Tom Delay, pressured to step down from his majority leadership position in September, was temporarily replaced by Roy Blunt of Missouri; Blunt is now considered a top prospect for the permanent position when House elections take place.

Delay was forced to cede his position due to ethical lapses, which have resulted in an indictment and a widening investigation. The call in Washington right now is for a higher level of ethical behavior.

So, can someone explain how Blunt becomes a leading candidate for Majority leadership? This is the same person who was not only cheating on his wife with a lobbyist (whom he subsequently married after divorcing his wife), but tried unsuccessfully to slip a measure into the 2002 Homeland Security bill that would have benefitted the company she lobbied for, Philip Morris.

Maybe, just maybe, they could try to find someone who actually has a record untainted by any hint of scandal. It would be refreshing.

Maybe, just maybe, they could try to find someone who actually has a record untainted by any hint of scandal. It would be refreshing.

I think thats the point...there is no one who hasn't done something down the line that someone will turn a mole hill into a mountain.

With respect to Ibudin, I think he has the cause and effect somewhat backwards. The people who are selected for Congressional leadership positions are naturally the dirtiest because the same behaviors (tendency for backroom collusion, ethical flexibility, aggressive personal networking, etc) that allow and encourage conveniently beneficial economic transactions also further political careers. So while you could find a Congressman who was straight arrow, he'd probably be a 1-3 termer with no aspirations to do more than his job.

I think you are both correct. The days of lofty goals such as "making a difference", and "I want to help better America" are over. Now all politicians want to better America through bettering their bottom line. I admit to being ultra conservative but I also freely admit current politics is corrupt by nature first and formost. Pick your poison and drink up.

The drive isn't so much to "better America" and all that Osg said, but to get re-elected, to keep the party in power, and to do and say what it takes to achieve those objectives. Blunt is a leading candidate, but he's in the DeLay mold, and there are at least a couple other coalitions that would like to drive him out as well: the few moderates and those who cater more to the far right religious base. No idea who will come out top as things stand.

This is why the Dems make such an idol out of Barack Obama. The way people write about him (esp. in Chicago papers) you'd think he helped stamp out Jim Crowe laws or something.

This is why the Dems make such an idol out of Barack Obama. The way people write about him (esp. in Chicago papers) you'd think he helped stamp out Jim Crowe laws or something.

A lot of us viewed John McCain the same way, and still do for many.

There are still many good people in both parties, but it seems to be getting more and more frustrating for them as well. Tim Penny ended up quitting as much because of the campaign financing and lobby monies as anything else. A lot of us in Minnesota were looking at him as being a potential power player as he matured in Congress, but it got to him.

And on the Democratic side, I did like Paul Wellstone for his character and principles, regardless of his way to the edge leftist thinking at times. He provided a good balance to the Tom Delays, who did not want to budge any more than he.

There are too few any more that can be looked to as inspiring for the next generation of potential politicians.