Hey, it always worked before: Tom DeLay, the master of Texas redistricting, is pursuing the same winning strategy in his trial on charges of conspiracy and money laundering.

There’s a lot to be said for stacking the deck, after all. Here in Florida, Republican-controlled redistricting has turned the state from a lovely shade of indigo to a solid 186 red. And although Florida continues to have more registered Democratic voters, that majority goes largely unrepresented in state and local politics.

If redistricting weren’t so effective, Arnold Schwarzenegger wouldn’t be spending wads of money to put it in the hands of trusted GOP flunkies. If he is successful, we can all watch this country’s biggest Democratic bastion turn into Repug Central, with absolutely no shift by the electorate whatsoever.

Tom DeLay knows all this, and just as he has always picked his own voters instead of voters picking him, he is now attempting to select his own judge and jury. Houston Chronicle:

• DeLay’s lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, avoided media coverage of DeLay’s arrest by switching his surrender from Fort Bend County to Harris County. Reporters and photographers had staked out the Fort Bend County Jail since Wednesday.

• DeGuerin asked state District Judge Bob Perkins of Austin to remove himself from hearing the case because he has donated money to Democratic organizations and MoveOn.Org, a group that has raised money in the past year by attacking DeLay politically.

[District Attorney Ronnie] Earle said he would oppose the motion because it would mean judges could try only criminal defendants of their own political party.

• DeLay’s defense team also asked to have his trial moved out of highly Democratic Travis County. They cited news coverage of Earle’s investigation.

They also noted that DeLay orchestrated the congressional redistricting that divided Travis County into three districts, angering many Democrats.

DeLay’s red-eyed but smiling mug shot says it all: he’s running for Innocent (R-Texas). But courts aren’t political districts – yet – and the day hasn’t come when politicians can campaign their way out of felonies.