Wampum

Both Duncan and Josh have pointed to this Greenwich Times article where Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT), in no uncertain terms, distances himself from Majority Leader Tom DeLay. At one point in the town hall meeting with his constituents, Shay asserts that he would vote against DeLay if he should ever run for Speaker.

But what I found even more interesting than Shays comments, which, to be honest, aren't all that remarkable, since Shays is one of the most liberal Rs in the House, but the response of one of Shay's supporters in the audience:

Town resident John Howard, 39, said he has supported Shays in the past and knows that the congressman is not a defender of DeLay. Even so, Howard said, he wouldn't continue to support Shays if he voted to keep DeLay in power.

"I was very proud of you for standing up to the Republican caucus," Howard said. "However, you do vote for the Republican leadership in Congress -- and you must know that you have a lot of constituents, like myself, who deeply respect you, and agree with you on many different issues -- but I can't vote for a congressperson who would vote to keep Tom DeLay in power. You must understand that he's a liability for you."

[Emphasis mine]

There are more than a few Republican members of Congress who hail from "blue" or even "purple" districts where Delay has is now long past his shelf life date. It's clear that at least this one constituent of Shays understand how Republican leaders become just that - their own party caucus votes them in. Thus, the way to get rid of the DeLays on the Hill is to get rid of those who vote them in, even if it means voting down otherwise popular Representatives and Senators.

One can only hope.