Arianna Huffington flays Missouri's-own Roy Blunt in this week's column [1]:

Among the friends who have gathered 'round DeLay is Rep. Roy Blunt, the number-three ranking Republican in the House, who appeared on "Meet the Press" the morning after DeLay's NRA speech to defend his colleague. No word on whether Blunt was packing heat. But his performance marked a new low in the GOP's "see no evil" approach to their man Tom.

The key exchange started with Tim Russert offering up a chapter-and-verse recital of DeLay's misdeeds--and quoting generously from the Wall Street Journal's scathing "Smells Like Beltway" editorial.

"These stories, I think," responded Blunt, far from bluntly, "are all based on some facts and lots of things that aren't factual." This led a clearly exasperated Russert to ask: "Has he done anything wrong?"

The answer came back: "My impression is he has not done anything wrong."

So is this the latest official GOP line on DeLay? First we had: "The liberal, anti-Christian media are out to get him." Then we had: "Everyone is doing it" (a.k.a., "Look at Hillary and Pelosi and Bernie Sanders!"). Then came: "Hey, we're all human, everyone makes mistakes, let's get on with more important issues--like getting rid of the death tax."

But, nope, forget all that. Too subtle. Too nuanced. Too 1998. Now we have: "He has not done anything wrong." If it weren't so repugnant, this kind of loyalty would be inspiring.

Unfortunately for Blunt--and of course for DeLay--the Majority Leader's ethical rap sheet is longer than the list of prepubescent boys who have shared Michael Jackson's bed. It's a profusion of unprincipled line-crossings and shady dealings. A primer on "How to Play the Washington System for Fun, Profit and Political Power."