Hastert, farmland, pork, and ethics

An unfortunate combination, I guess.

Captain Ed looks at what seems to be Denny Hastert's pork fiddle up around Plano. It seems Hastert bought a piece of farmland in 2002, then pushed through funding for a highway through the area which would increase the value of said land tremendously.

Now, I know that urban sprawl up around my mom's childhood haunts means that they will desperately need more roads -- I experienced a lack of forethought when I was in Newport News, VA. Tens of thousands of new people moving on the same three east-west thoroughfares meant gridlock all the time. It makes sense that, as a region builds more homes, more businesses, it should provide more highways and byways. Thanks to Hastert, the federal funding is coming through for that extra road.

And I know that every man is entitled to make a sound business deal when the opportunity arises. So, Hastert's purchase of that land can be viewed as a rational decision. If I'd had a little spare change, I'd have invested in land up around Minooka, myself. The day will come when the old farmstead will be worth 50 times what it is now, and it ain't just manure even now. Go ahead, Denny, and buy that land. More power to ya.

But the two actions together make me more than a little uneasy. Somehow, Hastert's combined actions smack of an ethics breach. This whole thing has the look and feel of Chicago Democrat actions coming from a Republican.

And, as they say, in this business image is everything.