When the Wall Street Journal editorial page gives prime real estate to a piece (subscription only) about Tom DeLay's serious legal problems, you know The Hammer's problems are, well, serious.

Today's column by Jonathan Gurwitz of the San Antonio Express-News, headlined "Tom DeLay's Woes Won't End in Texas," says the money-laundering case underway in Austin is the least of DeLay's worries.

"The far graver threat to Mr. DeLay's political future is inside the Beltway, with the escalating scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

"Mr. DeLay's ties to Mr. Abramoff are numerous. Some expenses associated with a political junket and golfing trip to the United Kingdom in 2000 showed up on Mr. Abramoff's credit card. Mr. DeLay made frequent use of Mr. Abramoff's skybox at the MCI Center. Christine DeLay, the congressman's wife, worked for a lobbying firm that received referrals from Mr. Abramoff. These only scratch the surface of a relationship between Mr. Abramoff, Mr. DeLay, and Mr. DeLay's office that stretches back a decade and involves some of the lobbyist's most noxious efforts.

"It is the Michael Scanlon connection, however, that may prove to be the most damaging to Mr. DeLay and others on Capitol Hill. Mr. Scanlon was Mr. DeLay's press secretary who went on to become a partner of Mr. Abramoff. Last month he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe public officials and is now cooperating in the broadening bribery and corruption probe.

"The gravity of events in Washington is a world away from the ethics antics in Austin. A former aide has turned star government witness. Congressional Republicans (those not implicated in the Abramoff scandal) are becoming increasingly inhospitable to Mr. DeLay's leadership. For all his grandiose faults, [Texas prosecutor] Ronnie Earle may be the best political friend Tom DeLay has right now."

Comments

[John Sterling]

Ed, no need to resort to reading the tea leaves to predict Delay's legal prospects. Go straight to the experts. http://www.intrade.com/ The contract that Delay will be convicted of Money Laundering has consistently traded for 20 cents on the dollar. It's no picnic for Delay, but a criminal conviction is decidedly unlikely.

[profbacon]

DeLay is done for one simple reason. He stepped down. He got to the top by being the alpha dog, he willingly stepped down to omega dog. You think that the other dogs in the Republican pack will simply back down? He will have to fight every single one to retake supremecy. The modern Republican Party is a pack of feral junkyard dogs. The lot of mangy curs need to be put down, `metaphoricly of course.`

[Ed Cone]

Uh, JS -- did you bother to read the post? The money laundering thing isn't the big problem for DeLay -- it's the looming Abramoff scandal. Pay attention, please, this will be on the test.

[Cy Guy]

Let's not forget that there is more than one revolving door between Abramoff's staff and the corridors of GOP power (via The Left Coaster):

"Rove’s former personal assistant, Susan B. Ralston -- who was also a special assistant to President Bush -- testified in August about why Cooper’s call to Rove was not logged."
...
Ralston, who was once Jack Abramoff's personal secretary, has come a long way.

[Sally]

Add another DeLay outrage: the blatantly illegal Texas redistricting plan.

[yesh]

Gotta admit to a little disappointment when it dawned we weren't talking about Friedman, here. "Goodbye Toms" would have been best.

[yesh]

Uh, to make the previous post sensible, you should know that "Goodbye Tom" was the title from Atrios' link to Ed.

[paul]

Yesh: I followed the same link for the same reason, and felt the same emotion -- disappointment.

[paul]

Delay or Friedman, I'm happy to see the back of either one of them.

[0551]

Um, John Sterling. The intrade contract you cite expires on Dec. 31. Sure, he's not likely to be convicted until next year. But...