Posted on 10/23/2005 11:01:24 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
DES MOINES, Iowa - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says a federal investigation into his sale of stock in a family-owned hospital chain will affect his decision on whether he will seek the presidency in 2008.
Frist, R-Tenn., said Saturday during a visit to Iowa — site of the nation's first presidential caucuses — that he has not lost the public's trust and wants people to "wait for the facts before passing judgment."
Before speaking at the Iowa GOP's annual fundraising dinner, Frist told reporters that his visit does not confirm any presidential aspirations. "I've been to Iowa many times," he said.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Frist's sale of millions of dollars of stock in HCA, the Nashville-based hospital chain founded by his father and brother. The sales were completed by July 1, two weeks before share prices fell by 9 percent. Frist has denied he acted on insider information.
Frist defended Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, saying he is confident that President Bush's White House counsel will be confirmed and will display the same ideals as the GOP. Miers has been criticized for her lack of judicial experience.
"I don't want people to start throwing either allegations or bombs ... until they really know who Harriet Miers is," he said.
"No, she didn't go to Harvard, she didn't go to Yale, like most of the justices up there," Frist said. "But she's the sort of person that has had real-life experiences."
Frist is delusional. What with his stewardship of the judicial nominees he is toast. President? ya gotta laugh.
Well if he uses this as an excuse so be it, better then being embarassed.
Hey bill, go walk a dog if you can find someone that would trust you to do it without screwing it up. Ya boob.
Good...Just go away Frist.
Maybe Frist can actually start doing a better job with the position he now holds!
Frist has been a non person in leading the Senate...How does one hope to become president with his record.
I am not disagreeing with you about that.
It's funny - I interpret this to mean that he may have lost faith in the media to act in anywhere near fair manner, and may be concluding that he just does not need the aggravation.
The whole stock thing is a non-starter, yet gets attention from supposedly serious people. He is probably wondering how many other equally harmless things he has done in the past will be spun into insanity by a conspiratorial media that is out of control.
I could not fault this conclusion. The next Republican President is going to need to be someone driven inside to do the best for this country. Otherwise there really is no reason to bother.
So many RINO's so little time yawn! Is there any hope for a pro defense,pro 2A, anti sell your sovereignty to Mexico, true conservative to even run in the primary
You're exactly right. Repubs like to eat their own.
I actually think Bush did a good job of keeping himself electable last time around.
A true conservative is unelectable in the current climate.
Remember - 50% of people already don't pay Fed income taxes.
The american electorate is just plain not responsible. They prefer not to think.
Mr. Charisma looks and speaks like an undertaker.
Digby O'Dell the friendly undertaker... You are correct.
At least he can go back to his day job.
I'd rather have Coburn as Senate Majority Leader and Pence as Speaker of the House...if it were up to me.
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