Indictments aplenty

Today marks the return to a tradition that paused in the mid-1990s, and that is indicting members of Congress. But after a long absence, people who might have been wondering if being in Congress meant a free ride to do anything get some satisfaction. Today Tom DeLay, the leader of the majority Republicans in the House, was indicted for criminal conspiracy. He could face up to two years in prison.

This means, of course, that DeLay will have to temporarily step aside as the Majority Leader, one of the House rules that was almost changed a few months ago but then allowed to stand because the Republicans looked like hypocrites. The Republicans, the Congressional "management" since the election of 1994, now know how it feels -- remember the House banking scandal? Remember the House post office scandal? Remember all those Democrats in the majority who were targeted by bomb-throwing conservatives? Now, Republicans show they can't handle the power, either. This is the latest in a string of examples of how Republicans sustain a culture of corruption, shown well in the investigation of Sen. Bill Frist over the sale of hospital company stock allegedly with insider information.

Reportedly, the duties of majority leader will be assumed, at least temporarily, by Rep. David Drier of California, himself a former candidate for leader and speaker. Other duties will be assumed by the majority whip, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri.

In the meantime, it's an opening for Democrats -- a chance to show that Democrats have learned from the mistakes of past leaders from the days the Dems ruled the halls of Congress. It's an opening to draw a distinction -- a chance to say we know how to run a country and it is better than these guys, a chance to show Democrats will represent all Americans, not just the ones who write big checks for campaigns. It's a chance to put this country back on the right track again.

And they have just 15 months until the 2006 election.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.