Bob Dole has been out of power for about a decade, but that hasn't stopped him from delivering some sound advice to his fellow Republicans. James Gordon Meek has the story for the New York Daily News:

Former Sen. Bob Dole yesterday joined the list of top Republicans urging embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to come clean on his ethics troubles.

"I think what Tom needs to do is just to come out somewhere and to just lay out everything," said Dole, the ex-Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.

Dole helped lead the 1994 Republican takeover of the Congress with DeLay and ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who has also said DeLay should give his side to the public.

Dole suggested the GOP might even cut loose the firebrand majority leader if the controversy continues smoldering.

The reason why DeLay will not "just lay out everything" is clear. It's the same reason why DeLay killed the House ethics process. He's acted improperly in the past and he doesn't want the American people and his constituents to know about it.

[Update 6:26 PM Pacific]: In other news from the House...

U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde, the Illinois Republican who steered the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton and championed government restrictions on abortion funding, announced Monday that he will retire when his term ends in 2006. [Link]

It's a good day in Washington when Hyde is on his way out.