Hastert next to go? One can dream.

In another 'where there's smoke story,' House Speaker Dennis Hastert(R-Stonewaller) says he'll prevent the 9/11 commission an extension.

The Globe has the poop:

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert has hardened his opposition to extending the deadline for the independent commission studying the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, even as the panel's leaders pleaded yesterday for more time to complete their work.

Hastert, an Illinois Republican, told Republican lawmakers in a meeting yesterday that he would not bring up any legislation to grant the commission extra time, said spokesman John Feehery. Hastert rejected a personal plea from White House chief of staff Andrew Card on the extension Monday, Feehery said.

"He still doesn't feel the commission needs any extra time and should complete its report as soon as possible," Feehery said, adding that a later deadline also would make the commission "a political issue" during the presidential campaign.

Hastert's stance casts serious doubt on the commission's efforts to secure a 60-day extension of its May 27 deadline, which the panel contends it needs to produce a complete report and avoid cutting back on public hearings. Legislation granting the panel extra time is moving ahead in the Senate, where majority leader Bill Frist of Tennessee has indicated his support. After opposing the idea, President Bush reversed himself earlier this month and agreed to support an extension.

The Globe has more

If I was conspiracy 'theorist,' I'd say that this was a pre-arranged deal to make Bush appear as if he was cooperating with the commission, while Hastert plays the heavy(no pun intended).

If you take the couple of minutes to read the article, you'll note that Rice, Rumsfeld and Powell have testified, or have agreed to testify before the commission. Rice has declined to testify in public. Odd that.

Kean claims to have the votes in the House to get an extension, and is entirely accurate in saying that America deserves the very best possible report.

If this extension is not granted, our government in not accountable to the people, and those involved should resign.

It now seems clear that that the GOP is concerned only about November, and in their quest to retain the levers of power, will not have an issue denying the survivors of 9/11 the truth that they so richly deserve.