Tom "The Hammer" DeLay, commenting on the opportunities for the Republicans this Congress in the Financial Times:

From the Washington Post:

"The Bush/DeLay Social Security Privatization Plan."

That's what their Social Security proposal ought to be called. Majority Leader Tom DeLay had been backing away from taking this on a few weeks ago. Now it appears he thinks, based on polling, that they should move ahead. Okay, let's go.

When I visited Houston recently, the Perry Homes signs were everywhere. Bob Perry runs Perry Homes, which is among the state's largest homebuilders at $420 million in revenues in 2002. Perry is also widely known as the man who funded the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads that are credited in some quarters with thwarting John Kerry's presidential bid.

The AP runs a profile of Travis County DA Ronnie Earle's fight, including this quote from Earle himself:

"I think that democracy is at stake," said the 62-year-old Earle, who has been D.A. since 1977. "The issue is whether large corporate interests can buy more democracy. If large monied interests can control elections, then the principle of `one person, one vote' is meaningless."

Couldn't agree more.

This is the Texas State Capitol building, otherwise known as the scene of the crime.

Yesterday I met with Ginny Goldman, the lead organizer for ACORN in Houston. ACORN is an organization of low and middle income families working for economic justice in 70 cities around the country. In Houston, ACORN has taken on the issue of affordable housing. ACORN is also known for getting their members active in political campaigns and in running for office, and that's why politicians pay attention to ACORN, whether they want to or not.

The Los Angeles Times released a story today entitled "Deals Reached in Texas Political Donation Inquiry." The Times reports that two of the companies accused of making the illegal political contributions, Sears Roebuck, Co. and DCS Inc., have "flipped" and are now cooperating with Travis County investigators. Both companies said that:

Via Jonathan Salant of Bloomberg (thanks to a loyal reader for the tip), from a story about Inaugural parties:

Below Rick posted my oped from the Houston Chronicle in which I listed three reasons why DeLay retracted the DeLay Rule.

Let's not be Pollyannas. The Chron, on the editorial page, gave a fourth reason: