Other prominent House Republicans appear to be backing Blunt's proposal. One GOP leadership aide predicted it would pass overwhelmingly. Hastert has said nothing about it.
Speaker Hastert neither requested this nor instigated it. The GOP rank and file respect him and the work he's done. They also know that there's no one who could replace him. No one with the votes, and no one with the power the man has.
If Hastert steps aside (as you all hope he will), there will be a huge uproar with the RINOs and right-wing-nuts jockeying for position. Some congressmen, like Blunt, have the foresight to avoid this.
If you want to see a real bloodletting in '06, that's your business. But understand -- the Republicans are just barely holding themselves together and fending off the democrats. Get Jennifer Dunn and Ron Paul tearing into each other, and you can kiss the conservative agenda goodbye.