Anatomy of a Wingnut

As I mentioned yesterday, DeLay has long been at war with the Judiciary having advocated impeachment of judges who don't agree with him.

The Dallas Morning news has an interesting run-down on DeLay's history. Here is the crux,

Then there's Mr. DeLay's ongoing crusade against activist judges.

At least 40 judges in six state and federal courts, from both parties, looked at the Schiavo case and declined to step in.

Last week, an Atlanta appellate judge appointed by President Bush's father denounced Congress and the president for trying to do so, finding that they "acted in a manner demonstrably at odds with our Founding Fathers' blueprint for the governance of a free people – our Constitution."

In 1996, Mr. DeLay argued for using impeachment to police and steer the federal bench. The next year, he said "judges need to be intimidated" to ensure that they uphold the Constitution. In mid-2003, he created the House Working Group on Judicial Accountability, a GOP task force that would scour the work of federal judges and "take no prisoners."

The House has impeached a dozen judges, most recently in 1989. The Senate removed seven and another resigned. But not since the republic's early days have political disagreements been used as justification.

The Constitution allows for impeachment for treason, bribery or other "high crimes and misdemeanors." Lifetime tenure is guaranteed "during good behaviour." Mr. DeLay has argued that defying Congress would breach this rule, though few legal scholars or lawmakers embrace that view.

Two weeks ago, Mr. DeLay and other conservatives broke legislative speed records to enact a law they hoped would force the courts to order Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted.

But court after court refused. When the end came, Mr. DeLay decried the "arrogant, out-of-control, unaccountable judiciary that thumbed their nose at Congress and the president."