Delay's parting shot

An excerpt from Tom Delay's farewell address to the House of Representatives:

Conservatism is often unfairly accused of being insensitive and mean-spirited… sometimes, unfortunately, even by other conservatives. As a result, conservatives often attempt to "soften" that stereotype by over-funding broken programs or glossing over ruinous policies. But conservatism isn’t about feeling people’s pain… it’s about curing it.

And the results since the first great conservative victory in 1980 speak for themselves:

• millions of new jobs, new homes, and new businesses created thanks to conservative economic reforms;
• millions of families intact and enriched by the move from welfare to work;
• hundreds of millions of people around the world liberated by a conservative foreign policy’s victory over Soviet communism; and,
• more than 50 million Iraqis and Afghans liberated from tyranny since September 11, 2001.

To all the critics of the supposedly "mean-spirited" conservative policies that brought about these results, I say only this: compassionate is as compassionate does.

According to news reports the composition of his audience fell somewhat short of bipartisan.

When the Texas Republican took the floor to deliver a goodbye address to his colleagues after 22 years in Congress, most Democrats didn't bother to stay.

When he started talking about liberals' wanting to take more money out of people's pockets, the Democrats hissed, and most of the 50 left in the chamber stood and walked out.

What was that old saying about tossing a rock into a pack of dogs?  At least this crew was bright enough to get out of range.