Athletic Hastert to "hang up his spikes"; Democrats set sights on his vacant seat

[Bluebear]

CHICAGO - A coach knows when to take a player out of the game. Wrestling coach-turned-congressman Dennis Hastert thinks it's time. "Whatever I'm going to be doing, I'm going to still be (an) advocate for people in Illinois ... Just a little different capacity maybe, and I'm not sure what that is yet," Hastert said in an interview Friday morning with WLS-AM, several hours before he planned to officially announce that he won't seek re-election next year.

The decision, to be announced to supporters at the Kendall County courthouse in his district, will end a political career that made Hastert the nation's longest-serving Republican speaker of the House.


"I'm disappointed, but you know what? Very few people know when to hang up their spikes, and Denny has always had an understanding of that," said Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross. Cross called it "a sad day," saying Hastert had been "so, so good in so many ways on policy and on politics."

Hastert's retirement has local Democrats starting to boast they can win another congressional seat, even as the GOP vows it won't easily give up a seat it has held for two decades. Hastert was considered by many to be unbeatable in his northern Illinois district.

"Any Democrat thinking of getting into this race does so at his or her own peril," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain. :scared:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070817/ap_on_re_us/hastert_s_future

[IndianaJones]

1. When I think Hastert...I think athlete, first and foremost. nt.

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. Like a Greek god.

[shain from kane]

6. After a gyro sandwich binge. n/t

[mikeytherat]

11. An Adonis, for sure.

mikey_the_rat

[AlinPA]

2. re:"...at his or her own peril" : That sounds like a threat to me. That part of IL

doesn't seem to be vicious to me. Nice people out there.

[Bitwit1234]

4. I'll bet anything he is worried about that suitcase,

the one supposed to have come from the Saudi's with 500,000 for leading a bill to favor Saudi interest in this country. Maybe he thinks if he can leave they wont' bother to get around to him.

[AlCzervik]

5. leaving to do bowflex commercials is he?

[shain from kane]

7. Spikes? In a wrestling ring? That cheatin' SOB. n/t

[Bluebear]

9. Those things will take an eye out, man! nt

[rodeodance]

8. He has his pension and health insurance and other money --SO LONG and

good ridence.

[seemslikeadream]

10. Hastert' spikes

[Autumn Colors]

12. Heh - 2 people could probably fit into his vacant seat (nm)