Demagogue

David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union has posted a letter on his group's website that suggests that Congressional Republicans are either aimless or unprincipled, or both. ACU's Keene essentially admits that GOP House members are incapable of advancing a conservative agenda without Tom DeLay's ever watchful presence.

(I don't necessarily disagree with that, but I'm surprised at Keene's candor.) The ACU head writes:

The constant attacks on House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's character and ethics are an organized liberal campaign to demonize the Texas Republican ...

Take note of that "demonize" reference, Zoe. It's yet another sign that conservatives are suddenly offended by demonization (except for when the object is Bill or Hillary Clinton ... the Florida judge in the Schiavo case ...)

And how dare Keene accuse liberals of running an "organized" campaign? Liberals haven't done anything in an organized fashion since they torpedoed Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination 18 years ago.

Finally, here's the part in which Keene warns his fellow Birchophiles that the GOP's plans to remake America into an "ownership society" are seriously screwed unless the Hammer remains in power:

... Conservatives need to understand just how important DeLay is to achieving results in Congress and what his removal would mean ... Without his leadership, persuasive ability and tough-minded vote-counting ability, House Republicans would be hard pressed to win important votes.

Of course, in November '03, DeLay and his lieutenants felt they needed more time to apply their "persuasive ability." So the GOP leadership violated longstanding House rules by extending the roll call on the Medicare prescription drug bill nearly 3 hours. It was the longest period of time in the history of electronic voting in the U.S. House.

But the most interesting part of Keene's letter comes after the text. It's the part that demonstrates just how incestuous the relationship is between Congressional leaders like DeLay and top-dollar lobbyists like Jack Abramoff .... and David Keene.

Right below the text of Keene's letter is this line:

David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, is a managing associate with Carmen Group, a D.C.-based governmental-affairs firm (carmengrouplobbying.com)