Ex-Rep. Lampson to challenge DeLay

[IDemo]

Conservative Democrat represented adjacent Texas district

HOUSTON - Former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson said Monday that he has filed paperwork to run for the congressional seat held by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Lampson, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress, made his announcement at a restaurant before about 100 supporters. He filed the paperwork Friday in Austin.

DeLay, a Republican, is seeking a 12th term in his suburban Houston district.

Lampson, a conservative Democrat, represented an adjacent district for eight years until redistricting that DeLay engineered cost him enough Democratic votes that he lost to U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Houston, in 2004.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10685880/from/RS.2/

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. It's gonna be kinda hard to run a campaign from prison, Tom

He is in such denial it is sad.

[Flabbergasted]

2. Unfortuantely I think hes going to et aquited

With a little slap on the wrist. But he may still end of losing the election.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I don't think so at all

But even if he does get acquitted, he is up to his eyeballs in the Abramhoff scandal. That will bring him down.

[Flabbergasted]

7. Yeah good point,

But the redistricting won't send him to jail all by itself

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. But Abramhoff will

Bye bye Tommie!!

He's toast. Let's suppose he isn't convicted of anything. Polls in his congressional district already show his constituents are over him and want a new Congressman. I would be stunned if he won his election in November.

[BikeWriter]

3. Nick Lampson is a really cool person. I've met him several times.

[UTUSN]

5. Let's GOOOOooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 in the HUGH!!!!11 way1!!!!! n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. You are series, aren't you??? LOL

[msongs]

6. so what does "conservative democrat" mean?

that in New York he would be considered a republican?

Msongs
www.msongs.com/clark2008.htm

[dogfacedboy]

15. Probably fiscally conservative. That is not a bad thing. n/t

[last_texas_dem]

17. He's not bad on the issues

I interned in his local office when I was in college and met him a couple of times. I consider him more of a moderate Dem than a conservative one. IIRC, he usually scored in the seventies or so on the ADA ratings when he was a U.S. Rep, which really is pretty good for an East Texas Democrat. His former district was more of a low-income, socially conservative, traditionally Democratic district, with a high minority population, so he was something of a fiscally conservative populist and moderate on a few hot-button social issues. (Despite his Catholicism, though, he is pro-choice.) He may have to move a bit to the right to capture Delay's more right-wing district, but a portion of it is actually Lampson's old district, which should help him.

[lastliberalintexas]

20. As last texas dem said, he's really more a moderate

He voted consistently in favor of choice (with the exception of the so-called PBA ban) even though the Catholic Church has threatened him with excommunication. He's very good on labor and economic issues, as well as on racial issues, and supports gun rights/moderate gun control. He was bad on Iraq war issues, and only ok on environmental issues (but what can you expect when your former district was known as Cancer Alley and heavily dependent on the petro chemical industry for jobs?).

Over all, he's a solid populist Dem who can be counted on when it comes to most issues. And he's a thousand times better than Tom Delay. :)

[ellenfl]

8. i have already donated to his campaign . . . twice!

gotta get rid of the hammer!

ellen fl

[ShockediSay]

9. The New Dem Dean Machine should at least give Lampson

seed money.

Anyway, who needs a crooked dealer like Abramoff or DeLay to represent the democracy of the United States, IMHO.

[madfloridian]

13. Make that the Rahm DCCC machine....

That is the group that gives seed money and picks the candidate. They asked Richard Morrison who ran before as a Dean Dozen to drop out for Lampson.Richard did quite well against DeLay, made him vulnerable.
So he said he wouldn't drop out, but he did anyway after further talks with the DCCC...I gather they are convincing.

Richard still sends out emails for various candidates. He is very gracious.

So please be sure to ask the right group about backing Lampson. I am sure he will do well, with all the party money behind him.

[existentialist]

10. Interestingly

I read yesterday, on FreeRepublic.com of all places, that DeLay is also facing a challenge in the Republican primary. The article supported the challenger on the basis that they didn't think Tom DeLay could win in the general election because of all his legal difficulties.

The challenger was quoted talking about DeLay's retaliatory tactics, and how he was sure that he would soon be the subject of vicious attacks. Republicans are now admitting among themselves that vicious retaliatory tactics are SOP for the present Republican leadership.

That cannot be bad, can it?

[IDemo]

14. The source of my sig-line may impact this race

Ronnie Earl. No, not the guitarist, the prosecutor

[Vidar]

16. Best wishes to Lampson.

[Josh]

18. Why doesn't Martin Frost get in the race?

He was a good guy to have in Congress from Texas, and he also got screwed by redistricting.

[greiner3]

19. Hell;

It could be Looserman running for all I care. The symbolism is great from where I sit!