Republicans lost 2006 when they caved and allowed Tom DeLay to resign.
Tom Delay resigned because his fight with Travis County DA Ronnie Earle would have bankrupted him. Some facts on the "case" on Mr. Delay.
(1.) Ronnie Earl shopped 5 grand juries in Austin, Texas (4 no bills) before presenting his case before an newly empaneled grand jury (20 minutes) on the same case that the previous grand jury had no billed the day before.,
(2.) The law in which Earle indicted Delay on wasn't even on the books when Earle sought the indictment. Delay's actions on using out of state money for redistricting purposes through a state PAC was done in 2002. The law didn't pass the State legislature until 2004.
(3.) The exact same procedure of using out of state money for redistricting purposes was used in every state in the redistricting process. Nancy Pelosi, used the exact methods and procedures in Democratic efforts in California. Same with Mr Barney Frank in Mass. On the Senate side, Mr Reid, Mr Schumer and Mr. Dodd did the same thing in their respective states.,
(4.) To date, Mr. Delay still hasn't had his day in court. Mr Earle's successor in the Travis County DA office, continues to file continuances in the case in order to focus on the "people's business" on more pressing matters. and
(5.) Dick Deguerin, Delay's attorney, a Democrat, believe that the indictment is nothing short of a political lynching. He eagerly awaits his presentation in court.