It should be no surprise to you that the soon-to-be incarcerated Rep. Tom DeLay would resort to chickenshit, McCarthy-ite tactics when backed into a corner. For example, Digby recently linked to this pathetic reminder from the impeachment days :

In arguing for impeachment and against censure, Republican members of Congress have hinted at a trove of still-secret, non-Monica-related documents about President Clinton’s sexual misconduct. “Before people look to cut a deal with the White House or their surrogates … it is my hope that one would spend plenty of time in the evidence room,” said House Majority Whip Tom DeLay. “If this were to happen, you may realize that 67 votes may appear out of thin air. If you don’t, you may wish you had before rushing to judgment.”

Just think about how successful that little gambit was (the evidence room, not the impeachment) when you see this slimy attack from the other day :

DELAY: Ronnie Earle does this to all his political enemies. He did it to conservative Democrats. He did it — and he does it to Republicans. And particularly in my case, he did it in conjunction and working with the Democrat leadership here in Washington, D.C.

BLITZER: Well, that’s an explosive charge you make, that there was some sort of collusion or conspiracy between Ronnie Earle and Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders in the Congress. What evidence, if any, do you have to back that up?

DELAY: It’s very good evidence, that they announced this strategy publicly, they put it on their website and this strategy is in their fund-raising letters.

BLITZER: Who specifically — who announced this?

DELAY: The DCCC, the Democratic Campaign Committee, run by Chairman Rahm Emanuel.
. . .
BLITZER: When is the evidence going to be made available? You say it’s coming. When are you going to make that evidence available?

DELAY: When it’s timely.

BLITZER: What does that mean?

DELAY: When it’s timely.

Like a wounded animal lashing out, this sad little man isn’t taking kindly to the realization that his career is over, his political irrelevance is all but set in stone, and that he’s in a lot of legal trouble. With a nickname like “The Hammer”, I’m sure DeLay won’t have any trouble making friends in prison.