the speech, but most walked out during his attack on liberal ideology.
Known as the "Hammer" for his hardball tactics in fund-raising and politics, DeLay made no reference to his nickname but instead proudly described himself as a "spear-thrower" who had fought against just about everybody in the chamber at one time or another.
Despite the walkout, some Democrats joined in three ovations for DeLay -- one honoring the Capitol police force. Two officers were killed when a crazed gunman attacked DeLay's office eight years ago, and officers have guarded lawmakers, staff and tourists during the September 11, 2001 attacks and subsequent scares and evacuations.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said DeLay's legacy was "a culture of corruption." Asked if he had any parting words for DeLay, the number two Democratic leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said: "Good-bye."
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