The man who held the post of speaker longer than any Republican in history is now but one of a multitude, serving out his last days in the Congress he helped to lose. Denny Hastert’s refusal to retire makes him a historical oddity, since House speakers typically end their reigns by either resigning or dying.
New York Times:
Defying expectations that he would immediately retire if the Republicans lost their majority, Mr. Hastert is preparing to remain in the House for at least the early months of the 110th Congress while he helps orchestrate a line of succession at home in Illinois and seeks to shape a political ending beyond his party’s defeat.
“It is not an ideal situation, but the speaker is a grounded person and is focused on serving another term in Congress,” said Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for Mr. Hastert.
Others close to Mr. Hastert say the speaker, who has said little publicly since the Republicans lost the House, is dejected and embarrassed by the rebuke. The defeat had a strong personal element, because Mr. Hastert’s role in the Mark Foley scandal became a Democratic talking point and severely limited his effectiveness as an advocate for House candidates.
Mr. Hastert is awaiting a report from the House ethics committee on whether he or his staff should have taken earlier and more aggressive steps to deal with warnings about improper conduct by Mr. Foley, the former Republican representative from Florida, toward Congressional pages.
The speaker’s supporters say Mr. Hastert, whom President Bush urged to seek another term when he might have preferred to retire, would like to end on a brighter note than losing the majority that he has led since 1998.
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Jump to Comments
By Quy Tran, November 23, 2006 at 6:47 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
He’s right when step down but not out because he doesn’t want to make a long line at unemployment office to claim for benefits.
How’s smart he is ?
Report thisBy Montie Shields USAF RET., November 23, 2006 at 6:15 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Dennis Hastert is a FAT DESPICABLE creature.
Report thisWhat else can someone say about a person that
allows children to be molested for the sake
of the PARTY? Don’t it just churn your guts
when you hear about the way our children
yours and mine, are being abused raped murder-
ed, and endangered. When I said our children
I ment that literally. My wife and I have a
thirty-one (31) year old totally handicapped
son. On this Thanksgiving day we are so great-
ful that he is alive is hard to express. My
son and I helped get a daycare program started
Things were fine until this one awful creature
was hired. She took a dislike to me, and dec-
ided to take it out on my son, by refusing to
pull his seat belt tight. This caused him
great pain. When I insisted that his seatbelt
be pulled tight he was kicked out of the pro-
gram. No one is willing to help. ie: the Gov-
ernor’s office of Nevada said it was not his
jurisdiction, A certain Congress Woman said
my case was local and she was Federal.There
has been MANY, MANY other turn downs. What
I’m trying to say is isn’t it about time we
got rid of these do nothing Politicians. and
judges? Every time you hear about some child
being molested or murdered the culpit always
has from THREE TO THIRTEEN priors. Think how
many lives could be saved if after ONE they
are DONE!