What do you think Denny Hastert's big announcement will be?

[Coexist]

really?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. He's pregnant?

no, can't be that.

He will stepping aside and picking an ultra-conservative to step into his shit-creek waders.

[Coexist]

3. I'm not from that area - do you know who the likely candidate will be?

[never_get_over_it]

4. John Laesch ran against Hastert in 06

and actually did pretty well. John is runnig again - there will be a Dem primary - don't know the others don't care I'm supporting John he is fabulous - very progressive - very smart -

I'm not in his district I'm in FL but I love John sent him money in 06 and will again for 08 - check him out please

www.john08.com

[Coexist]

5. thank you, I will.

[frogcycle]

9. I'm in his district

it was rumored back in Nov Denny'd leave - was angling to be ambassador to Japan

Laesch said "keep your yard signs"

[never_get_over_it]

14. John had a great interview

on Malloy the week of the Yearly Kos - I really admire John a great deal and hope he wins the primary because he just might be able to pull this off because it is an open seat. John seems like such a DECENT hard working guy - I have been and continue to be impressed....

and oh he had the greatest folks volunteering for him - I called out there a few times when I would come up with some "brainstorm" I wanted to share with them and had some fabulous conversations with a few of them - even talked to John once too - it was fun....

[frogcycle]

15. Ha!

I'm on John's mailing list - recently they have been coming from a "Jennifer Laesch" and I wondered who that was - didn't remember her from the 06 campaign

just saw on the website he got married in June - to Jennifer Downard

I wrote back to a mass mailing that I could not attend the ice cream social on July 5 because I'd be out of town on vacation; she wrote back right away with a nice note, saying "have a great time"

THAT is the kind of people we need in congress - actual people!

I met him at a townhall meeting in Oct. Very bright, very personable. Not the most polished speaker - he seemed very self conscious. As soon as he said something notable I started applauding - everyone joined in, You could actually see him relax! Started making more eye contact, smiling, got more animated. That was my big contribution to his campaign (aside from money, yard signs, and a vote)

[frogcycle]

18. several others have announced for 08

don't have names handy, but various local dem officials - city councilmen, that sort of thing

[malaise]

2. Goodbye cruel world

but can he fit in here.

[IndianaJones]

6. retiring..health reasons. nt.

[WI_DEM]

7. That he's taking over for Kristie Alley as spokesperson for Jeannie Craig?

[Bigleaf]

8. He saved a ton of money...

after switching his car insurance to GEICO.

[Totally Committed]

10. DC Madam?

One of these guys has to be next! LOL!

:puke: oops, sorry...

TC

[racaulk]

20. Ewww...

Didn't need that mental image! :puke:

:hi:

[Swede]

11. He's opening a slew of oversight investigations of the Whitehouse.

Oh,yeah.

[porphyrian]

12. He's actually the Grimace in white face. - n/t

[dbackjon]

13. He and Karl Rove

Are running off to Canada to get married, and then live in a seculded island out of the grasp of American law enforcement.

[sofa king]

16. He'll quit.

My understanding is that at this point there's enough dirt on him to make his reelection a race of national interest, which will naturally draw donations to the Dems from around the country and jeopardize the seat.

If he bails now, his successor has a chance. He doesn't.

[AndyA]

17. He finally passed that big turd that's been stuck in his intestines for

40 years, and he now weighs 185 pounds?

:rofl:

[soothsayer]

21. and that turd's name is karl rove

[CatWoman]

19. ....

It's not exactly Karl Rove-level news, but GOP sources tell CQ.com that Dennis Hastert will announce his retirement from Congress Friday.

Hastert served as speaker of the House from 1998 until earlier this year, when he was replaced by Democrat Nancy Pelosi. Propped into power by Tom DeLay, Speaker Hastert was a reliable water carrier for the Bush administration and the Republican Party's right wing more generally.

In these parts, Hastert may be best remembered -- to the extent he's remembered at all -- for the bumbling way in which he handled the Mark Foley scandal in the weeks leading up the 2006 midterm elections. Without naming too many names, a House Ethics Committee investigation into the Foley case concluded that House Republicans and their staffs remained "willfully ignorant of the potential consequences of Rep. Foley's conduct with respect to House pages" and displayed a "disconcerting unwillingness to take responsibility for resolving issues regarding Rep. Foley's conduct."

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/

[CanonRay]

22. He's cut a deal to do diet commercials

[Mz Pip]

23. Perhps he has a slow leak

and will deflate into a small flat pile of landfill. He's been so full of hot air for so long he had to pop eventually.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[peacetalksforall]

24. Could be totally independent of Karl, however -

the timing means -
. we're going to learn something coming out of the Abramoff crimes next week
or
. they are on the 'list'
or
. Hastert is also involved in the political manipulation involving Attys and his name is in the e-mails as a co-strategizer or operative.

Could be just timing - recess before September - Republican candidates ready to go.

Speculating is easy because they are allegedly guilty on so many levels and in so many events

Are the Mariannas labor deals the same as the Abrahoff deals?