Breaking: Hastert will not run again

[Perky]

Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) has notified local supporters that he will hold a press conference this Friday at the Kendall County Courthouse, a conservative blog in Illinois reported, fueling speculation that he will announce his plans not to run for re-election.

Cal Skinner reported on Illinois Review over the weekend that Hastert sent letters to his supporters inviting them to a press conference at the courthouse Friday at 10 o'clock in the morning. The former speaker does not state his intentions for the upcoming election cycle in the letter, but many Republicans in the state expect him to announce his retirement some time this month.

As Politico's Josh Kraushaar notes, Illinois has one of the earlier filing deadlines for candidates to announce their plans, forcing incumbents to announce their intentions early.

Republican leaders in the House have also counseled their members considering retirement to step down early enough so that potential successors have enough time to raise the campaign cash necessary to run a successful race.

[salin]

1. wonder how those investigations into his land dealings are going?

Bye bye Denny - we won't miss ya!

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Rove, now Hasteret.

Something is a foot.

[lynnertic]

3. I wonder if Larry Flint has anything to do with this?

[Bjornsdotter]

15. Aaaack!

....just the thought of that is so disgusting, I'm going to have to bleach my brain.

:puke:

[youngdem]

16. I was wondering the same thing

I haven't heard anything from old Larry lately. He said he had more.

Hmmmm.

[rodeodance]

4. another Turd leaving with Health care insur. and pension!

[DrDan]

5. lol . . . . he called a press conference for this?

Seems these reporters have some important events to cover instead.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. I expected this

He's not been happy since he lost his majority powers. Poor baby.

I wonder if this is an indication that he doesn't expect the GOP to regain majority in 2008?

[bluestateguy]

7. His seat would have been winnable

If the Democrat dingbats in the Illinois legislature had re-redistricted the state in retaliation for Texas and Georgia. But no, they didn't want Sean Hannity to say mean things about them.

So now the seat will likely be filled by some 32 year old yuppie conservative who holds the seat for life.

[thereismore]

8. Hastert? Run??? ROFL! nt

[rosesaylavee]

21. I know - I thought it was a joke too.

Denny hasn't run in a couple of decades.

[SoCalDem]

23. "amble" is more like it for Igor

[CountAllVotes]

9. another rat

jumping a sinking ship.

Who is next?

Don't things run in threes supposedly?

:dem:

[marions ghost]

10. Who'd next?

first a Turdblossom then a Hasturd.

It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood...

[BuyingThyme]

11. WooHoo! Laesch for Congress!

http://www.john08.com/

[Richard Steele]

12. He'll be sorely missed. No one covered for repubs hitting on underage pages like 'ol Denny!

[Bitwit1234]

13. I think the 500,000 in a suitcase from the Saudis might be the reason

There is an investigation in trying to find out what it was for.

[Richard Steele]

14. "The same thing we do EVERY night, Pinky..."

"RETIRE under a cloud of investigations!"

[never_get_over_it]

17. I guess the formal announcement is breaking

but John Laesch was on Mike Malloy about two weeks ago and he stated Hastert was not seeking reelection. Apparently there will be a Dem primary - probably a repunk one too. John Laesch is FABULOUS and ran in 04 - anyone who has a few bucks to send him PLEASE do - he worked his heart out in 04 and is very progressive and I can not say enough good words about him.

http://www.john08.com/

BTW Hastert there was big rumor that Hastert was going to resign after the 2004 elections because his pension would have been much higher if he retired as Speaker - have no idea if its true about the pension or not - but for sure the rumor wasn't....

[VP505]

18. Hasturd wants

to spend more time at home with the family, ya know, grilling Brats. (he, he, he)

[Parche]

19. He Cant Even Walk

How can he run again............:shrug: :shrug: :hi:

[rateyes]

20. To quote a good Democrat...

Good riddance.

[SoCalDem]

22. Maybe he's gonna get indicted..n/t