NBC First Read - House to delay returning to work after Christmas holidays

No explanation given why House will not return to work until January 31st although they are scheduled to return January 18th. Stalling for time to get Delay "cleared" or wants chance to put off delivering State of the Union?

If you aren't getting these daily updates you are missing some good stuff. There is often humor at the expense of Chimpy. Surprising from an organization that has "paid" operatives on the Bush payroll.


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First Read: The day in politics by NBC News for NBC News
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No doubt some intrepid Democratic operative has already obtained stills or footage of Vice President Cheney standing alongside Rep. Tom DeLay (R) at DeLay's Houston fundraiser last night, an arguably awkward bit of timing for the White House given that only hours before, the judge presiding over DeLay's Texas campaign finance case narrowed but declined to throw out the money-laundering charge brought against DeLay by prosecutor Ronnie Earle. The judge did throw out the conspiracy charge, prompting DeLay's office to declare a victory.

But the White House's schedule may now be tied to DeLay's in a rather more significant way. While the Senate is set to begin work in 2006 starting on January 18, NBC's Mike Viqueira reports that the House is not likely to return to Washington until January 31. No reason has been given for this relatively late return, but if it holds to be true, two safe assumptions can be made. First, DeLay would, by consequence, be given the maximum possible amount of time to get through a trial and, presuming he's acquitted, reclaim his old job of majority leader, heading off a possible election to replace him. And second, President Bush would not deliver his State of the Union until at least January 31, if not later.

Late January and early February SOTU's certainly are not unheard of, but for a White House that was saying even before Thanksgiving that the SOTU will be their chance to outline a new agenda for Bush's second term, that's a pretty long time to wait.

For more: Today's edition of First Read is available now at http://www.FirstRead.MSNBC.com !

Heck, can we just tell a certain majority section of the House to just not ever return?

Their just playing follow the Leader.