I just had ten minutes with former GOP member of Congress Joe Scarborough on his radio show. While he agreed DeLay has gone too far -- citing the firing of two members of the Ethics Committee, Reps. Joel Hefley (R-CO) and Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) -- Joe basically stuck with the "everyone's doing it" defense.

From Congress Daily:

AP: Tom DeLay Denies Any Wrong-Doing

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay strongly denied wrongdoing Tuesday in connection with two overseas trips financed by outside organizations, and said he is eager to discuss the facts with leaders of the House ethics committee.

"I feel confident I've done nothing wrong," the Texas Republican said as fellow lawmakers and aides sought to assess the impact of fresh controversy on the party in general.

An editorial from the Austin American-Statesman hit the nail (or the Hammer) on the head. The last four paragraphs are exactly right:

How long the GOP will put up with DeLay's power plays and ethical lapses is a matter for speculation. But some Republicans already are acknowledging that DeLay's position is weakening.

From Mike Allen from the Washington Post:

DeLay Ethics Violations Now a Cause of GOP Concern

(Nobody is on top of the myriad of stories about DeLay's corrpution like Mike Allen.)

Few few paragraphs sum it up well:

2 Political Junkies write up GOP Pennsylvania Rep. Melissa Hart's DeLay problems.

The House Ethics Committee won't be investigating any of the new allegations surfaced in the nation's newspapers this regarding Tom DeLay and other members any time soon...

Congressman Charlie Bass (R-NH) and Congressman Jeb Bradley (R-NH) should take special note of the ending to this editorial from today's Keene Sentinel:

What? Ethics?

Common Cause is urging people to lobby the House Ethics Committee to investigate the lastest DeLay scandal. Allegedly, DeLay received travel expenses from a paid lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, who has been accused of bilking tens of millions of dollars from six Native American tribes.

The transcript of tonight's show on 60 Minutes, from CBS's website. After it's over, post a comment with what you thought...