This just in: THE BUG MAN QUITS!

Just a few hours ago, the news broke that The Bug Man is going to resign from Congress and not seek re-election.

For those who might not know, The Bug Man is Tom DeLay. And by the way, that is a name he used to describe himself.

This makes me happy.

But why did he make this decision now? After all, The Bug Man won the Republican primary just about three weeks ago, and his lawyers actually had a little success in his legal matters down in Travis County. What could have prompted his decision?

This paragraph from the AP report (as found on the site of one of The Bug Man's hometown papers, the Houston Chronicle) perhaps provides a clue:

It's unclear when DeLay reached his decision, but one official said he began informing close associates late last week. That was around the same time as a second former aide, Tony Rudy, pleaded guilty in a federal corruption investigation that has reached into DeLay's office.

(emphasis added). But wait, there's more:

Earlier this year, DeLay had vowed to run a "very vigorous campaign" and win re-election. But the congressman's woes continued to build over the past week.

On Friday, his former chief of staff pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promised to help with a federal investigation of bribery and lobbying fraud relating to Abramoff. Tony Rudy admitted conspiring with Abramoff — both while Rudy worked for the Texas congressman and after he left the lawmaker's staff to become a lobbyist himself.

Rudy is the second former DeLay staffer to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the lobbying probe. Michael Scanlon, a former DeLay press secretary who later became a lobbying partner with Abramoff, pleaded guilty last fall to conspiring to bribe public officials.

(emphasis added). Methinks therein lies the reason for DeLay's decision, but of course, The Bug Man gave another reason.

In an interview with The Galveston County Daily News in Texas, DeLay said his decision was based partly on troubling internal polling results, including a poll taken after the March Republican primary that showed him narrowly ahead of Democrat Nick Lampson.

"Even though I thought I could win, it was a little too risky," DeLay told the Galveston paper.

He thought it was a little too risky??? Speaking as a Texan, I say that is a pansy-ass, bullshit reason coming from a guy also known as "The Hammer."

In any event, he is outta here.

Good freaking riddance.