Novak: Hastert To Retire Before End Of Term

[Hissyspit]

Novak: Hastert to retire before end of term.

Last week, Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) announced that he will not seek re-election in 2008. In his e-mail newsletter today, Robert Novak reported that Hastert won’t be finishing out his term and will retire on Nov. 6:

An Illinois Republican source tells us former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) plans to resign November 6 this year instead of finishing out his term. This would create a vacancy and trigger a special election in the 14th District.

Under Illinois statute, the governor, Rod Blagojevich (D), would get to pick the date of both of the special general election and the special primary election (with separate ballots for each party). The general election would have to be within 120 days of the vacancy (meaning by early March, if the November 6 resignation date holds). February 5 is the date for Illinois’s presidential and congressional primaries, and slating the special election — either the primaries or the general — on that date would save state money.

[movonne]

1. Why would he being doing this...would this mean we wouldn't need

lieberman..

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Hastert's in the House of Reps....

Lieberman's in the Senate, unfortunately. Won't make any difference.

[JTFrog]

13. Maybe Sibel

is finally gonna get a say in public?

[Snarkoleptic]

2. Denny Hastert is the shame of the Land of Lincoln.

The only bad thing to come of his resignation is that he'll spending more time here in Illinois.

[nevergiveup]

4. If Obama would win the primary

a Democrat might win this district Nov. 2008 and Hastert knows it. He is bailing out early to secure this district for the Republicans.

[Bozita]

5. Larry Flynt?

[seemslikeadream]

6. That's what I think

Didn't Flint say something like I just want the hypocrites gone I won't necessarily out them?

[marions ghost]

12. right, makes ya wonder

It doesn't seem in character that Hasdirt would pave the way for the Republics in Illinois out of the goodness of his pure heart. But maybe they're making it worth his while...

Denny is so arrogant and grasping. Embodies everything that makes me wanna :puke: about this evil empire. I'd love it if he's on the madam's list. I say it's a possibility. It does seem like a sudden departure. With Repigs, you have at least a 50-50 chance that a sudden departure involves :evilgrin: Sex :evilgrin: ...maybe he likes a good old-fashioned whipping :spank:

[Alizaryn]

7. Good point... or he is sick?

[blogslut]

8. Boy, did I read that headline wrong!

I thought it read: Novak/Hastert to retire before end of term.

Now I'm all bittersweet.

[redacted]

9. VIDEO: TONIGHT'S SONG DEDICATED TO DENNIS "JABBA THE HUT" HASTERT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AERv1kkPGc&NR

[redacted]

10. Hold the Special Election on the same day as local hero Barack Obama's primary

and you're going to see one hell of a Democratic turnout. Doesn't IL have a Dem governor who gets to pick the date?

[DCKit]

11. Maybe Denny needs to spend some time with his lawyers? n/t

[JTFrog]

14. Isn't Waxman getting closer

to the Sibel Edmunds case? Hastert isn't going to want to be found if and when she's allowed to speak.

[yodermon]

15. GOD I hope this has something to do with Sibel.

Not that I'd be sad to see him go if it's for some other reason, but Sibel is owed some justice, bigtime.