My problem with DeLay

If you read the above linked Washington Post article you can clearly see why someone like me who already believes our government is not as our Founding Fathers created it to be would feel that DeLay and those like him have seriously damaged our balance of power.

His indictment won't change what has happened, whether he is convicted or not, the serious impact he has made will continue if we don't do something about it. I highly recommend reading the article but some key points:

Proteges of the wounded Texan still hold virtually every position of influence in the House, including the office of speaker. DeLay's former staff members are securely in the lobbying offices for many of the largest corporations and business advocacy groups.

But even more than people, DeLay's lasting influence is an ethos. He stood for a view of Washington as a battlefield on which two sides struggle relentlessly, moderates and voices of compromise are pushed to the margins, and the winners presume they have earned the right to punish dissenters and reward their own side with financial and policy favors.

His take-no-prisoners style of fundraising -- in which the classic unstated bargain of access for contributions is made explicitly and without apology -- has been adopted by both parties in Congress, according to lawmakers, lobbyists and congressional scholars.

Most of all, DeLay stood for a blurring of the line between lawmakers and lobbyists so that lobbyists are now considered partners of politicians and not merely pleaders -- especially if they once worked for Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, anyone looking for signs of the ongoing influence of DeLay Inc. will find another one today. It's the starting date for Time Warner Inc.'s new vice president for global public policy. The new executive is Tim Berry, former chief of staff to Tom DeLay.

If we have any hope of returning the balance of power to us rather than to career politicans who do not have our best interests at heart? We have to act soon, before it is too late. If there was ever a reason to strongly promote voter inflicted term limits? This should convince everyone, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, all of us.