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Aides to Hastert say the resignation will not be official until later this month, a deadline Hastert wanted to meet in the hopes that a special primary could be held on the same day as this spring’s regular primary.

       

15 Comments - RightGirl - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:24 pm: I feel like I’ve read these stories 2 or 3 times before, and certainly saw a Hastert House Floor good-bye at another time How may times does it take a GOP guy to quit? - Ghost - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 12:44 pm: So hastert wants to time the election for his replacement to go along with the Primary featuring Obama. So why does he want to make sure a dem is elected to replace him? - DeepFriedOnAStick - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 1:38 pm: What’s the point of having a special primary on the same day as the regular primary? Is the idea to get lower voter participation because most primary voters will be focused on the regular primary and mat forget all about the special primary? If that’s the case, it seem like the crazy ice cream man with astounding name recognition would be the favorite. Seems goofy. - yinn - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:03 pm: DFOAS, Elections take a lot of money and manpower. If they can have the special on the same day as the regular, then we will only require one extra election this year, the special general to fill Hastert’s seat (which if I recollect correctly must occur within 120 days of Hastert’s leaving). If the special primary does not coincide with the regular primary, Illinois will have four election days in 2008. Bottom line for me is anger, if Hastert is failing to finish his term for any reason other than ill health. - Common sense in Illinois - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:14 pm: Just saw the speech. Typical of Hastert…classy not flashy and reflective of his straight forward demeanor. As he did when first elected Speaker, he reached out to both sides of the aisle in thanking people who helped him during his entire tenure. It was also good to see former Congressman Bob Michel on the floor. - Justice - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:40 pm: In the back of my mind I keep remembering the “Page incident and it still rings of suspicions of who all was involved more than we were led to believe.” Since the Pages were Hastert’s responsibility, is his retiring in any way connected to that scandal? Just a thought and you can punish me by taking away my Jamoca Almond Fudge for one week if I am out of line. - Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 2:43 pm: yinn, there is nothing Hastert could do to make you not angry. Look on the bright side, you may get to vote for congressman in the 14th twice (or 3 times if you pull a R primary ballot) within the next year, and Hastert will not be on the ballot either time:-) - Anon - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 3:20 pm: So, when is the Special General Election required to be held to replace Denny in the 14th CD? - DuPage Dave - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 6:11 pm: Hastert was not a good guy, although people tended to like him. His covering up for the page abuse was unforgivable. His complete lack of spine in dealing with Bush will not bode well for his legacy. So long and don’t come back… - anon - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 6:24 pm: DuPage Dave…I completely agree with you. Sure Denny fits the description as the “nice, cozy grandfatherly custodian of the House” but looks are deceiving. Let’s be realistic here. His legacy is one of helping pass every corrupt, illegal, and unconstitutional law Bush had wanted. He certainly did not look out for Illinois residents, and more importantly national interests. His legacy will be LAP DOG FOR BUSH WHO LOOKED THE OTHER WAY. Certainly no patriot. I was never impressed. Good riddance!! - 'bout time - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 7:46 pm: Too bad for the GOP that Hastert didn’t quit about 10 years ago. Take your bundle from your fishy real estate deal and get lost Denny. Few will miss you. - BlueGirl - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 8:44 pm: Aurora Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia should run in the Special Election for Congress. - Joe Wiegand - Thursday, Nov 15, 07 @ 10:40 pm: Like many Illinoisans, I listened today while former Speaker Denny Hastert announced that he would resign from the United States House before the end of the year. The people of Northern Illinois are fortunate that State Senator Chris Lauzen (pronounced LAW-ZEN), already a candidate to succeed Hastert, is ready to serve them in Congress. In Illinois, we are just eighty-some days away from the February 5, 2008 partisan primary elections, where Democrats, Greens and Republicans will nominate candidates for local, state and federal office. Chris Lauzen will be on the Republican ballot for the 14th Congressional District in Kane, Kendall, Lee and portions of DeKalb, Bureau, Henry and Whiteside Counties. As a Reagan Republican in Illinois, I have used my previous primary ballots to support common sense, conservative reformers like Phil Crane, Chris Lauzen, Don Manzullo, Pat O’Malley and Peter Fitzgerald. I’ve cared enough to be a candidate myself, serving on the DeKalb County Board and running for the state house. Having voted in over twenty-years worth of GOP primaries and having battled that part of my own party which tolerated corruption and stifled reform, I can’t recall a time when being involved on behalf of good candidates was more important. In the Republican Primary for the United States Congress from the Illinois 14th District, my support goes to Chris Lauzen, and I am now an active volunteer leader on his behalf. Before becoming the most effective proponent of tax cuts, responsible spending and family values in Springfield, Chris used his Harvard MBA and his training as a certified public accountant to serve over 200 Illinois small business owners, helping to improve their bottom lines. Chris and his wife, Sarah, have raised four young men to be doers, contributors and leaders. I was with Chris Lauzen in 1992 when he first used his well of energy and his sharp focus to beat the political machine and a better funded candidate, winning a four way primary with 39% of the vote. I think Chris Lauzen will win this four way Republican primary for Congress with well over 50%. Early endorsements from pro-family, pro-2nd Amendment and pro-life organizations demonstrate that Chris has great support from grassroots Republicans. Many Illinois Republicans know that I managed the 2006 gubernatorial campaign of Jim Oberweis, the most formidable of Lauzen’s February primary opponents. I sincerely believed that Jim’s qualifications as a businessman and his promotion of the pro-family and pro-reform agenda gave Illinoisans the best alternative to beat Rod Blagojevich. I still think Jim Oberweis might yet serve us as a great governor. Don’t even try to tell me he wouldn’t be an improvement over the disaster we have now. Jim Oberweis has chosen to run for Congress and his ahead-of-the-curve views on illegal immigration are as welcome as his sense of business and finance. To advance these views, Jim Oberweis should accept Chris Lauzen’s offer to have a series of give and take debates, in the spirit of Lincoln-Douglas. For my fellow Republicans, I encourage you to support and attend these debates. Both candidates should do well. The other two candidates are likely to be discounted by most Republican voters, though they are to be congratulated for participating in the process. With less than a few short months between now and the February 5 primary, voters should get a chance to know a diligent and competent state senator who knows a great deal about the policies of our federal government and how to be an effective legislator. I am confident that when the Republican voters of Northern Illinois get to know State Senator Chris Lauzen, they will take action and vote him into Congress. In the meanwhile, if I can do anything to help you to know more about Chris Lauzen, please write or call me. I hope you’ll join me in donating your time, talent and treasure to help a candidate you can count on. Joe Wiegand Volunteer - jwiegand@tbc.net Lauzen for Congress - www.lauzen2008.com P.O. Box 5445 Aurora, Illinois 60507 Headquartered in North Aurora at the Northeast Corner of Randall Road and Oak Street – call 630-897-9200 to volunteer. Call me on my cell at 815-901-2997. - elginite - Friday, Nov 16, 07 @ 1:49 am: I think it’s strange that he would want the special election to coincide with the primary. It would seem to negate any advantage to having him step down early. - Anonymoose - Friday, Nov 16, 07 @ 8:09 am: Denny and his boys are trying to be overly cute in scheduling the special primary. This is hardly the way to end the career of a GOP Speaker of the House–acting like a Dem ward heeler. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.