who needs whom?

I read the other day that Bush was going to show his support for ethically-challenged House Majority Leader Tom DeLay by giving him a free ride on Air Force One to Texas. That way, the Bugman won't have to hitch a ride from some lobbyist or corporation that he won't report or payback. Of course, the rest of use these things called commercial airlines, but never mind.

But the real question here is, why is Bush doing this, and why is DeLay accepting it? With a 48% approval ratting (with negatives in every major category except terrorism at 56%) Bush isn't quite the guy you want to associate yourself with if you are in a more moderate district where you only won in Texas by 5 points to some unknown guy supported by Howard Dean and liberal bloggers. On Bush's side, you are freely associating yourself with a guy that is a more blunt version of the criticisms against you-- a corporate/religious right shill who panders to both for money and power-- only he has gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Does Bush really need Tom DeLay's support and power among House Republicans that badly to pass his Social Security Privatization Plan? If so, he is in way worse shape than I thought since most House Republicans are basically GOP robots. Plus, the rules are stacked in the President's favor in the House and against him in the Senate. Bush extended his fake town hall meeting tour despite its resounding failure. Have the wheels finally come off the wagon over there at 1600 Penn. Ave?

As for DeLay, I guess Bush is still more popular down in his "home" state of Texas than elsewhere and even in this swingable district. Plus, maybe he is just plain old desperate since donations to DeLay's legal defense fund have fallen sharply in the last three months.

Records filed 4/25 showed DeLay raised $48K in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $254K in the first quarter of last year. One constant: donations from his fellow House GOPers. House GOPers gave $30K in Q1. The "largest donor" was Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) and his PAC, "each donating the maximum" of $5K according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Meanwhile the DCCC strong-armed last year's 45% "nobody" challenger to DeLay (Richard Morrison) out of the race and place in 100-mi carpetbagger ex-Rep. Nick Lampoon (no Chevy Chase jokes please). True to form, Roll Call says Lampson "will hold his first fundraiser" in DC on Thursday. On the other end of the political spectrum, Republican Michael Fjetland has challenged DeLay in two of the three primaries but unlike before, Fox News reports that "some Republicans are now urging him to run."

Meanwhile, the GOP in New York are so desperate they are asking ex-Massachusetts Governor (who lost a Senate Bid to Kerry in 1996) William Weld to run for Governor of their state. And it sounds like Weld is warming to the idea "Eliot [Spitzer, NY AG and Democratic Candidate for Governor]'s making his name the same way I made mine, and he would be tough to beat. But I think I could beat him, yes, it's possible."

In other Texas news, Country Musician/Author/Comedian/TX Governor candidate Kinky Friedman (I) "plans to team with" ex-MN Gov. Jesse Ventura (I) manager/ex-MN Sen. Dean Barkley (I). We might have two firsts, a governor of two states, and an ex-senator running a governor’s race. Any political trivia experts know if either has been done before?