Delay's Legacy
I admire Tom Delay's single minded devotion to his cause – promoting the interests of his friends and increasing the influence of religion on politics. There is little question that he was effective. But to me his primary legacy is his devotion to the triumph of partisanship over patriotism. He helps to define Centrism by manifesting its opposite:
The escalation of earmarks which are essentially favors for friends.
The escalation of behind the scenes manipulation: K Street
The escalation of religion in political discourse. Not morality or fairness or mutual respect but Religion: My God can beat up your God.
He symbolized for me the worst of the modern Republican Party: Survival of the fittest.
If you can't join 'em...beat 'em.
The escalation of earmarks which are essentially favors for friends.
The escalation of behind the scenes manipulation: K Street
The escalation of religion in political discourse. Not morality or fairness or mutual respect but Religion: My God can beat up your God.
He symbolized for me the worst of the modern Republican Party: Survival of the fittest.
If you can't join 'em...beat 'em.
posted by Paul Silver at 10:02 AM
