What fun! Suddenly they decide that DeLay needs a spanking after all!

WASHINGTON – House Republicans suddenly reversed course Monday, deciding to retain a tough standard for lawmaker discipline and reinstate a rule that would force Majority Leader Tom DeLay to step aside if indicted by a Texas grand jury.

Wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall inside the Republican caucus?
UPDATE: Apparently DeLay himself requested they rescind the change, since the Republicans’ lack of ethics was turning into a strong political issue for Democrats (duh!).

Those attending the Republican meeting, which was held on the day before the opening of the 109th Congress on Tuesday, said Republicans unanimously agreed to restore the old rule after Mr. DeLay told them that the move would clear the air and deny Democrats a potent political issue….

Some Republicans who originally opposed the rules change enthusiastically greeted the decision not to go through with it.

“It allows the Republicans to focus on the issues, the agenda that is before us and not to have Tom DeLay be the issue,” Representative Zach Wamp, Republican of Tennessee, said. “I feel like we have just taken a shower.”