.

Juanita has heard stories about convicted drug dealers who congtinue to run their drug operation behind bars with the use of a cell phone.

Apparently, John Boehner has heard about this, too. He’s hired practically all of DeLay’s old running buddies.

So, DeLay resigned in disgrace and was convicted on money laundering charges, but the new Republican leadership team has hired DeLay’s old team to help run the chamber. Indeed, the new Speaker’s office will count on DeLay’s former aides to help manage the House floor.

In fairness, it’s worth noting that DeLay’s former team hasn’t been convicted of anything, and it’s a stretch to suggest they should never be allowed to work in politics again.

The point, though, is that the new Republican House operation is starting to look an awful lot like the old Republican House operation. DeLay’s aides will help run the show; corporate lobbyists have been brought on to shape policy; and the K Street project that Boehner swore to leave in the past is looking reconstituted.

So, I suspect Juanita will have one more thing on her list of probation ideas for Tom DeLay.  No phone calls to Washington DeeCee.

“You just gotta ask yourself,” Juanita wonders, “what the hell are they thinking?  If these guys let their last boss get indicted and convicted, what the tarnation will they tell their next boss to do?”

Same old, same old.