If we can beat mob, we can fight DeLay-style politics

Experience in Las Vegas similar to D.C. corruption
Jan. 12, 2006, 8:39PM

By SEN. HARRY REID

In 1977, I was appointed chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. It was a difficult time for the gaming industry and Las Vegas, which were being overrun by organized crime. To that point in my life, I had served in the Nevada Assembly and even as lieutenant governor, but nothing prepared me for my fight with the mob.

Over the next few years, there would be threats on my life, bribes, FBI stings and even a car bomb placed in my family's station wagon. It was a terrifying experience, but at the end of the day, we cleaned up Las Vegas and ushered in a new era of responsibility.

My term on the gaming commission came to an end in 1981, and when it did, I thought I had seen such corruption for the last time. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. It is not quite the mafia of Las Vegas in the 1970s, but what is happening today in Washington is every bit as corrupt and the consequences for our country have been severe.

Our nation's capital has been overrun by organized crime — Tom DeLay-style.

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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/3584174.html
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Way to go Harry. Since Sen Reid took over the reins of the Democratic party, he has brought it back from the dead and pumped life back into it. Harry doesn't back down from a challenge and has on a number of occasions put Sen Frist in his place. Now Harry has come out swinging against Delay and "The Hammer" has no-one to turn to for help on this. All his friends have abandoned him and since Delay was just a bully in the House he is on his own and won't fight by himself. Delay will whine to the media and play the victim, he will cry that everyone is picking on him and that its not fair. This is going to be fun to watch the downfall of one of the most corrupt individuals in Washington since Nixon. I would love to see Delay behind bars by the end of the year but him losing his re-election will be enough to make my day.

Sen Reid has already destroyed Sen Frist and his chances for any presidental nomination, now he is over picking House members off one by one. I admit both Pelosi and Reid don't seem like ideal party leaders but once you see them in action, your opinion changes. Reid has been on a Red State tour and has done a great job and hopefully he has converted some repubs over to our side and shown them the light.