Hastert Will Seek Another Term as House Speaker

[Rose Siding]

snip>
Republican officials said they are relieved by the development because it postpones what is likely to be a brutal succession fight that would be a distraction from next year's midterm elections, which are historically tough for the party in power, and from Bush's domestic agenda, which is already having a tough time on Capitol Hill.

Hastert, 63, is criticized for sometimes failing to force tough decisions but is credited with having the patience and moral authority to push members of an occasionally fractious caucus to reach pragmatic consensus. Hastert was first elected in 1986 and is serving his ninth term in the House. He has recently embarked on several high-profile fundraising swings, including an appearance for Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), a moderate who sometimes bucks the conservative leadership.

Most politicians make such an announcement with fanfare. But Hastert revealed his plans at a fundraiser that was closed to the media.
...
The most immediate beneficiary is House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), who holds the No. 2 slot in leadership, because it gives him a chance to be cleared by the House ethics committee before the leadership jockeying begins. "What he needs is time," a Republican leadership aide said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/23/AR2005072300759.html

[autorank]

1. Correction .... "House Minority Leader"

:evilgrin:

Pay attention to fraud, win in 2006

[madrchsod]

2. shit- that means two more fuck`n years

and the illinois democratic party won`t back anyone to unseat him..fuck another two years..oh well i guess it really doesn`t matter cause he doesn`t do jack shit for us out here anyway.

[napi21]

3. HA! Thats funny! I bet DeLay begged Hastert to stay!

You know DeLay want's that job BAD! He knows it would be a hell of a fight to get it right now!

I'm still hoping that the TX DA will hang him in addition to the House ethics committee!

To me, Hastert looks like a coward, and most of the time he is hiding somewhere. I can't even tell you when the last time was that I saw HIM in the Chairman's seat. I watch cspan all the time, and there's always someone else filling in for him.

[aquart]

4. Aww. Denny wants to be President.

The line about DeLay only needing "time" is hilarious. What he needs is to DO time.

[aquart]

5. BTW, who are we running AGAINST Hastert.

We'd be stupid to think anything is a safe seat next year.

[madrchsod]

9. do you really want to know?

[aquart]

11. Is it that pathetic?

[madrchsod]

12. yup --the democrats didn`t back

zamora because they wanted fat boy to stay because he was in a powerful position to get things done for illinois--ya right. he`s got millions for his home town and that leaves nothing for the rest of us.
zamora was a good guy but of course he would not have won. yet he would have energized the hispanic vote in this district and in the future we may have a good chance to get close,which is about all we can expect right now. zamora may run again but he will get nothing from the big guys....but the local parties supported him and they probably will again. ya it`s pathetic....

[aquart]

13. The GOP attacked Daschle.

I think we should consider it a moral obligation to attack with force any Republican leader. By force, of course, I mean back the candidate up the wazoo.

Hastert, master of the billionaire's bitches club. Surely there must be something his district wouldn't like about him. Something true that they haven't wanted to notice?

[jaysunb]

8. He will be President in about a year or less

mark my words !

[Kolesar]

16. Only if there is a dual assassination of VP and Preznit

In Nixon/Agnew's case, corrupt Agnew was driven off, and Nixon appointed Ford as successor. Then Nixon was driven to oblivion and Ford took over.

I suppose Fat Hastard would succeed if we had a coincidental legal/political removal of Beast/Cheney.

Could you imagine what would happen if Cheney blew an aorta next week?

[jaysunb]

17. Yea....I suspect, that, as the noose tightens

Chaney will need to, "spend more time with his doctors, " Bush will then pick a real doozy, like Delay or Sanatorium as VP to ensure pardons all around.

Don't laugh......

[bluestateguy]

6. Remember when Republicans used to support term limits

?

[Greeby]

7. Who knows

Depending on what happens when the indictments come down, he could be President before the mid-terms get here

[Voltaire99]

10. "Pragmatic consensus"

So that's what they're calling religious fascism these days.

The term makes it sound so colorless, so inevitable; as, I suppose, it is...

[DanCa]

14. An embarrasment to my state (nt(

[yorgatron]

15. maybe we'll get lucky,and he'll keel over from

a heart attack.
hey Denny! go ahead,slather some more mayo on your sandwich,what could it hurt? :evilgrin: