How Grim Can LAT Make Leader Race?

Here's one take on Tom DeLay's decision not to hold on to his House Majority Leader position: It gives the GOP the opportunity to leave scandal-taint behind and, after a brief, inside squabble over who's next, to unify in time for 2006.

Surprise! That's not the LATimes' take. They took a slightly dimmer view:

Rep. Tom DeLay's decision to stop battling for his former House leadership job helps remove a huge distraction from Republican efforts to recover from a stormy 2005 that put President Bush and the party on the defensive.

But DeLay's Saturday announcement that he was giving up his bid may create as many problems as it solves.

It has set off a divisive power struggle to succeed him as the House's permanent majority leader — and could spark the overthrow of other leaders.

Also, whoever is picked to succeed DeLay will be thrust into a job that, now more than ever, requires the kind of iron-fisted leadership that was the Texas Republican's trademark.

Shall we dissect?

Did Tom DeLay really battle for his seat? Doesn't seem so. He quickly stepped aside when indicted, then at the first sign of court delays and party pressure, he resigned.

Divisive power struggles and overthrows? Only time will tell, but to the extent there is a struggle, it will be over the phone, in the cloak rooms and not something of great visibility, or great interest, to the public.

Overthrows? Every time there's a high-up position to fill, it creates a vacuum or two below -- and opportunity for strategic adjustments. If DeLay's decision to step down led to Arlen Specter no longer chairing Judiciary, that might be an overthrow, but I'd call it an opportunity.

Iron-fisted? Is the LAT saying Pelosi is a woos?

And finally, are Bush and the GOP on the defensive? Easy enough to say ... but why is it so hard for the LAT and others to fess up to the fact that the Dems are polling just as poorly as the GOP?