Hastert career has milestones in misfortune- "The Accidental Speaker"

[maddezmom]

By William M. Welch, USA TODAY

He's been called the accidental speaker.
Dennis Hastert, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, is a quiet, hulking Midwesterner who rose to power over the misfortune and missteps of fellow Republicans.

And just as a colleague's sex scandal propelled him into the job, a sex-related scandal involving another House Republican has threatened his hold on power.

It was one week ago that Rep. Mark Foley resigned his seat under pressure from fellow Republicans amid reports that he had sent overtly sexual messages to a teenage male congressional page.

Since that day, Hastert has been besieged by the news media and been the target of finger-pointing by other Republicans — among them Rep. Thomas Reynolds of New York — who said they had tried to bring the Foley problem to his attention well before last week.

more:http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-05-hastert_x.htm?csp=34

Let's remember how Denny got his job.

DeLay, Gingrich support Hastert for House speaker
December 19, 1998
Web posted at: 6:06 p.m. EST (2306 GMT)
By Ann Curley/CNN

WASHINGTON (December 19) -- Following a meeting of House Republicans Saturday, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) declared his support for Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) for speaker of the House.

Hastert told reporters that outgoing House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) also offered his support for Hastert during the House GOP conference meeting.

Republicans held an organizational meeting after the unexpected resignation of Speaker-designate Bob Livingston (R-Louisiana) during the House impeachment proceeding against President Bill Clinton Saturday morning.

DeLay confirmed that House Republican leaders are trying to set a date to gather old and new House members back together, to select a new candidate for House speaker.

more: http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/19/hastert/

Livingston bows out of the speakership
He makes a stunning announcement on House floor; Clinton urges him to reconsider
December 19, 1998
Web posted at: 3:37 p.m. EST (2037 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, December 19) -- House Speaker-elect Bob Livingston, reeling from the admission of his own marital infidelities, stunned Washington Saturday by announcing he would not run for speaker when the 106th Congress convenes next month and will quit the House in mid-1999.


Livingston, 55, made his surprise announcement as the House resumed its historic impeachment debate, just two days after he said revelations about his adultery would not drive him from his leadership role. His announcement could set off a new scramble to succeed him among the GOP leadership.

On the House floor, Livingston urged President Bill Clinton to resign, drawing a chorus of "boos" and shouted calls of "You resign!" from Democrats. Then he shocked the chamber by saying he would set an example and step down himself.

more:http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/19/livingston.quits/

[Demeter]

1. How Hastert Got Job Means Less Than What He Did With It!

And what Hastert did with his job was aid and abet the criminal enterprise which is bent on destroying the American people, their way of life, their government, their good name in the world's mind, and the rest of the planet.