Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

With corruption poster-child Tom DeLay under indictment, House Republicans had to pick a new majority leader. Showing their deep and abiding commitment to reform, they chose John Boehner (R-OH). Boehner — whose name, unfortunately, isn't pronounced the way it looks (instead, it rhymes with "complainer") — has demonstrated his belief in responsive government by handing out tobacco lobbyists' checks on the House floor. He is also one the leading recipients of luxury travel from lobbyists.

Bonus corruption: Josh Marshall points out that the Republicans had to re-vote because, "the first count showed more votes cast than Republicans present at the Conference meeting." One of his readers comments, "That's right, the Repubs are so corrupt they can't even hold an honest INTERNAL election." This tidbit isn't in the most of the news coverage because it isn't really news, since it's such an old, dog-bites-man kind of story by now. For example, it's how Karl Rove got his start.