Hastert May Step Down--Robert Novak reports.

[laststeamtrain]

Hastert May Step Down

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert "has indicated to a close former aide that it is likely he will not run for a 12th term from his northern Illinois district and may even resign from Congress before his present term concludes," Robert Novak reports.

"That runs counter to widespread speculation on Capitol Hill that Hastert will continue in the House for another two years as a private member with no leadership responsibilities. Since last year's Democratic takeover of Congress moved him out of the speaker's office, he has enjoyed returning to his former specialty of energy issues as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee."

"A footnote: If Hastert does not run, a leading candidate will be his chief of staff, Mike Stokke. Before going on Hastert's staff, Stokke was an aide for both the Illinois Legislature and the governor's office in Springfield."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/07/22/hastert_may_step_down.html

[pearl]

1. It's hard out there for a Pimp

Or should we say Republicon = loyal Bushie

[rosesaylavee]

2. Stokke - isn't he the one that Hastert,

ummm, shares his flat with when he is in DC?

[3waygeek]

3. Last week, Larry Flynt said he had the goods

on 30-some members of Congress; wonder if Denny is one of them.

[displacedtexan]

4. My first thought, as well.

[HeeBGBz]

7. Mine too

I don't see Hastert quitting for just grins and giggles.

[Ian David]

9. That would make the front page of "Duh!" Magazine. n/t

[trueblue2007]

19. I hope he is..... lol...I HOPE ALL 30 OF THEM ARE REPUBLICANS

Republican = Hypocrites

[Bandit]

5. I guess Sibel Edwards is beginning to have some heat attached to her

Hastert is guilty of accepting bribes from a foreign government , Turkey, according to Edwards and it is beginning to appear she just might be heard

[Tellurian]

6. nope, it's the Illinois political connection raising it's ugly head...

Hastert's usefulness is done. The lady in waiting, Stokke, has been sequestered from view until needed.

[Ian David]

8. He wants to spend more time with Mark Foley and his friends.

Good riddance to Beefy McBratwurst.

[papau]

10. Does this mean his name was in the DC madam's telephone call list? n/t

n/t

[divineorder]

11. Being In His Position Has Got To Be A Drag

First, your party is in the minority, so there isn't as much clout to bring home pork as there once was when you were in the majority. Next, you lose those yummy perks as Speaker and the public attention. Last, but not least there have been a few health rumors and the fact you've been in Congress a long time. To sum it up, what reason does he have to remain in Congress anymore? If he had only a couple of terms and needed a springboard to higher office, waiting it out might not be a bad strategy. But Hastert isn't going to run statewide for anything, isn't going to go national, and even if the Republicans re-take Congress, won't be elevated to Speaker again.

So why not retire,take your pension, and avoid a potential defeat in the primary by some young up and comer radical, or a general election defeat by one of Dean's 50 staters?

And if there's more to your involvement in the Foley mess, and its coverup, or some related misdeeds than what's already revealed, running risks the possibility that the info comes up at some inconvenient moment-like three weeks before the election- where you lose. Or shortly after you've barely won, which may force you to resign-and there's a special election. Either way, you are potential baggage. Why give the Democrats a win? Someone untouched by the scandal-whether Abramoff, the Delay stuff, Foley's fooling around-just might keep the seat for the Republican Party.

[defendandprotect]

12. Hastert served for years . . . and Democrats had no idea that he was taking bribes?????????

Do we believe that????

What about now --

[defendandprotect]

13. Hastert was connected to drug trafficking and no one knew??????

[divineorder]

14. The Strategy of the Republicans was to shut the Dems

Out of just about everything-especially the money flowing from the K Street project and the Abrahmoff pot. Even social events got a little strained at times-I remember older Dems reminincing about how Democrats and Republicans would fight fiercely during the day-and then go out for drinks after it was all over. Without access to the money, the Democrats would have no way of knowing for sure who was and was not getting paid.

Another example was when the Democrats were forced to hold informal meetings in the House basement, with no subpoena power whatsoever.

[nealmhughes]

15. He's still alive? I thought he was like Lamar Alexander, and only rumored to be still alive!

But I guess he is like a plantar wart on the toe, hard to get rid of, and just when you think it's gone for ever, reappears on another toe.

[laststeamtrain]

17. Yeah, a real good guy. (Caution: grotesque image ahead).

Oops. I meant to respond to post 16.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Poor Denny. I feel bad for him. he was basically a good guy

NOT!

Buh bye, Denny the Hut.

[Eurobabe]

18. Is he on the DC madam's list? n/t