Hastert: Anyone hiding page issue leaves

[sabra]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4248349.html

Hastert: Anyone hiding page issue leaves

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Tuesday he'll dismiss anyone on his staff found to have covered up concerns about ex-Rep. Mark Foley"s approaches to former pages.

Hastert said he huddled with his staff last week and in hindsight, they could have handled the complaints better.

But he added, "If they did cover something up they should not have their jobs."

[LynneSin]

1. So when is Hasert going to leave

Seriously - sounds like a Hypocrite to me!

[kstewart33]

2. So when does he fire himself? eom

[aquart]

3. They didn't cover up. They told him flat out.

What a gift basket of meadow muffins.

[gratuitous]

4. Wow, as tough as Bush!

Anyone who leaks in the Bush administration is out the door, too! Golly, we're lucky to have two such vigilant and dedicated public servants running our top government institutions.

Number of folks fired by Bush for leaking: 0

Number of folks fired by Hastert for covering up scandals: 0

Keep score at home!

[MorningGlow]

6. Jinx, Gratuitous!

:hi:

[meegbear]

8. Jinx, MorningGlow!

:hi:

[MaineDem]

11. That was my first thought, too

It's the GOP way. At least they're all "on message".

:puke:

[E-Z-B]

24. Bingo.

[LostinVA]

So, is he firing himself? Hypocritical jerk

[MorningGlow]

5. DC's gonna be nearly empty

All those firings--first all those who were involved with the Plame outing, now this...right?

...Maybe not...

[Supersedeas]

7. If a crime has been committed, then they 'ought to' leave. STRONG like

Pretzel Boy

[Kagemusha]

9. Denny "The Firewall" Hastert boldly throwing his staff under the bus

That's Hastert for you, protecting the Republicans at all costs. Including the cost of his staff. What a guy!

[partylessinOhio]

"Exit stage left yourself, Buster!"

[corporatemedia]

10. What's keeping you, Denny's "Grand Spam" Hastert? eom

[maxrandb]

12. Typical of the Party of Personal Responsibility, isn't it?

When the shit hits the fan...BLAME THE HELP.

[BOSSHOG]

13. "THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE THEIR JOBS."

Max wiggle room for denny. That statement is not definitive, means nothing, holds him to no future action. No doubt he talked with rove this morning.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Just like ** was gonna toss out the leakers? Yah, right.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

15. But you got to admit...He give a Great press conference...

Answers questions clearly, and stays until the last question is answered.:sarcasm:

I'd like to hear an answer like "we are in major crisis mode...everybody in leadership knew and covered-up this mess, including
Bush and Cheney. I resign, and the rest should too. I'm sorry"

[madrchsod]

16. "heavy d" isn`t going anywhere

the dixon telegraph editorial in sunday`s paper stated it was up to the voters to decide denny fate...so "heavy d" isn`t going anywhere. but i will say this for the paper they have covered this story since it hit the news and was last weeks front page headlines..so i guess it will be up to the republicans in this district to decide if he is a worthy of their trust.

[MaineDem]

17. Do we want this man as the second in line to the Presidency?

Seems to me if people keep bringing that up it would have merit. As mentioned earlier, if anything happens to Bush and Cheney right now, Denny's the guy with the "football". He can't run the House; how will he be able to run the Country?

[kestrel91316]

18. So, Denny, ya gonna fire that live-in "girlfriend" of yours?

[GeorgeGist]

19. Let the specious reasoning begin...

""If they did cover something up, then they should not continue to have their jobs."

That not a promise to dismiss them, is it?

[PurityOfEssence]

20. Sound like Junior and the Plame affair

Remember when that first broke? He was going to cashier anyone who leaked or knew about it.

[warrens]

21. Another botch job

Blaming his staff. That will not fly.

[confludemocrat]

22. Instead of "should not" how about "will not" have their jobs, dickhead Den

ny, not that parsing his words here would preclude outright lying about and/or welching on a pledge to dump anyone involved

[stepnw1f]

23. Then Be a Leader and Leave! (nt)

[bdamomma]

25. Hastert your talk is cheap

then take your own advice and leave, but again, he is taking the whole party down with him, so I'll reconsider.

[gasperc]

26. Fantasy Pelosi statement "so when are you leaving Denny?"

It would be politically explosive type of statement but improve the wording a bit so that Hastert gets the message

[rodeodance]

27. Hastert to dismiss anyone who hid Foley's behavior

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-10-fbi-foley_x.htm?csp=1

Hastert to dismiss anyone who hid Foley's behavior

Updated 10/10/2006 1:59 PM ET


By Douglas Stanglin, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Dennis Hastert, under mounting political pressure over the House page scandal, said today that he does not believe anyone on his staff did anything wrong, but that if they did they should be fired.

The speaker said that he met with his staff last week to review the issues and, in hindsight, probably could have handled the case "a little bit better."

(ON DEADLINE: Hastert on defensive; your comments)

"If they (staff) did cover something up, then they should not continue to have their jobs," the Illinois Republican said in a meeting with reporters in Aurora, Ill. "But I didn't think anybody at any time in my office did anything wrong."

"If there was a problem, or a cover-up, we should find that out through the investigative process," he said...............

[LiberalFighter]

28. Number 1 to go should be him!!!!!!!

[LaurenG]

29. I guess he'll have to dismss himself then. n/t

[tridim]

30. I've seen this movie before

Plame anyone?

[truthisfreedom]

32. this translates to "if you speak about Foley, you're fired."

"if you reveal anything else that's embarrassing to the party, you're out of here."

[rosesaylavee]

31. Oh yeah.

Yada yada yada. I'll believe it when I see it.

[bpeale]

33. sorry denny

that horse has already left the barn. too little. too late.

[sofa king]

34. That is NOT what Hastert said.

What he said was:

"If they did cover something up, then they should not continue to have their jobs. But I didn't think anybody at any time in my office did anything wrong."

What that implies--very strongly implies--is that anyone hiding something in the page issue will keep their jobs until the bullshit FBI investigation indicates otherwise, which it of course won't. Hastert was even careful to structure the statement in such a way that suggests he personally has no control over the issue.

"Should not continue to have their jobs"? I guess Hastert is going to have to bring that opinion up with himself when it comes time to decide.