Hastert rips presidential hopefuls on tax cut

Houston Chronicle ^ | 4/28/03 | ap

[Diddle E. Squat]

COLLEGE STATION -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert today blamed presidential hopefuls in the Senate for impeding President Bush's tax cut plan.

"I think one of the things is we're going into the time of presidential politics," Hastert, R-Ill., said after a lecture at Texas A&M University. "You have four or five people who I'll call the prancing ponies of the Senate that all want to be a presidential candidate, or a wannabe.

"It's to their advantage to not help this economy and have a bad economy going into a political year. I think it's shortsighted... I think it's politics, that's a lot of it."

Bush had asked Congress for $726 billion in cuts over 10 years but the House capped new cuts at $550 billion. Hastert said the Senate had agreed with the House but "we learned later they had a wink and nod to limit it to 350."

"We're going to have to work and work vigorously for 550 (because) we think that's the number," Hastert said. "We came down from 726, but we think ($550 billion) is a number we can achieve and actually get some economic stimulus.

"I'm afraid if it's too light, the stimulus won't be there."

He predicted a drama unfolding over the next month or so between the administration and the House and Senate, where some Republicans have joined Democrats in balking at the Bush tax cut plan, as the focus shifts from the war in Iraq to a war on the economy. But said whatever shape the plan takes, the goal is to get money into the economy to spur hiring and investment and lift consumer confidence.

"There are some in Washington who say this plan is overly ambitious and they argue government should hold on to every dollar," Hastert told an audience of several hundred at the George Bush Presidential Library and School of Government. "We also find those are the same people who think big government is good and should spend money.

"With all due respect to the federal government -- and I work for it -- but government doesn't create anything. It doesn't drive the economy. It spends money. And what we should do is give some of that money back and put it back in the pockets of people who make it in the first place."

Hastert was introduced by the president's father, former President George Bush, who described him as "a leader who can get things done."

Hastert credited the elder Bush for the leadership that has led to more people "enjoying freedom today than any other time."

He recounted his rise from a high school English teacher and football and wrestling coach to Illinois legislator and congressman, then to House Speaker.

"I decided instead of trying to be on TV every day, what we needed was get Congress to work," he said.

[Diddle E. Squat]

"You have four or five people who I'll call the prancing ponies of the Senate that all want to be a presidential candidate, or a wannabe."

[TaMoDee]

Pres GW the First should have said: "A leader who CANNOT get things done." Denny is a social liberal, RINO, from Northern Illinois. He backs ALL gun control. He votes for taxes increases. His "leadership" will/is only hurt/hurting Pres GW the Second. Denny has no balls just like Trent Lott.
He cannot get the job done!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Whatever. He's fighting with Bush for the $550 mil. tax cut.

[republicanwizard]

Thanks for your idiotic insight. Judging on election results and votes in Congress, Hastert has been millions of times more effective than the Newt the incompetent, Newt the naive, Newt the moron, from Georgia.

[republicanwizard]

Newt, by his incompetence brought us down from 230 seats. Hastert is putting us back up and above that level.

[TaMoDee]

When did Newt enter my comment?

[rose]

AMEN, and I am from Georgia. My husband retired from the airlines, and Newt used to represent our area, a lot of airline people here. He knew he would loose and moved north of ATL where he would not loose. We did not like him, he double crossed the airline industy a few years back when Eastern, et al were in trouble and lost. He moved away to stay in congress. He looks out for Newt and he is a double crosser.

[JohnBovenmyer]

the prancing ponies of the Senate

Sounds like we need a cowboy to round up them (long eared) 'ponies.' Fortunately we already have a (media annointed) cowboy in Dubya. Someone needs to draw an editorial cartoon of that round up. Don't forget to draw W's big white hat.

[republicanwizard]

Nothing worse than an opporuntunist who can't even profit by that character flaw.

[rose]

And by the way, he did not have to move away, there was not any re-districting that would make him move, he knew he was going to loose in this county. Fayette County, Georgia, he was not liked here and I still to not like him, nor do I trust him. He cheated on two wives, and I do not like him.

[republicanwizard]

I agree. He was a repulsive character.

[TaMoDee]

See Post #6.

[reformed_democrat]

Denny is a social liberal, RINO, from Northern Illinois.

I take it you know him personally . . .

[pacpam]

I want those Senators who decided to run for President to resign their seats - they are working against the best interests of the American people in order to win the Presidency.

[reformed_democrat]

Since you know him so well, perhaps you could explain how he managed to fool the ACU.

ACU Ratings for Representative Hastert***:
Year 2002 -- 100
Year 2001 -- 93
Lifetime -- 93

If you don't believe me, here's the link.

[america-rules]

There are always idiots that pop up on FR and knock down anyone who's not right of Bob Barr. They want a taliban utopia like the left wants their socalist utopia ! The closer to elections the more they pop their heads up :)

[EERinOK]

The house has passed a good half a dozen pieces of legislation the last two years aimed and curbing govt growth and spurring economic developent, under Hastertt's leadership. Nobody in DC is the perfect embodiement of conservatism, but the legislation is there by the house.

[Coop]

You'll excuse me if I take the ACU's assessment of Speaker Hastert over yours?

By the way, why would a "liberal" like Hastert let a VRWC leader like DeLay take over as Majority Leader? Or is DeLay a RINO, too?