He's What?

Attempt to Pick Successor Is Foiled
Blunt Temporarily Takes Reins as Conservatives Reject Dreier

Interesting to see how the intrigue within the House G.O.P. over the last two days is being played in the media. On the attempt by DeLay and Hastert to get Dreier to keep the majority leader's chair warm:

There was one big problem: When DeLay's indictment was unsealed yesterday, conservatives in the GOP caucus immediately erupted in anger over rumors that the selection of Dreier, whom they regard as too moderate, was being presented as a fait accompli.

Nice touch, adding the French phrase.

Another article explains the "reasons" why Dreier was rejected:

At a private midday meeting, several conservative lawmakers argued that Dreier's voting record was too moderate. According to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, some participants in the meeting said the Californian had voted in favor of expanded federal funding for stem cell research and against a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. There also was grumbling that the Californian favored a less restrictive policy on immigration than many conservatives.

"There was a lot of discussion in that room about will ... he advance the conservative agenda?" said Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., who attended the meeting and said he personally would have been comfortable with Dreier in the post.

And a lot of whispering in the room about will...people make a big deal out of the fact that he's sleeping with his chief of staff?

If only someone in the mainstream press were brave enough to address this story honestly...