Musafir's Musings

*It took time but his transgressions finally caught up with The Hammer aka The Exterminator. The Republicans issued the expected vituperations against Travis County D.A. Ronnie Earle for indicting Mr. DeLay. Regardless of how it ends, the former speaker of the House will be paddling in the legal swamp for some time. No one deserves it more.

In the Senate, Bill Frist, the majority leader, has problems of his own. Frist, who made no secret of his intentions to be a contender in 2008 presidential race, has to clear his name from being involved in questionable stock transactions.

Bad news for El Jefe ? Yes and no. While Republicans in Congress, weakened by the scandals, might not be very effective in backing the president's agenda, the scandals divert attention from his own failures and dwindling support on the war. Headlines that move the spotlight from the lack of response when Katrina struck, reconstruction projects with the usual suspects raking money hands down, the mounting death toll in Iraq, and the rising energy costs, are probably received with a sigh of relief by the White House. They provide distraction, albeit for a short duration.