[Speed Gibson,
Saturday October 7, 2006 at 2:21am]
Should he stay or should he go?
David Strom and other very smart people are saying that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert must go. Hugh Hewitt and some other very smart people say otherwise.
I can't claim much political wisdom or experience in such matters, especially national. I have read the various accounts and editorials of this still developing story / scandal, but all I've really learned is that Foley's guilty, the GOP leadership either knew or strong suspected something was amiss, and there is no good way out of this mess. Perhaps the best is to hope the scandal dies in a week or two, as it very well could. The Democrats have shown some restraint, but are still overplaying it, possibly to the point of a backlash should some of their party have also known as seems likely. Regardless, the timing stinks.
Those for Hastert's immediate resignation make a good case, based on more than just this scandal. Immigration and the continued spending spree come to mind. Senator Trent Lott lost the Majority Leader post for the same kinds of peripheral reasons, his careless remark merely an excuse.
But I fail to see what good it does for the GOP or the USA to have him abruptly resign now. If anything, he could quietly announce that he would not seek another term next year as Speaker. Even if the House stays Republican, he likely won't have the votes anyway.
I also fail to see why the Speakership is such a valuable campaign tool in terms of fund raising and personal appearances. Who gets excited over such visits? Not me, and I suspect Democrats didn't either prior to 1994.
Booting Hastert now seems a sure way of keeping this scandal alive until election day. That's not all bad for Republicans, as it keeps Iraq and Bob Woodward off the front page. I kind of like the idea that Woodward wound up getting his own October Surprise that no doubt has hurt his book sales.
I'm siding with Hugh Hewitt on this one. Hastert should stay and make the best of the situation. After the election, though, he should retire from the Speakership.
I can't claim much political wisdom or experience in such matters, especially national. I have read the various accounts and editorials of this still developing story / scandal, but all I've really learned is that Foley's guilty, the GOP leadership either knew or strong suspected something was amiss, and there is no good way out of this mess. Perhaps the best is to hope the scandal dies in a week or two, as it very well could. The Democrats have shown some restraint, but are still overplaying it, possibly to the point of a backlash should some of their party have also known as seems likely. Regardless, the timing stinks.
Those for Hastert's immediate resignation make a good case, based on more than just this scandal. Immigration and the continued spending spree come to mind. Senator Trent Lott lost the Majority Leader post for the same kinds of peripheral reasons, his careless remark merely an excuse.
But I fail to see what good it does for the GOP or the USA to have him abruptly resign now. If anything, he could quietly announce that he would not seek another term next year as Speaker. Even if the House stays Republican, he likely won't have the votes anyway.
I also fail to see why the Speakership is such a valuable campaign tool in terms of fund raising and personal appearances. Who gets excited over such visits? Not me, and I suspect Democrats didn't either prior to 1994.
Booting Hastert now seems a sure way of keeping this scandal alive until election day. That's not all bad for Republicans, as it keeps Iraq and Bob Woodward off the front page. I kind of like the idea that Woodward wound up getting his own October Surprise that no doubt has hurt his book sales.
I'm siding with Hugh Hewitt on this one. Hastert should stay and make the best of the situation. After the election, though, he should retire from the Speakership.