Hastert Tells Conservative He’ll Resign If It Helps GOP

[sabra]

http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/hastert_tells_conservative_hel.html#more

Hastert Tells Conservative He’ll Resign If It Helps GOP

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., told a leading conservative Wednesday that he would resign as the top congressional leader if it would help the Republican Party stave off defeat in November.

...

“He said if he thought that resigning would be helpful to the Republicans maintaining the majority, he would do it. But he did not think it would be helpful for Republicans,” Weyrich said in an interview after holding what he described as an emotional telephone conversation with Hastert, who is home in Illinois campaigning and trying to deal with the fallout from the Mark Foley scandal.

“He said he thought his resignation would just lead to a feeding frenzy where they would go after (Majority Leader John A.) Boehner, then (Rep. Thomas M.) Reynolds, then (Rep. John) Shimkus," Weyrich added. "And he said we would have the story running right up to the election.”

...

Weyrich, a bridge to conservative constituents, said Hastert expressed anger at Boehner, R-Ohio, who has maintained that he warned the Speaker about Foley last spring.

“The Speaker was ticked by that one involving Boehner,” Weyrich said. “Boehner threw it in his lap, and said he warned him. The Speaker said no such warning ever came from Boehner.”

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. throwing himself on the sword

how... gallant. :eyes:

[Disturbed]

5. Translation:

He won't resign because that won't help the Rethugs. Even before this latest scandal the Rethugs were way down in approval ratings.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. Yep!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. How safe is his seat?

If it begins to appear he may lose it, get ready for the resignation. Better to leave a martyr than be beaten fair and square.

[clmbohdem]

2. Then there you go, he is gone with the Friday dump

this is getting crazy. I can't figure out where Rove fits into all of this.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

16. Rove is sitting in his dark little dungeon...

Sweaty and frantically trying to figure out how to get out of this hole.

Give him 2-3 weeks, we'll find out what the revenge plan is. :scared:

[rurallib]

3. A cynic might say this was another fucking Repulican lying.

I am not so cynical. To me it is another Republican playing the "I am a victim" card.

[marmar]

4. And he can join the ever-growing pile of discarded Repug trash...

Katherine Harris, Tom Delay, Mark Foley, soon-to-be Ken Blackwell, Lynn Swann and Chafee, should he lose.
See what being a whore for your party gets you?

[0007]

20. The "Duke" fits in there with 'em also!

[Catherine Vincent]

6. Sort of feel sorry for Hastert.

Fat bastard.

[central scrutinizer]

7. taking one for the team

the Gipper would be proud

[central scrutinizer]

8. taking one for the team

the Gipper would be proud

[Erika]

10. You think any of them might take responsibility for the harm

they did to teenagers? Any of them?

It's all politics and power to them.

[riderinthestorm]

11. Resign what? The speakership?

I believe that's the bone he throws...

His persona in the district is high school gym coach goes to Washington. If this were ever true, this wrestling coach was corrupted by the bright lights eons ago.

The guy is as much a Congressional/Mafia playa as any that have walked the hallowed halls. He's wrung his millions outta his constituents, snowed this area with a Category 5 blizzard, and drunk the Kool-aid big time, so much so that he now believes he is Jimmy Hoffa - impervious to censure, jail or death.

I just don't see him resigning shit.

He is back with his homies who are massaging his shoulders and speaking soft words of sophistric adulation. This guy ain't budging, and his 300 plus lbs have sunk into the soggy rainsoaked turf of Yorkville with a vengeance.

I so want to believe he is gone. I so want to believe he'll walk the plank but I just know in my gut he's a sand thrower in a fight. Watch out Dems. He hasn't gotten where he is being Mr. Smith.

[RagAss]

19. I'd rather he stayed.....he's sitting in his own shit now...

the longer he sits there.......the more it stinks....

[sabra]

25. I would have to agree...

[longship]

12. It's tomorrow!!

The problem is, it ain't gonna help them win re-election.

The fight for power ain't gonna be pretty. Who are they going to find to replace Denny the Hut? Not Blunt. Not Boehner. Not Reynolds. How about David Dreier? Nope, not him either. I guess they'll have to find some poor fool back-bencher. That'll do them lots of good, eh?

[Erika]

14. GOP, the party without a future

They didn't lead and have no leaders. That's as succinct as I can put it.

[Neshanic]

13. Kids, it looks like a Friday news dump resignation.

[williesgirl]

15. When, if ever, will COUNTRY override PARTY? All of them are the same.

They care more for staying in/gaining power than what's good for the USA. Elected officials should represent their entire constituents, not just those of their party. When will we Americans begin to DEMAND this and not stand for the "party" bullshit?

[gratuitous]

17. Looks like a trial balloon going up to me

Now even Hastert is talking about his resignation. The idea grows a little larger each time it gets mentioned . . .

[Strelnikov_]

18. He Is Correct

“He said he thought his resignation would just lead to a feeding frenzy where they would go after (Majority Leader John A.) Boehner, then (Rep. Thomas M.) Reynolds, then (Rep. John) Shimkus," Weyrich added. "And he said we would have the story running right up to the election.”

Operation Distraction has turned into a Market Garden.

[yellowcanine]

21. He is right that if he resigns as speaker it will probably continue right

up to the election. Of course if he doesn't resign as speaker it will likely continue right up to the election as well. Rock, meet Hard Place. Hard Place, this is Rock. Heh. More popcorn, anyone? I made it fresh for the occasion.

[bullwinkle428]

22. That'll teach him about never turning his back on a Boehner...

...you never know what it might lead to!

FLAVIN!!

[NNN0LHI]

24. Here stick it in him. Hes done