Hastert talks up chances, unlike Pelosi

Posted by Frank James at 3:32 pm CDT

House members are close to starting their nearly six-week long summer recess. But there were some loose ends to take care of, including sessions with reporters for both Republican and Democratic leaders. The journalists' questions were noticeably influenced by the political parties' respective standing in the polls.

Some questions asked of House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) at his Capitol Hill press conference Thursday, for instance, reflected the political challenges House Republicans face in maintaining House control.

REPORTER: There are some new polls out today that show basically what they have been showing for the last six months or so, and that is, that Republicans as well as Democrats, Republicans are... (there is a) relatively low opinion of Congress. The president's approval ratings remain in the 30s. What, if anything, can Republicans do to change this dynamic? And I noticed today you were quoted as saying that if Republicans maintain the majority, that you will continue as speaker. Is there some question in your mind whether or not Republicans are going to maintain a majority? And what can you do...

HASTERT: Well, you know, you got national polls, but when you start to go race by race, district by district, we have good candidates. We have a few open seats that we have to protect. In some ways, we're victims of our own good success. Last time, we had about six or seven people run for the U.S. Senate, and they're over there today. We... this year we have eight people running, six for governor and two for the U.S. Senate. Every time that happens, you have to protect that district. But, you know, there's a seat in Colorado, a seat in Iowa, a seat in Wisconsin, a seat in Minnesota, but we have great candidates. I feel good about it.

Hastert may truly feel upbeat or he may be trying to heed the old "never let them see you sweat" adage. Or was that a TV ad for an anti-perspirant?

While the speaker had to deal with questions that pointed out the difficulties facing his party, the woman who wants his job, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.,) was busy today trying to downplay the assumptions in reporters' questions that Democrats are very close to winning the House in November.

REPORTER: Madame Leader, along those lines, new polls are out that American people seem a little more disgruntled with the Republican leadership in Congress and in the White House. Do you smell the speakership closer? (Laughter.)

PELOSI: That's a new rug in this office that you smell. (Laughter.) One may not be in this office. No, I, you know, what? Thank you for your question. I'm never saddened to hear about the fact that the American people are on to the Republicans in Congress. Tomorrow will be a hundred days until the election. It's 100 lifetimes. It's just a such a long way off that we, in the month of August, we will go out from here to take our message to the American people, our direction, "Six for `06."

Democrats hope the "Six in 06" slogan proves catchy with voters. It's an allusion to the six commitments they're making to voters, part of their New Direction for America theme.

The pledges are: restoring fiscal soundness, enacting the 9/11 Commission recommendations, increasing the minimum wage, allowing the government to directly negotiate pharmaceutical prices, rescinding tax cuts to the energy industry to spend more on achieving energy independence, and spending more on higher education.