Thursday, June 8, 2006 | 2:35 p.m. ET
From Mike Viqueira
Rep. Tom DeLay, R-TX, plans to hold forth with a 20 to 25 minute valedictory opus on the House floor this afternoon (around 4:15 ET), as his farewell tour continues on its penultimate day.
Last night it was a thank you dinner downtown for his police security detail, where eyes reportedly grew misty. On Tuesday DeLay was feted at a swanky French restaurant. Early on Wednesday he spoke to his former subordinates in the GOP caucus, and there, too, tears were shed. This afternoon he will go down to the Capitol "cop shop" police substation to deliver inspirational remarks at line-up.
Then it's on to the House floor, where not everyone has fond memories of his tenure as majority leader. DeLay had originally planned to ask for 'unanimous consent' to make his speech out of turn. But Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, let it be known that she would object ("I think a large part of his legacy will be a culture of corruption here in the Congress of the United States"...on camera), so DeLay gets one more chance to twist Pelosi and Dems into a parliamentary pretzel in order to get his time.
Meanwhile, DeLay has been privately practicing his speech, which is expected to cover a very wide range of issues.
Over the course of the week DeLay has been receiving well-wishers in his Cannon office, and Friday - his final day here in Congress - he will host a day long "open house." All are invited, even press. Just don't bring a camera.
© 2006 MSNBC.com
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