When I pick'em, I pick'em good

Rep. Christopher Shays of Connecticut was the first Republican to break ranks and call for Tom DeLay to step down as Republican leadership. Shays was the lone Republican I voted for in the last election. I voted for him with great trepidation because of the current direction of the Republican party as a whole, but a vote should be about the person who will hold the office, and not the party. Congressman Shays is for many of the same things I am. I am glad that the Republican I voted for has the courage to be independently minded and not march in lock step with the other minions. Congressman Shays is jeopardizing his standing within his own party, but by taking a stance against DeLay's corruption, he will probably make the party stronger as a whole (much to my chagrin).

Kudos to you Congressman Shays.

Shays Says DeLay Should Step Down
By LOU KESTEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Rep. Christopher Shays said Sunday that fellow Republican Rep. Tom DeLay should step down as House majority leader because his continuing ethics problems are hurting the GOP.

"Tom's conduct is hurting the Republican Party, is hurting this Republican majority and it is hurting any Republican who is up for re-election," Shays told The Associated Press on Sunday.

DeLay, R-Texas, has been dogged in recent months by reports of possible ethics violations. There have been questions about his overseas travel, campaign payments to family members and his connections to lobbyists who are under investigation.

A moderate Republican from Connecticut who has battled with his party's leadership on a number of issues, Shays said efforts by the House GOP members to change ethics rules to protect DeLay only make the party look bad.

"My party is going to have to decide whether we are going to continue to make excuses for Tom to the detriment of Republicans seeking election," Shays said.

Rick Santorum, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, said Sunday that DeLay needs to answer questions about his ethics.

"I think he has to come forward and lay out what he did and why he did it and let the people then judge for themselves," Santorum told ABC's "This Week." "But from everything I've heard, again, from the comments and responding to those, is everything he's done was according to the law.
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