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Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 11:07:33 PM EST
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Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) announced Monday on his 81st birthday that he will not seek reelection. Rep. Hyde has served in the House for more than three decades.

Hyde was an unrelenting opponent of abortion. But, he did some good stuff too. He was the driving force behind civil asset forfeiture reform. Here are his congressional remarks from 2000 when CAFRA, the reform bill, passed.

Unfortunately, he will also be remembered for his "youthful indiscretion" that came to light following the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.

On a related note, one of the best series of news articles on the law enforcement abuses in the asset forfeiture area is this one, Taking Cash into Custody, from the 1999 Kansas City Star, still available free online.

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    Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 06:24:26 AM EST
    He showed himself to be quite the hypocrite with his youthful indiscretion at age 41 (I think) after his political grandstanding and moralizing over Clinton's fidelity fiasco. Much like the DeLay posturing over Schiavo when it turns out that he didn't insist his own father get a feeding tube plugged in when he was near death. I think Mencken nailed it when he said: "The objection to Puritans is not that they try to make us think as they do, but that they try to make us do as they think."

    Re: Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress (none / 0) (#2)
    by Che's Lounge on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 06:59:57 AM EST
    He lived across the street from us in WI in the late 50's. Big time boozer. But it's legal.

    Re: Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 08:51:05 AM EST
    What is sad is that there will probably some other nut out there just as stupid who will represent another 625,000 or so human chattel that will be forced to be at the beck and call of the US government. "Let's increase federal spending and write a few more thousand more oppressive laws." "We'll even vote ourselves another raise." "We'll even start another war." "Life is good." On and on it goes until you are sick and tired and fed up with it.

    Re: Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 09:05:11 AM EST
    another profound piece of nothing exits. and who cares? it's guys like hyde, wretched hypocrites with reasonably sound intellects, who could've made a difference, but instead decided to shill for the company line and continue the sociopathy of their public/private lives. to quote david straithern from john sayle's beautiful film "matewan": "i wouldn't piss on him if his heart was on fire."

    Re: Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress (none / 0) (#5)
    by desertswine on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 10:49:21 AM EST
    Henry Hyde "the salami." Big time hypocrite. Good riddance. In a short time, no one will even remember who this guy is (was). What a waste. Dadler's right, he couldda made a difference.

    Re: Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 12:31:28 PM EST
    The Hyde creed Don't do as I do, do as I say!

    Re: Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 20, 2005 at 05:06:36 AM EST
    More information on why asset forefeiture is wrong, misguided, and corrupting to those who use it: Executive Privateers:
    A Discussion on Why the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act Will Not Significantly Reform the Practice of Forfeiture     Forfeiture does still, unfortunately, provide a monetary incentive for police officers to commit perjury, falsify reports, and otherwise lie.

    Henry Hyde to Retire From Congress | 7 comments (7 topical)