Tom DeLay or Tom Hagen?
House Republicans are holding elections in an effort to prevent Tom DeLay from returning to his post as House Majority Leader. How the mighty have fallen. This will remind savvy Mafia movie fans of Consigliere Tom Hagen’s removal from power in The Godfather Part I
Cue Nino Rota’s plaintive trumpet melody:
MICHAEL You’re not a wartime Consiglieri, Tom. Things may get rough with the move we’re trying.
VITO Tom — I advise Michael. I never thought you were a bad Consigliere. I thought — Santino was a bad Don, rest in peace. Michael has all my confidence, as - as you do. But uh — there are reasons why you must have no part in what is going to happen.
TOM (to Michael) Maybe I could help…
MICHAEL (curtly) You’re out, Tom.
Of course, the big difference here is that Tom DeLay was very much a wartime consigliere.