Tom DeLay lost the House leadership. But as a consolation prize they gave him NASA. Republicans leaders put DeLay on the Appropriations subcommittee in charge of the NASA budget. (The Johnson Space Center is in the bugman's district.)

Houston, we have a problem.

There was a seat free on Appropriations because Duke Cunningham had to give up his seat.

No, you can't make this stuff up.

Oh, I forgot, his new committee controls the DOJ purse stings too.