Sneed: Hastert ‘getting better,’ friend says

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The Hastert story . . .

Is former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is awaiting sentencing in a hush-money case amid whispers of a sexual scandal, practically bedridden?

Is he this/close to being a nursing home candidate without home health care?

Since Hastert’s tumultuous tumble from his powerful D.C. perch as a top lobbyist stemming from his previous role as the nation’s second most powerful man, little has been heard about Hastert’s health outside the well of the courtroom.

So Sneed decided to ask a close Hastert friend about the former legislator’s health since Federal Judge Thomas Durkin postponed sentencing because of reports of near death from a rare blood infection in November and a stroke.

“Of course, all his medical issues are true,” said Dallas Ingemunson, the former Kendall County state’s attorney and former Kendall County Republican chairman, who describes himself as a close friend.

“I talk to him [Hastert] frequently and visited him yesterday,” said Ingemunson.

“He lives outside Plano, where there are not many neighbors around. But he had a number of friends visiting him at home while I was there.”

“Look, he is getting better,” added Ingemunson. “He can walk around some, but is mainly in a wheelchair and can only walk upstairs to his bedroom with help. But he tries to walk every day. And getting stronger every day.”

Ingemunson, who has known Hastert since 1970 when the former House speaker was a teacher, told Sneed: “He’s getting along as well as can be expected. His wife is by his side. His family is very close.”

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Twitter twaddle . . .

Hmmm. Now that GOP presidential hopeful Rand Paul’s campaign has collapsed, will his campaign manager Chip Englander head back to the succor of Gov. Bruce Rauner — whose successful gubernatorial bid he headed?

• Paul on Twitter: “Thank you @dougstafford and @ChipEnglander for your leadership, vision and friendship during the campaign.”

Oops!

Sneed’s fingers were typing so fast we erroneously promoted House speaker Mike Madigan’s district primary race against Dem opponent Jason Gonzales as congressional. Es stupido.

The Wright way?

Sneed hears one name surfacing as a possible replacement for outgoing Ald. Will Burns, (4th) who abruptly announced his resignation recently, is a former protégé of the late Mayor Harold Washington: attorney Tim Wright, a former legislative liaison for Mayor Harold Washington and former chief of the City Department of Economic Development under Mayor Eugene Sawyer.

Carly’s chutzpah!

Carly Fiorina, the only female in the GOP presidential brouhaha — and who came in sixth in the Iowa Caucuses, is still refusing to call it a day . . . and demanding the Republican National Committee give her a spot in Saturday’s prime time debate!

• To wit: It is now netting her a new nickname by her GOP opponents: “Snarly Carly.”

Sneedlings . . .

Today’s birthdays: Bobby Brown, 47; Hank Aaron, 82, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 31.

Tweets by @Sneedlings

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