Way back, when DeLay was first indicted and was forced to temporarily step down as House Majority Leader, Roy Blunt was chosen as his temporary replacement. After it was determined that first choice David Dreier was too G-A-Y for the G-O-P, that is.

Blunt, we found out back then, is every bit as sleazy -- he just happens to not be currently under indictment, which is apparently good enough to qualify you for a leadership position in the GOP.

Now that DeLay has "decided" to step down permanently Blunt is one of two candidates in the running to keep the job. Blunt's rap sheet starts [HERE] and continues [HERE].

Here's just one gem, from BeyondDeLay:

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"In 2003, Rep. Blunt divorced his wife of 31 years to marry Philip Morris (now Altria) lobbyist Abigail Perlman. Before it was known publicly that Rep. Blunt and Ms. Perlman were dating – and only hours after Rep. Blunt assumed the role of Majority Whip – he tried to secretly insert a provision into Homeland Security legislation that would have benefitted Philip Morris, at the expense of competitors."

Blunt's rival, Ohio congressman John Boehner is no altar boy either. But again, because he isn't currently under indictment he's a perfectly viable candidate. mole333 writes that: "John Boehner voted to weaken House ethics rules to try and save Tom DeLay from corruption accusations, but then flip-flopped when it became clear that Tom DeLay could not be saved."

Boehner, who votes with DeLay 95% of the time, also consistently voted against any attempt to even allow bills strengthening ethics rules to come to a vote. (Political Cortex, Stakeholder)

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