Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, whose myriad ethical malfunctions forced him to resign this past June, is a blowhard. Some might even choose stronger words. But he’s a political heavyweight, to be sure, and one with a good deal of free time these days. That said, he’s found a new hobby, Slate.com notes.

Blogging!

That’s right, TomDeLay.com debuted December 10. While DeLay only writes some of the blogs - during an interview on Hardball, he said that “I have the ideas and I have somebody else put the words together” - he and his cohorts have already come out with some interesting posts.

DeLay’s most recent blog touches on Republicans’ early election strategies for 2008. His thoughts on the frontrunners:

“The top tier candidates appear to be RINO-IN-CHIEF John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. Romney, who was looking to run from the right, touted himself as the lone conservative of the three, however, former statements and gaffe’s [sic] that have recently been revealed suggest otherwise.”

The article goes onto discuss the lower-tier contenders, ones he believes worth talking about and those he believes are little more than flashes in the plan. Further down the home page, there’s the obligatory criticism of Hillary Rodham Clinton and incoming House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

To his credit, Delay did make an appeal to bipartisanship regarding the brain hemorrhage that recently struck Sen. Tim Johnson:

“I too am a fierce partisan when it comes to principle, but I am also a fierce defender of the value that each person brings. I was appalled, as I am sure many of you were yesterday, by the immediate, callous and ghoulish speculation on the part the network news shows about the political effects of Tim Johnson’s health situation… Tim Johnson, get well soon.”

At least we know if that Johnson ever ended up on life support - which now seems unlikely, thankfully, as recent reports state he is recovering - Tom DeLay wouldn’t pull the plug. Political observers remember his steadfast opposition to the efforts of Terri Schiavo’s husband, Michael, to remove the feeding tube from his dying wife.

You can read his 2005 statements to Time Magazine on the subject by following the link. Be sure to check out his new blog, too - if nothing else, The Hammer is the ultimate political insider.