The DeLay story struck a nerve with people all across the United States because Tom DeLay put a face to what Walt Whitman called "the never-ending audacity of elected persons." Suddenly, they could see corruption up close.
I think that people need to have the courage of their convictions and not be trying to fool people into thinking that they've changed overnight.
I guess what bothers me so much about what I now see going on in both Washington and in Texas is an effort to keep people from finding out about the mistakes of lawmakers and then when they're uncovered, an effort to fool people and pretend there was nothing wrong.
The American people expect public servants to be able to police themselves. But instead of designing a system to enforce ethical conduct, Tom Delay and his cohorts have implemented a self protection system. Obviously, it wasn't good for democracy.
The American people do not begrudge anyone his or her power until they start abusing it.
Some people have an ongoing poker game. We had an ongoing Twister game.
So many people are accustomed to written information that you really have to have a few more bells and whistles in this day and age.
We've been handed an incredible opportunity and the trick will be getting people to recognize that fact.