Yesterday a Houston court ruled that former Rep. Tom DeLay's recent move to Virginia was a coldly calculated political move to make sure that the GOP would hold his Houston-area seat.

DeLay could withdraw from the race, but then Republicans couldn't replace him on the ballot. By moving to Virginia, DeLay made himself ineligible -- a status that allows state Republicans to put someone else on the ballot.

It's clear to everyone that DeLay's move probably breaks the spirit of the law, but is clearly within the letter of the law.

Contrast yesterday's ruling with 2002 New Jersey case which allowed Democrats to replace corrupt Sen. Robert Torricelli (who was losing to Republican Doug Forrester) with Frank Lautenberg (who didn't) after the deadline for changes on the ballot had passed. Courts ruled in that case that offering voters a "choice" was more important than some seemingly arbitrary deadline.

Giving voters a "choice" didn't seem so important this week in Texas.

What a difference a judge can make.