DeLay's 'Salute': A Wave Goodbye?

As if things weren't bad enough for Rep. Tom DeLay: Now his friends are planning a tribute in his honor.

Not to be cynical about this, but . . . . you know you're in trouble in Washington when this happens.

If form holds, the salute to DeLay, which is scheduled for May 12 at the Capital Hilton, will feature a series of speeches testifying to his greatness and scores of hushed table conversations about whether the Texas Republican will survive as House majority leader and, more important, who might succeed him if he doesn't.

Many politicians are subjected to a tribute during their careers. They are feted, in many cases, when they are at the pinnacle of their powers, or just before they (voluntarily) leave office.

But tributes can also be a mark of peril.

In most cases, however, damaged politicians are saluted after their fate has been determined.

[Paul Weyrich, one of the host committee members for the DeLay dinner, say] that there had been plans to salute DeLay "well before all of the troubles came along." He acknowledges that the "troubles" might have hastened things.

"We want to make it clear that we don't leave our wounded lying on the battlefield," Weyrich says.

(5-2-05, The Washington Post.)