Posted on 08/14/2007 7:24:38 PM PDT by RDTF
(CBS) CHICAGO Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is in Asia, but he's scheduled a news conference in Kendall County for Friday.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports exclusively sources say that they expect Hastert to announce he will not seek re-election next year.
In personal terms, it's been a big year for him and wife, Jean. Denny Hastert turned 65, and the couple just welcomed their first grandchild, Jack Hastert, to the family. He also had to surrender the speaker's gavel to a Democrat.
While sources tell CBS 2 that he’s leaving Congress after 22 years, he’s ridiculed previous speculation along those lines.
Last January, he told CBS 2, “I just think that was wishful thinking on the part of some people. Some had me being an Ambassador some place, which had no founding at all.”
But, the sources believe this time it's real, and they point to sure signs of his decision not to run again. Several key players in previous Hastert campaigns have already signed on with other politicians this time, including important advisors and a top fundraiser. Republican State Senator Chris Lauzen of Aurora said Hastert's political Web site is now out of action.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbs2chicago.com ...
Two months from now, who would know the difference? Big deal...
I’ve often thought of him as Sponge Denny Square Pants.
Goodbye Denny. Thanks for fixing that earmark thing. /sarc
He’s a perfect example of what happens once you get to DC. You become chummy (and chubby) with the lobbyist’s and get along with the RAT’s on the other side of the aisle. He had his turn and now it’s the RAT’s turn to hold the gavel for awhile. It’s how the game is played and ensures that both sides get their share.
Yeah, and let's also give him credit for being right on top of those Foley and Abramoff scandals. Fortunately, because of his proactive approach, those didn't hurt us in the '06 election, and really set things up for '08.
Thanks, Denny.
I guess there's one law for the "common" folk and one law for the law makers.
I’d like to think this will signal a changing of the guard in the House GOP caucus, but the last Minority Leader election put a bit of a damper on that.
Maybe Karl Rove will run for his seat.
I think most people have known this for months.
On some Liberal blogs I read a while back, some kooks were saying his name is on DC Madams list, thats why he is bowing out. I am sure you can find the same kind of stuff over at DU at just this moment.
Who’s Benny Hasbert?
Hastert....It’ll come to me in a minute. Uh... Was he some guy in Congress?
Go Denny!! And take the rest of the RINOs with you!!
actually, i think it would be a surprise if his name was on the madame’s
list. i think the ‘rats have had his number for awhile.
wife o’buckhead
Well Denny, thanks for not fighting back against the Rats while they were bitch slapping the Republicans around. /s
Is there any Republican in IL who can have a chance to win his seat?
It was wishful thinking on my part before the midterm elections in ‘06. He sat on his obese a** and did nothing while a pedophile GOP Congressman hit on teen age boys.
Hastert, Tom Delay, Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham and Mark “Faggot” Foley cost us control of the House in ‘06. I hope he does retire and gets his fat butt out of Washington; the pathetic lard a**.
Denny was no Newt. I do wish Hastert could have been more aggressive about getting things done. It can be extremely difficult to hold a majority together though. Well the GOP is once again the minority party. I find impatience is more comfortable with minority status anyway. It’s so much easier to obstruct than to construct.
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