AP: Hastert Won't Seek House Leader Post

AP ^ | November 8, 2006 | DAVID ESPO

[West Coast Conservative]

Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., told fellow Republican lawmakers on Wednesday he does not intend to run for minority leader when Democrats take control of the House in January, officials said.

Hastert conveyed word in a conference call one day after Republicans lost control of the House in midterm elections.

The officials who described Hastert's plans did so on condition of anonymity, saying they did not want to pre-empt a formal announcement.

His decision to step down cleared the way for a likely succession battle. Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the majority leader, is expected to run, and Reps. Mike Pence of Indiana and Joe Barton of Texas have also signaled they may make a bid for leadership positions.

[The KG9 Kid]

Good. I will never understand the internal workings of Washington GOP politics that allowed a fat four-eyed shitwhack like the invisible Denny Hastert to assume the role of House Speaker. I've been bewildered at how the mechanics of it all works since Trent Lott was Senate Majority Leader.

Hastert was the lamest Speaker ever. His predecessor was twenty times the leader he was. Why did Hastert ever get put into that position?

[TheBigB]

Mike Pence for House Repub Leader

Tom Coburn for Senate Repub Leader

Michael Steele for RNC Chairman!!!

[mwyounce]

The officials who described Hastert's plans did so on condition of anonymity, saying they did not want to pre-empt a formal announcement.

What does he think he just did?

[pnh102]

He needs to resign not just from Leadership, but from the House.

Yes let's give another house seat up. Why should he resign from the House? He's just a lousy House Speaker, but he might not be a bad representative for his congressional district. He, and all of the other current GOP leaders, need to step down from their leadership posts and make room for real conservative leadership. Mehlman, Boehner, Stevens and all of these failed leaders must quit for the good of the party.

[b4its2late]

It was a heck of a spanking they got last night, for sure.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Nice guy, not very sharp...like too many top 'pubs.....

[Dixie Yooper]

Had he given up the position 6 years ago, maybe we wouldn't be in the shape we are in today. He has tried to say out of the public eye ever since he took the position. When the Folley scandal broke, he was forced to surface. He is and always was a vote in the house, not a speaker.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'm leaning toward Pence myself.

[Andyman]

Amen

[Froggie]

Anyone But Joe !!! And he was my congressman for a long time.

[padre35]

Exactly, we need to look forward after our loss.

We need to become more attentive to the people who will be voting for us.

Clear the decks, Boehner isn't a terrible choice either, we need to raise money.

[Uncle Miltie]

Good riddance.

[RWR8189]

This district is gerrymandered special so its impossible for a Republican to lose.

Hastert had a bad year and got 60% of the vote.

He would have been term limited as Speaker anyways after 2008 so he might as well resign now and let a new young conservative take the reins.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

What sound is made when a load of nothing leaves the room?

[Froggie]

He didn't have a mistress...

[smith288]

Michael Steele for RNC Chairman!!!

I listened to Steele and read a little and I do like him alot. Having a black leader of the RNC would really put those Dems in a quandry because Steele really does fight back.

Mehlman reminded me of a typical, nerdy college campus repub. Nothing of substance and no ability to lead the party. Steele is a dude that could really take the fight to the dems i think. He wont allow the "uncle tom" remarks to frame or define him.

[Bean Counter]

A well advised move on Speaker Hastert's part...

[TheBigB]

Imagine Steele debating Howard Dean on TV. ;)

[Rennes Templar]

"Why did Hastert ever get put into that position?'

A Rino GOP Senate needed someone who didn't ruffle feathers.

[linn37]

Why do they feel the need to dump all this at once? Its not helping.