Breaking News: Hastert Is OUT!

By haystack Posted in Breaking News — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Roll Call (big bucks subscription fee) reports Hastert will resign, "effective later this year". The "highlights"...

Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is expected to announce Thursday that he is resigning his seat in Congress effective later this year, eventually setting up a special election to succeed him, knowledgeable GOP sources said late Wednesday.

Rumblings have persisted for months that Hastert, who announced this summer that he would not seek re-election in 2008, was unlikely to complete his current term.
[...]
One key issue for Republicans is the timing of a special election, which will be called by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), and whether it might be held in conjunction with the state's Feb. 5 presidential and Congressional primaries.
[...]
The GOP would be slightly favored to hold the exurban Chicago seat in a regular election, but a special election could be problematic for the GOP because the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has far more money than the National Republican Congressional Committee.
[...]
According to state law, Blagojevich has five days from Hastert's last day in office to schedule the special election, which must take place within 115 days.

Although the law is clear regarding when special elections must be held state law is vague regarding whether a special primary precede it.

Not sure what "later this year" means...but I'm not sure who will attend the pity party.

Jim Oberweis has had his eye on this seat..... by St. Louis Conservative

...for a long time. He has great name recognition and is a candidate that can probably (at least partially) self-finance.

“.....women and minorities hardest hit”

Reply To This — User Info — #1

He can drop some coin. by liandro

He's already running TV ads, and has given himself over $600K on top of what he has raised. As for Hastert, there were rumors he'd be leaving in Dec. a long time ago, so this isn't much of a surprise.

Reply To This — User Info — #2

Yes, Oberweis can drop by AMHGOP

Yes, Oberweis can drop considerable cash into this race. Nonetheless, he has been able to do the same in each of his previous races, and where has that gotten him? He's a terrible candidate and is not taken seriously by much of the party. A lot of GOP insiders refer to him as "Keyes Light." He's just that bad. Lauzen should be our guy here, and he has similar cash on hand as Oberweis.

As for a special session, I wouldn't imagine many legislators would let that stop them from playing some role in this race. I work for the IL House, and we have hardly had anyone show up for the many special sessions called this year.

Reply To This — User Info — #3

Oberweis has always run for Senate or Governor.... by St. Louis Conservative

....never for this district, which is a Republican district. I think Oberweis stands a very good shot at winning if he gets the nod to run.

“.....women and minorities hardest hit”

Reply To This — User Info — #4

Exactly by liandro

His money will be far more tightly focused, and as you said it already leans Republican. Granted Hastert spent more on his re-election races then almost anyone else in the House, but Oberweis can drop that money too. I can't say I like him, and yes, he's been good at failing races up to now, but it's going to be tough for the candidates in so far to beat him from what I can see.

Oh, and no one shows up for those special sessions because Gov. Blog is an idiot from what I can see. Even his fellow democrats in the lesgislative branch hate him. Isn't he suing the Speaker of the House, who is in his own party? Meh, I used to live in IL, their leaders are almost as bad as mine in MI it seems.

Reply To This — User Info — #5

What is Hastert thinking? by kennyg1953

Isn't he part of "leadership" on the GOP side of the house?

A leader doesn't run away in the middle of fulfilling his or her responsibilities, they persevere. I say that he needs to "suck it up" and "stick it out" and be supportive of whoever comes in behind him. If he's about to be exposed on some moral or ethical issue, then by all means resign, otherwise he needs to stay and complete his obligations to those that voted him in less than a year ago!

Reply To This — User Info — #6

No. He was, but became a sod who was as.... by Jeff Emanuel

....visibly altered by the power and privilege of office as any on the other side. Oh, and ineffective, as well.

I for one won't miss him, whether he leaves early or later.

Reply To This — User Info — #7

Huh? Why? Does he actually by RandomGuy

Huh? Why? Does he actually just too lazy to finish his term?

I still think we'll hold the district, but this is just stupid. Why not wait till 2008 when the R presidential candidate will all but certainly take the district?

“I am telling people loosen your ties, fire up the coffee pots, get ready for the weekend, ... We've got a lot of work to do.”

- John Bolton

Reply To This — User Info — #8

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