Tom DeLay: D.C.'s Newest Liberal

What a week for surprises. First, we get Bush taking responsibility for the Federal Government's bungled response to Katrina. Now, we get this from Tom DeLay:

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said yesterday that Republicans have done so well in cutting spending that he declared an "ongoing victory," and said there is simply no fat left to cut in the federal budget.

Mr. DeLay was defending Republicans' choice to borrow money and add to this year's expected $331 billion deficit to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. Some Republicans have said Congress should make cuts in other areas, but Mr. DeLay said that doesn't seem possible.

"My answer to those that want to offset the spending is sure, bring me the offsets, I'll be glad to do it. But nobody has been able to come up with any yet," the Texas Republican told reporters at his weekly briefing.

Asked if that meant the government was running at peak efficiency, Mr. DeLay said, "Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we've pared it down pretty good."

And no, that was not an excerpt from an article in The Onion. It is from the right-winged Washington Times, and I'm pretty sure it is not an attempt at satire.

I'm curious, Tom -- does this mean that you no longer support repeal of the estate tax or that you no longer advocate other tax cuts for the extremely wealthy? I mean, if there is no longer any fat to cut from the federal budget -- and taxpayers are going to have to pay $150 billion or so for the Katrina recovery -- then we can't afford more tax cuts, right? Have you told Grover Norquist about this?

UPDATE: DeLay becoming a liberal should be added to Billmon's List:



Nice work as usual, Whiskey Bar.