Ex-Speaker Hastert: ‘I tried my best’
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert bid his colleagues farewell in a final speech Thursday, expressing worry about the "breakdown of civility" in politics.
Hastert, 65, became the longest-serving Republican speaker of the House in history after taking the post in January 1999. The Illinois lawmaker stepped down as the top House Republican leader after Democrats won a majority in the 2006 midterm elections, ending 12 years of GOP control.
During his farewell address, the former high school history teacher and wrestling coach offered one bit of analysis about his tenure in Congress. "I continue to worry about the breakdown of civility in our political discourse," Hastert said. "I tried my best, but I wish I had been more successful."
Although he did not announce the date of his House departure, an aide to Hastert says the former speaker will retire by the end of the year.
Hastert, who forged a reputation for his ability to form compromises, said lawmakers "have a responsibility to be civil, open-minded and fair — to listen to one another and work in good faith to find solutions to the challenges facing our nation."
Under former Democratic President Bill Clinton, {en:Dennis Hastert} said the two were "able to find common ground" despite differences on some issues.
Yep! I don’t listen to Limbaugh but I remember whe he gave that interview in which he claimed that the Foley Scandal Is A Liberal Conspiracy To ‘Get To Me’ And ‘Affect Our Election’ (audio at that link)
One thing I find interesting is that most of the scandals and other problems he had all came after the Republicans took power. Whether that is because he and the had more power then or if he just jumped on the “permanent majority” bandwagon is unclear.
“Hastert bid his colleagues farewell in a final speech Thursday, expressing worry about the “breakdown of civility” in politics.”
He was one of the main causes of it!
What a scumb*g!
Andrew: What I liked about his statement was the part about “I continue to worry about the breakdown of civility in our political discourse, I tried my best, but I wish I had been more successful.”
He’d been in the House since 1987, well before the so called “Republican Revolution” and knows what congress was like before the extreme partisanship that was fostered by Delay and to a lesser degree, Gingrich. What he said was very understated, but he’s in a position to know the “before” and “after” affects of Tom Delays changes in the House – especially compared to representatives elected in the last 12 years.
Not that he wasn’t a sleaze in his own right: Controversies
Today’s Congress is not getting along with the president either. No difference from Hastert under Pelosi.
Approval ratings for this Congress are low. I don’t know what to think of the legislative branch.