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.

LA Times: Texas GOP Trying to Gut Ethics Inquiry, Critics Say

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.

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

Newsweek published an article entitled "DeLay: More Cash—And More Questions." It seems that DeLay, in addition to cramming his war chests full of cash, has been filling his legal defense fund with "donations" from lobbyists (which, according to Public Citizen, is another violation of the House ethics rules but DeLay's office has already promised to return those).

Wow. Read the Fort Bend Star's Bev's Burner column (thanks to Offthekuff). The whole thing.

It was almost impossible to choose just one (I liked the ending "Although I am a Republican precinct chair, I am reminded of what John F. Kennedy said many years ago: 'Sometimes party loyalty requires too much.'"), but here's a choice paragraph:

Daily DeLay T-Minus 14 Days and Counting
DeLay strong-armed PACs and special interest lobbyists

“If you want to play in our revolution, you have to live by our rules,” DeLay tells lobbyists. He has two lists of the 400 largest PACs, those who he deems friendly and those he deems unfriendly. “We’re just following the old adage of punish your enemies and reward your friends,” DeLay says.