Hastert Makes Final Floor Speech ~ (Good bye and good riddence!)

[Breeze54]

Hastert Makes Final Floor Speech

Ohioan Receives Standing Ovation :eyes:

UPDATED: 5:25 pm EST November 15, 2007

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/14608806/detail.html


Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert confirmed Thursday that he won't complete his 11th term

in the House -- and may resign before his term is over.

Hastert told reporters that he thinks he'll be "gone by the first of the year."



Earlier, in a floor speech that he said would be his last, he offered a farewell
to his colleagues, and indicated that his resignation would come soon.

"It's time for this legislator to return to being a private citizen," he said
before being given a long ovation by members of both parties.

Hastert, a former government, history and economics teacher and a wresting coach
began, his political career when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
in 1980.

He was House speaker longer than any other Republican, after winning the speaker's office
in January 1999. Two better-known Republicans were forced aside by scandals and by intra-
party rivalries.

Hastert left the post when Democrats regained control of the House after the 2006 elections,
and announced he wouldn't seek another term in August.

His resignation will trigger a special election in his Chicago-area district.

Republicans are hoping to hold the seat ahead of next year's general election, which some are
fearing will draw large numbers of Democratic voters unhappy with President George W. Bush\
and the Iraq war.

Last year, Hastert came under fire in the midst of a scandal over inappropriate e-mails
to House pages from former Florida GOP Rep. Mark Foley.

Foley was forced to resign in the scandal, and critics said that Hastert's office knew about
the e-mails a year before they were made public, but did not intervene.

Hastert denied any wrongdoing in how his office handled the matter, and fought against efforts
to force him from the speakership.

Previous Stories:

* October 18, 2007: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/14368845/detail.html">Former House Speaker Ready To Resign

[11 Bravo]

1. Don't choke on the bratwurst on your way out, ya fat bastard!

[SoCalDem]

2. Enjoy your retirement, Denny

In a few months, I think there may be some "legal issues" taking up some of your time:evilgrin:

Dig a VERY deep (and wide) hole.

[Breeze54]

3. LOL! I think you're right!

He just wants to 'quietly' fade away....Not going to happen! ;)

[Bitwit1234]

4. WHY are these guys leaving before the end of their term??

I don't understand this. Same with Hutchinson. Do they have some thing that might come out.

[racaulk]

6. I think they enjoyed the power they had for way too long.

Now that they don't have it, and probably won't again for a long time, they don't really feel the need to stick around. However, Repuke or no, I think they should at least complete the terms that their constituents elected them to.

However, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a scandal to be revealed. :)

[Breeze54]

7. YES!

Hastert is under an investigation by the FBI.

-----------

Hastert under Investigation by FBI

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000738.php

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, is under investigation by the FBI,
which is seeking to determine his role in an ongoing public corruption probe into members of
Congress, ABC News has learned from high level government sources. Federal officials say the
information implicating Hastert was developed from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating
with the government.

---------------

I'm not sure if Hastert is still under investigation.

----------------------------

State-by-state lookahead: What's at stake in 2008

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-11-06-lookahead-2008_N.htm

Alaska

Scandals tied to an influential Alaska oil contractor could jeopardize the re-election hopes of two
of Alaska's longest-serving politicians. A home belonging to Republican Sen. Ted Stevens was raided
by federal agents in July as part of a probe into whether Stevens received illegal gifts and violated
campaign laws. Law enforcement is looking into similar allegations involving fellow Republican Don
Young, Alaska's only U.S. representative since 1973.

Arizona

Under federal investigation for a land swap with a campaign donor, Republican Rep. Rick Renzi
has announced that he will not seek re-election.


California

Under a federal investigation for his ties to convicted Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff,
Republican Rep. John Doolittle narrowly beat his Democratic opponent in 2006. That opponent
will repeat his challenge, but Democrat Charlie Brown, a retired U.S. Air Force officer,
won't be the only one picking on Doolittle this time. Fellow Republicans have called on
Doolittle to step aside and at least three said they are considering opposing him in the primary.

Connecticut

After surviving close re-elections in 2004 and 2006, Republican Rep. Christopher Shays
has said he will not run again unless his party makes it worth his while...

Idaho

Following news of his arrest in a Minneapolis airport restroom sex sting, Sen. Larry Craig
initially said he intended to resign from the Senate. Craig later changed his mind, opting
to serve out the rest of his term but not seek re-election. The race to replace Craig could
be a rematch of the state's 2006 race for lieutenant governor...

Illinois

Illinois could be a central front in the battle for control of the U.S. House, with three
representatives retiring and three others facing potentially tough re-elections. Republican
Reps. Jerry Weller, Ray LaHood and Dennis Hastert, former speaker of the House, are leaving.

Indiana

Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who snapped a 16-year Democratic run when he won in 2004, was not
shy about bringing changes to the state. Democrats will challenge Daniels' re-election bid by
questioning his sometimes controversial actions, including a switch of the state's time zone,
privatization of prisons and the lease of a 157-mile toll road to a private, foreign company.
Jim Schellinger, an architect and Democratic fundraiser, and former congresswoman Jill Long
Thompson are seeking the Democratic nomination.

Kentucky

Sen. Mitch McConnell has no declared opponent yet, but national liberal and anti-war groups
have already launched a campaign against the Republican minority leader, criticizing him as
a rubber stamp for President Bush.

Maine

Republican Sen. Susan Collins could face a tough challenge from six-term Democratic Rep. Tom Allen.
Allen, who voted against authorizing use of force in Iraq in 2002, has criticized Collins' support
of the Iraq war. More than a half dozen Democrats and Republicans have lined up to compete for
Allen's House seat.

Massachusetts

With no Republicans in statewide office or Congress, Massachusetts is clearly Democratic territory,
but the state's presidential hopeful is former governor Mitt Romney, a Republican. Massachusetts
has not voted for a GOP presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan. Democratic Sen. John Kerry has
challengers to the left and right in his re-election bid. Former Gloucester city councilor Edward
O'Reilly will oppose Kerry in the primary, and Republican Jeff Beatty, who founded a security
consulting firm, plans to run in the general election.

Mississippi

Republican Rep. Chip Pickering will retire, but his seat, which lies in a heavily Republican
district, is likely to stay under that party's control. Sen. Thad Cochran, a Republican, said
he will announce a decision on a re-election bid soon.

New Mexico

Sen. Pete Domenici's announcement last month that he would not seek re-election created three open
Republican congressional seats because Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce are leaving their House seats
to run for his Senate seat. Democratic candidates in the state's first open Senate race since 1972
include Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez.

South Dakota

Despite a life-threatening brain hemorrhage in December that kept him away from Congress for nine months,
Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson says he will run again in 2008. Johnson won his last re-election bid by only 524 votes...

Texas

After former House majority leader Tom DeLay, a Republican, was indicted on money-laundering
charges and resigned, Democratic Rep. Nick Lampson won his seat in 2006. A half dozen Republicans
are campaigning to take back the heavily Republican district. Democratic Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, who
unseated Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla in a December 2006 runoff election, could also face a tough
re-election bid.

Utah

Republican Rep. Chris Cannon could face strong challenges from members of his own party unhappy
with Cannon's support of President Bush's immigration overhaul plan....

Virginia

With the retirement of Republican Sen. John Warner, former Democratic governor Mark Warner looks
to be the favorite to take his seat. Mark Warner, who is not related to John Warner, raised more
than $1 million in less than three weeks between declaring his candidacy and filing a September
fundraising report. Jim Gilmore, also a former governor, has expressed interest on the GOP side.


Washington

After losing the first two counts, Democrat Chris Gregoire won the governor's mansion by 129 votes
on a hand recount in 2004. Republicans are trying to draft her 2004 opponent, former state senator
Dino Rossi, for another run, but he has yet to announce a decision. Republicans have criticized
Gregoire for holding town-hall-style meetings around the state, saying it amounts to a taxpayer-
funded campaign.

Wyoming

The June death of Republican Sen. Craig Thomas from leukemia forced a special election that will
result in races for all three seats in the state's congressional delegation. Sen. John Barrasso,
a Republican who was chosen to replace Thomas, will participate in the special election but has
no declared opponent yet. Republican Sen. Mike Enzi won his last re-election bid with 73% of the
vote and also has yet to draw a Democratic challenger. Republican Rep. Barbara Cubin won her seventh
term by just more than 1,000 votes in 2006. Her Democratic opponent in that election, Gary Trauner,
has said he will oppose Cubin again.

-------------

[KharmaTrain]

8. 8th Day Wonder On The 9th Day

I was surprised Gym Teach Denny didn't call it quits last January. It's not easy going from pampered poodle to back bencher. Besides losing being Speaker and any majority status, many Repugnicans blamed good ole Denny for the losses last year thanks to the way he handled the Foley fiasco. Things musta been awfully lonely for the fat old oaf for the past couple months.

A bunch of Repugnicans are cashing out cause they see the trends and they don't look good. The GOOP problems are deep and wide and the signs are the party isn't only going to take a thumping next year but will come out of the election fractured. Democrats continue to make gains in the West and in suburbia that, combined with strengths in the cities, could mean the reforming of the Democratic majorities that dominated the House and Senate for nearly 40 years.

Many of these people were used to pushing through legislation, putting in their earmarks, taking the money under the table and none would be the wiser. Those days are over...it doesn't "pay" any longer. Hell, Denny doesn't look like he's gonna get his highway to nowhere afterall.

It'll be interesting to see how the special election plays out...while it could enable Denny's "successor" to get a head start on the general, it could also help energize an emerging Democratic party in an area that is getting more purple.

[marmar]

5. Don't let the doorknob hit you ..... (It would probably break if it did)

:nopity:

[gratuitous]

9. "Ohioan receives standing ovation"?

I thought he was from Illinois? Anyway, it's nice to see Denny waddle off into the sunset. The next phase of his life can be devoted to paying for his crimes.