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Hastert Tries Damage Control After Remarks Hit a Nerve (Clinton says he would have attacked him)
WP ^

Posted on 09/02/2005 8:39:44 PM PDT by jmc1969

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert began his day yesterday explaining that he really does not want to see New Orleans bulldozed, and he ended it defending his absence from the Capitol when Congress approved a $10.5 billion hurricane aid package. In between, a former president hinted he would like to throttle the Illinois Republican.

Hastert was still reeling from reaction to his comments earlier this week about the storm-ravaged city. "It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed," he said in an interview with the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill. Asked whether it made sense to spend billions of dollars rebuilding a city that lies below sea level, he told the paper, "I don't know. That doesn't make sense to me."

In Syracuse, N.Y., former president Bill Clinton was discussing New Orleans's dilemma when someone described the speaker's comments. Had they been in the same place when the remarks were made, Clinton said, "I'm afraid I would have assaulted him."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hastert; katrina; neworleans
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To: jmc1969

I'm sorry to hear he is taking back his remarks... I was glad he had the courage to say what he said. I don't have a problem with private capital funding a rebuild of the city in place, but no federal funds should go to rebuild it in its current location.


61 posted on 09/02/2005 9:31:57 PM PDT by Oceanus
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To: jmc1969

Bill Clintoon is a worthless piece of ----, not worthy of breathing the same air as any Republican, much less the air breathed by true Conservatives. Why that draft-dodging, wife cheating, commie traitor son of a b*tch isn't locked away in a deep dark dungeon somewhere is completely beyond me. How DARE he speak so insultingly of a REAL American. If you think about it, Clintoon basicly said that he would deprive Hastert of his constitutional right to free speech by physically assaulting him. Very telling indeed. Why am I not surprised?? Who in this country is more violent than a liberal?? One only needs to look at any "peace" march in San Fransicko, or look at moveon.org, to see their true nature.

This is what is in store for America if ANY demonRAT is elected to ANY office ANYwhere in the USA at ANY time in the future. Why do these traitors even exist?? The blue state portion of this country, with Clintoon as it's figurehead, disgusts me. And the most galling part of it is that there is nothing that can be done about it. What a bunch of sick perverts!!

The Jessie Jackson/Al Sharpton brigades should be ashamed of themselves, with their brain-dead, mindless attacks on the President. But they are enjoying the limelight WAY too much nowadays to even begin to feel THAT way. They don't realize that they are the "useful idiots of the week" for Soros and his merry band of atheist marxists. Last week it was Cindy Sheehan, but now she'll be abandoned like yesterday's trash (which is exactly what she is), in favor of their newest tool - the Rainbow Coalition and their fellow travellers. The left makes me physically ill. Just when you thought they couldn't sink and lower, or be become any more evil....

Ok, I feel much better now. Time for another glass of wine!!


62 posted on 09/02/2005 9:34:29 PM PDT by Zetman
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To: Alberta's Child
So true.
63 posted on 09/02/2005 9:34:40 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Actually, that aqua-colored head has the greatest mind of them all!


64 posted on 09/02/2005 9:39:43 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine. I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free.)
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To: jmc1969

I was shocked to see a genuinely sensible position, honestly stated, coming from a US Senator.

It's a relief to see him retract it - now we know things are back to normal in DC.


65 posted on 09/02/2005 9:41:33 PM PDT by CGTRWK
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To: jmc1969
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert began his day yesterday explaining that he really does not want to see New Orleans bulldozed

Great. The prelude to the Republican Party vote-buying scheme of '06: $200 Billion of tax dollars to put NO right back where it was.

Remember, these free-spending fools couldn't even work up the balls to kill PBS.

66 posted on 09/02/2005 9:44:55 PM PDT by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: BlackjackPershing
"Hastert is a fat-mouth jerk"

I think Hastert asked a legitimate question. Why should taxpayers across the nation rebuild a city that will flood again? I think it should be debated before we spend $100 billion just to have the samething happen next year.

Rebuild inland.
67 posted on 09/02/2005 9:47:12 PM PDT by JeffersonRepublic.com (There is no truth in the news, and no news in the truth.)
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To: BlackjackPershing

>> Hastert is a fat-mouth jerk. He needs to be censured and forced to surrender his seat as Speaker.

Hastert should never apologize for his remarks. Rebuilding New Orleans, in the same place it currently exists, would be the worst decision in a long history of bad decisions made to protect New Orleans from the sea.


68 posted on 09/02/2005 9:51:24 PM PDT by PhilipFreneau ("The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." -- Psalms 19:1)
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To: Texasforever
This is why folks are aiming so much fury at Hastert, so that folks won't consider this obvious fact. NO may not be worth saving.. Certainly, it doesn't seem to be serving the folks that used to live there.. and if so many are not prospering there.. I cannot see why we should be erecting alot of government subsidized housing in a flood plain. In any other place you couldn't get a permit to do this..
69 posted on 09/03/2005 12:11:44 AM PDT by dalight
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To: ErnBatavia

"Clinton said, "I'm afraid I would have assaulted him."

What, a grope? Maybe digital penetration? Rape with a foreign object? What's he talking about here?


70 posted on 09/03/2005 12:16:32 AM PDT by Gum Shoe
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To: popdonnelly

I think Hastert is right, but it probably isn't the best time to be making public comments like that.


71 posted on 09/03/2005 12:17:03 AM PDT by I still care (America is not the problem - it is the solution..)
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To: jmc1969
Had they been in the same place when the remarks were made, Clinton said, "I'm afraid I would have assaulted him."

Fudgepacker.

72 posted on 09/03/2005 12:23:39 AM PDT by Bon mots
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To: CharlesWayneCT

I think a little compassion is in order and appropriateness. Hastert apparently is a political baffoon, with no sense of civility for the misery this people suffer.

More simply put--he's a fat jerk.


73 posted on 09/03/2005 10:27:01 AM PDT by BlackjackPershing
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To: roses of sharon

He should resign for being a dumbass.


74 posted on 09/03/2005 10:34:55 AM PDT by BlackjackPershing
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To: COEXERJ145

Whatever, putz.


75 posted on 09/03/2005 10:35:35 AM PDT by BlackjackPershing
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To: BlackjackPershing

Nonsense, he is right, and the Feds had better not rebuild that deathtrap.


76 posted on 09/03/2005 10:36:36 AM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: JeffersonRepublic.com

Where do you get that taxpayers will rebuild this. I think private investment will make that determination.

In my opinion, Hastert is a jerk for being insensitive.


77 posted on 09/03/2005 10:37:07 AM PDT by BlackjackPershing
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts

Hope it's on Pay per View.


78 posted on 09/03/2005 10:38:25 AM PDT by BIGLOOK (I once opposed keelhauling but recently have come to my senses.)
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To: jmc1969
Speaker Hastert is correct.

The PROPER way to make strategic decisions about the fate of New Orleans is to have think tanks, engineers, and experts form a Commission and have one key decision to make...

Based on the fact New Orleans is below sea level, and based on the cost of rebuilding, is it feasible that the best option is to let the EPA clean up the mess then let the Mississippi Delta claim it.

When a politician makes an intelligent statement, he is attacked like a rabid dog.

If a politician makes a stupid socialist "spend a trillion dollars if need be" statement, he is honored like an Einstein.

This is why our nation is decaying. You can not even have intelligent discourse discussing all options anymore in Washington.
79 posted on 09/03/2005 10:42:36 AM PDT by Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 (Bush's #1 priority Africa. #2 priority appease Fox and Mexico . . . USA priority #64.)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
people who want to spend 20 billion rebuilding New

20 billion? You are looking at a half trillion or more.

Please Dennis Hastert, force a study to be done on the feasibility of rebuilding the city or not. That is the proper, intelligent and even common sense course of action.

Anybody who says "we will rebuild at any cost" is a moron and not worthy of being an elected official. Any elected official should say we "need to do an assessment first."

80 posted on 09/03/2005 10:47:11 AM PDT by Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 (Bush's #1 priority Africa. #2 priority appease Fox and Mexico . . . USA priority #64.)
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