Breaking: Hastert Asks Ney To Resign As Admin. Cmte. Chair

[CatWoman]

House Speaker Dennis Hastert has asked Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) to step down from his post as chairman of the House Administration Committee, three sources with knowledge of the request said today.

A source close to Hastert said the Speaker does not want to unveil lobbying reform legislation with Ney still in possession of a senior House position.

Ney is in New Orleans, LA today chairing a congressional field hearing on housing reconstruction in the Gulf Coast region, according to his spokesman, Brian Walsh. The hearing is ongoing and Walsh said his boss would not comment.

A Republican close to Ney said that "he obviously recognizes that, although he confident that he didn't do anything wrong, he recognizes his name is becoming a distraction to the Republican conference."

The source, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak candidly, said Ney "will make the best decision for the conference." The source would offer no time frame on the decision.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/01/breaking_haster.html

[JeffR]

1. We'll be hearing a lot of Reps making statements

About their confidence that they didn't do anything wrong, this year.

[rodeodance]

2. the word Reform will be coming at us from all sides.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Why doesn't he ask Tom DeLay to resign, too? n/t

[spanone]

4. Sacrificial Lamb, nothing more, nothing less. They want it all to go away.

They hope offering up Ney will satisfy everyone...no way Jose.

[aquart]

5. Aww. Hastert positioning himself as the honest Republican?

LMAO.

[spuddonna]

6. LOL I wonder if they think he'll be wearing a wire!

I mean, think about it. Hastert was ready to vote Delay back into his leadership position, for cripessake! Then we find out the 'Duke' was wearing a wire for several months before he went down.

"A source close to Hastert said the Speaker does not want to unveil lobbying reform legislation with Ney still in possession of a senior House position."

This has nothing to do with their concern for 'higher integrity' and 'lobbying reform'. They don't want to be 'bugged' by the cops!

[KharmaTrain]

7. Denny's Sweating Bullets....ROFL

I'm sure this is a job he didn't want to do...and doesn't sound like it's going smoothly. These crooks really don't see how deep of a mess they're in...they're oblivious to how slimy even this kibuki dance looks. As I keep saying every time I see Gym Teech Denny these days "Stop me before I reform again" :rofl:

The fat turd is trying to get ahead of a story that is miles ahead of his corrupt party. This is not even damage control, this is trying to fix the New Orleans levees with Spackle...he knows Ney is about to get nailed and better to have him "backbenched" before the bad news and avoid another DeLay emabarassment. He also knows he's gonna have to do this again as more names surface and more forced replacements and retirements lie ahead.

And of course, there's Denny's real problem...whose gonna fill all these posts as anyone with an Abramoff stain will have to be removed from any major party function less this issue follow them to November. This ain't gonna be easy for Mr. Denny as we can see in the leadership fight that's already forming...he's got a split party between those who are pissed DeLay got caught and those who want to pick up the crumbs of the DeLay machine.

Eventually Denny will be on the hot seat here as the wave of events will push him aside as his power base evaporates...especially when DeLay is convicted and frog marched out of the House once and for all.

[acmavm]

8. PLEASE, from your post to God's computer.

I sincerely hope you're right.