Many outraged Americans, whether Republican or Democrat, called for Hastert’s resignation this past week. I myself was very pleased he decided to stay put. If he had stepped down Karl Rove would have had this whole mess swept under the rug in two, three days tops. And with Bush insisting Hastert stay where he’s at is, well, that’s icing for the cake!

Dems: Hastert hurts GOP

BY KENNETH R. BAZINET
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Dennis Hastert appears to have survived the smutty e-mail scandal that threatened the Republican’s hold on the job - and Democrats are delighted.

Hastert’s status was endangered by allegations that (he) had ignored warnings about ex-Rep. Mark Foley’s sleazy habit of sending sexually charged e-mails to congressional pages.

A supportive phone call from President Bush last week appeared to signal that Hastert’s crisis was over, barring another GOP lawmaker getting implicated in the page scandal.

Republicans may have been relieved, but so were Dems.

“Bad decision for the Republicans, but it’s great news for the Democrats,” pollster Doug Schoen insisted of Hastert’s decision to remain House speaker.

Many Democrats believed their party was going to take control of the House even before Foley’s follies forced his resignation. Having Hastert remain in the job may be a reminder to voters that the GOP is knee-deep in a tawdry scandal.

Foley’s behavior has also allowed Democrats to resurrect their “culture of corruption” slogan, which was first affixed to Republican lawmakers tied to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

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