All the links are below the fold, in case you really don't care.

Capitol Hill's DeLay Era Ends -- or at Least Stalls

The indictment yesterday of Tom DeLay ended -- at least for now -- the reign of the most powerful leader the House of Representatives has seen in decades.

We assume, of course, he won't be working things behind the scenes. 

Attempt to Pick Successor Is Foiled
Blunt Temporarily Takes Reins as Conservatives Reject Dreier
What he and Hastert wanted was a timeserver, someone to hold the job but with no ambitions to stay in it. And they had someone in mind. This week, an aide to the speaker approached Rep. David Dreier about his role in a post-DeLay caucus. Dreier, a congenial Californian who has loyally served the GOP leadership as Rules Committee chairman, expressed interest in helping Hastert.

There was one big problem: When DeLay's indictment was unsealed yesterday, conservatives in the GOP caucus immediately erupted in anger over rumors that the selection of Dreier, whom they regard as too moderate, was being presented as a fait accompli .

Oooooh. Ambition rears its ugly head. Maybe he won't be working things behind the scenes.

$190,000 check is at center of case

WASHINGTON -- Tom DeLay's political committee faced a problem. The Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, whose mission was designed to put the state Legislature under GOP control, was getting a lot of money from corporate donors. But under Texas law, the corporate cash could not go to local candidates for state offices.

...The indictment says the DeLay associates in effect laundered the contributions through the Republican National State Election Committee, which gave it to candidates whom DeLay's political action committee supported for the Texas House of Representatives -- thus avoiding a state ban on corporate contributions to local candidates.

I don't think DeLay denied doing it, I thinks he says what he did isn't illegal. I suspect saying it isn't unprecedented would be more accurate. It may all turn out like that ethics thing earlier this year, where no one did anything and everyone promised not to do it again.

While instilling fear in colleagues, he rewards loyalty
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff  |  September 29, 2005

WASHINGTON -- In the bitterly partisan Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike talk about Representative Tom DeLay with the awe and fear usually accorded to authoritarian leaders or kings: Defy him, and you fight your legislative and campaign battles alone.

But those loyal to the majority leader were well taken care of; they were given everything from plum committee assignments to help in re-election campaigns.

I've always wonder just how it is that he can threaten other elected officials. What the actual root of his influence is.