Opinion | Calhoun: Wake-up Call

Wake-Up Call: On your toes, Tom

Owing to an aunt who taught ballroom dancing classes, I know more than I should about that world. And even so, I was amazed -- slack-jawed, even -- when Tom DeLay, the former House majority leader whose tactics earned him the nickname "The Hammer," showed up as a contestant on...
By Patricia Calhoun
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Owing to an aunt who taught ballroom dancing classes, I know more than I should about that world. And even so, I was amazed — slack-jawed, even — when Tom DeLay, the former House majority leader whose tactics earned him the nickname “The Hammer,” showed up as a contestant on the latest incarnation of Dancing With the Stars.

And then survived the first round of eliminations last night.

Sure, DeLay displayed plenty of fancy footwork while in Congress, but his latest gig proves that there are not just second, but third acts (some of them in sequins) in political life.

Is this a great country, or what?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12’s public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

patricia.calhoun@westword.com
Editor-In-Chief Patricia Calhoun Westword has always been free, and we want to keep it that way. But we can no longer rely solely on advertising to support our newsroom. If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our work and keep Westword forever free.
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