GOP Lobbyists Plan Show of Support for DeLay, from Saturday's Washington Post.

They really don't care what it look like do they?

From the story:

Through the first three quarters of the year, indicted former Majority Leader Tom DeLay led all House members in the amount of PAC money he took, according to this analysis (pdf) from the Federal Elections Commission. He raised $920,207 from PACs.

Have you received your invitation yet for the fundraiser that Vice President Dick Cheney is attending to raise money for embattled Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay?

No?

Well, apparently, according to the Houston Chronicle, the whole thing is very "hush-hush." Cheney's spokeswoman says it's being kept under wraps because of "security concerns."

This is interesting.

Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA) has been tapped to head the subcommittee to investigate Tom DeLay, and his travel on the dime of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But Hart held a fundraiser last election cycle at Signatures, the restaurant Abramoff runs in Washington. She paid $1,587 on 9/23/03 for "catering costs" according to FEC record.

Impartial my ---.

(Thanks to a Daily DeLay reader for the tip.)

Explosive.

From Newsweek:

Lots of news coverage on our TV spots and CAF's spots. Post items I missed in the comments.

This is how he tries to keep them loyal.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) will receive an overwhelming outpouring of support — in cold, hard cash — from his fellow GOP lawmakers at tonight’s Retain Our Majority Program (ROMP) fundraiser.

DeLay has raked in more than $1.5 million from his fellow lawmakers and will funnel that money to the 10 most vulnerable colleagues, as identified by House leadership.

Jill Zuckman of the Chicago Tribune identifies the trouble territory for DeLay and the Republicans:

A groundswell of criticism generated by alleged ethical lapses concerning House Majority Leader Tom Delay is forcing the Texas lawmaker to seek support from GOP colleagues and is threatening to harm the Republican legislative agenda on Capitol Hill.

From the New York Times:

Documents subpoenaed from an indicted fund-raiser for Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, suggest that Mr. DeLay was more actively involved than previously known in gathering corporate donations for a political committee that is the focus of a grand-jury investigation in Texas, his home state.

Public Citizen's press release reports DeLay's legal defense fund at $999,221 since it was founded in 2000. If only he hadn't had to return those donations from lobbyists earlier in the year he would have crossed a million bucks.

A closer look at the numbers shows a quickening pace. Public Citizen reports that DeLay's fund raised $439,550 in 2004, 44% of the total its raised since 2000.