Hagel on Bush WH: ‘most arrogant, incompetent’ ever.
By on Nov 29th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Hagel on Bush WH: ‘most arrogant, incompetent’ ever.
Yesterday in an address to the Council on Foreign Relations, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) stepped up his rhetoric against the Bush administration, calling it one of the most “incompetent” in history:
Hagel, who considered running for the GOP presidential nomination as an antiwar candidate, told the foreign policy experts that he would give the Bush administration “the lowest grade of any I’ve known.”
“I have to say this is one of the most arrogant, incompetent administrations I’ve ever seen or ever read about,” Hagel said, according to our colleague Robert Kaiser, who attended the speech. In case his audience didn’t get the point, Hagel also said: “They have failed the country.”
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the most “incompetent†in history:
No shizzle, sher-lozzle.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:16 amHagel is america’s senator.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:17 amWe hear you Chuck. Good on ‘ya.
Worst. President. Ever.
Most. Corrupt. Administration. Ever.
Dividers, not Deciders.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:17 amLess than 12 months to go and I bet you will see more and more republicans show that they do recognize reality.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:17 amGeez, Chuck, where were you 4 or 5 years ago, when some of us had already recognized that fact?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:18 amIf the President is an anchor tied to your ankle, and you’re already 20 feet underwater and sinking fast… it isn’t exactly a bold move to start sawing at the rope….
November 29th, 2007 at 10:20 amSen. Hagel admts the truth that everyone has known for years.
Well, that’s a form of progress! ;-)
November 29th, 2007 at 10:20 amit isn’t exactly a bold move to start sawing at the rope….
Comment by raynman — November 29, 2007 @ 10:20 am
And it just might be too late to do ya any good, too…
November 29th, 2007 at 10:21 amOoooo! Trolls gonna be angry now!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:21 amThere aren’t any real republicans left. No fiscal conservatives, no smaller govt. proponents. None.
GOP RIP
November 29th, 2007 at 10:26 amHagel’s has never been anything but a RINO.
Comment by cold_hard_left — November 29, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Riiiight…. that’s why he backed Herr Brusch 100% until the last yr or so.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:27 amGOP RIP
Comment by hellinabucket — November 29, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Rot In Pieces???
November 29th, 2007 at 10:27 amHow very sad for our once great nation….We are held in a death grip by polatician’s on all side’s, speaking out to how ever they think the wind is blowing with never a thought about our constitution, our people and our country…Bottom line they, most of them, will say anything to keep their seat, their place at the trough awaiting their fill of more swill…Blessings
November 29th, 2007 at 10:27 amHagel’s has never been anything but a RINO.
Comment by cold_hard_left — November 29, 2007 @ 10:20 am
of course, dear, here, have a cookie, wipe those tears, that mean old Hagel is just picking on the brave Sir Georgie.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:28 am#8 – “Hagel’s has never been anything but a RINO.” Comment by cold_hard_left — November 29, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Well, he has become extremely accurate in his criticism lately! THAT is progress of a very good kind!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:29 amLets take what we can get. Its late in the day, but at least Somebody’s Finally admitting that the emperor has no clothes on. Maybe this will push Anyone else over the edge and get the Impeachment process rolling. Late’s better than never.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:29 amImpeach Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Chuck Hagel is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
O Bigfootinmouth is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:32 amDoesn’t further the discussion much does it bigfoot?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:32 amChuck Hagel is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
I thought I heard the sound of Jingle Ballsâ„¢ approaching in the distance.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:32 amWow, hellina, ole’ Chuck is America’s Senator why exactly? Because he’s a Republican? Or because he denounces America’s President?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Because his criticism of the Bush catastrophe shows that he’s putting country over party.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:32 amWas Hagel wrong 3 and 4 years ago when he was backing Brusch completely?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:33 amChuck Hagel is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
yeah biggie, but would you let him deliver “fresh” meat and seafood?
btw, what time did your wife get home from sear’s last night?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:34 amHagel’s has never been anything but a RINO.
Comment by cold_hard_left — November 29, 2007 @ 10:20 am
have you told this to anyone at the whitehouse yet?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:38 amWow — one of the GOP locksteppers is finally breaking ranks. I was wondering how long it would take for that to happen.
Now, if we could get these comments from a GOP Senator or Representative who’s NOT planning to retire at the end of this term…
November 29th, 2007 at 10:40 amChuck Hagel is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Because there are countless examples of White House competence . . . like, uh, lemme see, there was . . . well, not that, but . . .
give me a minute, I’m sure I’ll think of something.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:41 amNow we see why the genus Bigfootus Inmouthus has never left the woods: A great big head with a little walnut sized brain.
Everything Hagel said ablot the BA was absolutely true (other than the fact that Hagel had to be diplomatic, so he toned it down).
You know it, I know it, and everybody else knows it.
Now, why don’t you drop your blind support for these enemies of America and do something Progressive, for a change.
In all honesty, you’re looking like an idiot.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:43 am“Hagel’s has never been anything but a RINO.”
- – Check Sen. Hagel’s conservative voting record. Hell, what passes for current Republicans is so far removed from what a TRUE Republican is, you’ve lost sight of who you were.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:44 amNow, if we could get these comments from a GOP Senator or Representative who’s NOT planning to retire at the end of this term…
Comment by missmolly — November 29, 2007 @ 10:40 am
sorry, that would take intelligence, courage and patriotism. GOP pols come without any of those options, and if they had them, they’d be Democrats.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:44 amO’biggie, dear, you’re cute when you’re angry!
But please, don’t take it out on your pets or your wife, ok?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:45 amBut please, don’t take it out on your pets or your wife, ok?
Comment by Leftside Annie — November 29, 2007 @ 10:45 am
he doesn’t do that; he sends his wife’s kids off to fight the glorious war for oil that he’s afraid to join.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:46 amLess than 12 months to go and I bet you will see more and more republicans show that they do recognize reality.
Comment by Nature Rules — November 29, 2007 @ 10:17 am
——————————-
You’re right. Now that the elections are approaching, it’s time for the Repuke politicians to put as much distance between BushCo and themselves as possible.
Too bad they didn’t grow some morals much sooner, when they could have prevented the shrub from destroying our nation!!!
Too little, too late, Chuckie!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:46 amIs Hagel’s level of honesty a result of his deciding to leave politics? If so, then I think it’s a day late/dollar short. If not, then perhaps the rumors about Mike Bloomberg picking him up as Veep have more subtance to them?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:47 amAnd as for Hagel, well, yeah, NOW he says the right thing….
But as far as I’m concerned, everything he says was painfully obvious five years ago.
Too bad he didn’t have the guts to speak out *then*.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:48 am#33 – “republicans and reality” – Yep, especially those up for reelection. On this we can count. They’ll become realistic when they realize that their congressional “gravy train” is about to leave the station.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:48 amLeftside Annie: My sentiments precisely. This is nothing new and Hagel could have/should have spoken up long ago. I’m wondering where Chuck’s “new-found conscience” springs from?? It has to be either leaving politics entirely and thus feeling comfy with truth or a possible Veep spot on some ticket. Again – his honesty is refreshing; however, a day late/dollar short.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:50 amO.$hit! The yeti is back on the threads. I thought we’d find him frozen to some log up in the backwood by now.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:52 amdoesn’t that pretty much echo what Vicente Fox had to say dumbass?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:53 amTRoS: Love it! GOP/RIP – amen to that. By the time the election rolls around, I wonder what their voter registration rolls will look like. Wonder how many more corrupt repukes will decide to “spend more time with their family” to escape the public humiliation of what some of the “whistleblowers” have found on them.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:54 amChuck Hagel is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
O. Bugfart is opinioned, of course, but he has the right to be wrong.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:55 amoops!
i meant to type – “doesn’t that pretty much echo what Vicente Fox had to say ABOUT dumbass?”
sorry!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:55 amIt seems to me that most have gotten very good at identifying the problem and pointing it out. Next step: actually doing something to fix the problem. It’s all well and good to point out the stinking pile of trash and the need to remove it. However, if you don’t actually remove the trash it’s nothing more than empty talk and the trash keeps getting larger and more stinky. QED.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:58 amPoor Biggie, can’t stand that one of the most conservative members of Congress is calling bullsh!t on Dubya. And as a fellow Vietnam combat vet, I admire Hagel, even though I don’t share his political views on a lot of otgher issues.
Goes to show that a combat vet has more sack than all those Keyboard Kommandos and Chickenhawks in the BushCo Cabal.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:59 am“I have to say this is one of the most arrogant, incompetent administrations I’ve ever seen or ever read about,â€
“Hagel’s has never been anything but a RINO.
Comment by cold_hard_left ”
It’s interesting that our trolls are claiming Hagel’s a RINO. Apparently, a “true” Republican would never criticize Bush, much less “read about” things.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:59 amHere is a posting that I wrote on September 16, 2007 re: Hagel…
The sheep who fall for Hagel’s misleading rhetoric and don’t bother to review his actions will receive exactly what they deserve. These blind followers are literally asking to be turned into mutton, to be consumed by those who’ve successfully deceived them.
According to a Newsweek article published earlier this year, “…His conservative credentials are impeccable: according to Congressional Quarterly, he voted with the White House more times in 2006 than any other senator…” If you like George W. Bush, you’ll love Chuck Hagel. The rest of the article, which seems to generally cast him in a positive light, can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/1684…/site/newsweek/
Others with abbreviated attention spans may not recall that Hagel was (and maybe still is) an owner, and was the former Chairman and CEO of Election Systems & Software (ES&S), which counts a large proportion of the votes cast in this country. His election in Nebraska in 1996 was considered a major upset. He also had and/or has considerable ties with the largest newspaper in the state, the Omaha World-Herald. An article appearing on the Common Dreams website, authored by Thom Hartmann in 2003, provides some fascinating detail about Hagel and others, and states, in part, “…Hagel won virtually every demographic group, including many largely Black communities that had never before voted Republican. Hagel was the first Republican in 24 years to win a Senate seat in Nebraska…” Two articles worth a look:
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-…s03/0131- 01.htm
http://www.geocities.com/dearben…/ 030130bev.html
The blind adulation accorded by many to Hagel serves as proof positive that in this country, style still trumps substance.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:01 amComment by hellinabucket: “Hagel is america’s senator.”
Well, there’s that little matter of his voting machine company. Hagel used to own ES&S. As I recall, he won a contract to sell machines to Nebraska. Then, as a political newcomer, ran for the US Senate… and won.
Gee, what a surprise!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:03 amAnd where was Chuckie, for the past 6 years? Saying the right things, but voting with georgejr, right down the line. Puts him right up there with Colin Powell, George Tenet and all the other enablers who suddenly, now, realize what utter destrution has been wrought on this country by this administration. All it does is make them even more liable for the crimes they have supported all this time….
November 29th, 2007 at 11:09 amIf the President is an anchor tied to your ankle, and you’re already 20 feet underwater and sinking fast… it isn’t exactly a bold move to start sawing at the rope….
Comment by raynman — November 29, 2007 @ 10:20 am
—-
Brilliant!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:11 amOmaha sounds like Osama.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:17 amAMERICANS ARE BEING BETRAYED BY OUR LEADERS AND THEIR COWARDLY ENABLERS FROM BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES
American political leaders must LOUDLY DENOUNCE George W. Bush’s actions and policies as UNCONSTITUTIONAL, CRIMINAL and IMMORAL rather than VALIDATE them with POLITICAL POSTURING and SILENT ACQUIESCENCE!
How is George W. Bush any less a war criminal and mass murderer than Saddam Hussein when they both instigated political and military policies that resulted in the deaths, eviscerations and maiming of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians who wished harm to no one? Saddam’s purpose was to hold on to power and control in his own country, while Bush’s was to obtain power and control of a foreign country. The end results were the same….hundreds of thousands of innocent and defenseless dead/murdered human beings.
Bush has now finally given up on trying to achieve political stability in Iraq and basically allowing the Iraqis to fight their own fights because the American military CANNOT forcefully impose a military solution on an internal/cultural/political/sectarian/religious/tribal problem. The arrogance and ineffectiveness of the Bush administration has destroyed Iraq’s infrastructure, economy and ability to defend itself, while empowering our enemies throughout the region and the world. And to make matters worse, Bush futilely sacrificed and squandered the lives of thousands of American soldiers and hundreds of billions of American dollars. Failure is too benign a word to describe the consequences of Bush’s unparalleled incompetency. That approximately 30% of Americans still approve of Bush’s presidency truly saddens me. I wonder how many Iraqi’s would say they approved of Saddam Hussein’s leadership. I wonder how many of them would call for his head. I wonder how many would call for the head of George W. Bush.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:18 amHeck Chuck everybody knew that years ago, except the really, really stupid people like….uh…..what was his name…Big… turd? Big…mouth, no, Little…dick, no, uh, O. NoDick, yeah that’s it.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
November 29th, 2007 at 11:18 amComment by Dr. Matt: “Reality is a liberal bias.”
This is what the Neocons have to say about reality:
November 29th, 2007 at 11:23 am‘We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.”
If you’re going to be arrogant, you should at the very least be competent.
∞
November 29th, 2007 at 11:26 amSince writing the material appearing in post #46, I’ve continued to review Hagel’s votes on key matters and it seems that only rarely has he ever voted against the White House position, and then, only when the vote was merely symbolic and had no impact on the final outcome.
Maybe he’s hoping for a plum position in the next Presidential Administration (assuming that there is one) — under a Democratic President for his words, under a Republican President for his actions.
If anyone would like to check it out for themselves, you can go to http://www.senate.gov and click on the hypertexted choice in the right hand column which reads “record votes.”
November 29th, 2007 at 11:30 amYeah, Hagel, and what did you do to stop it?
November 29th, 2007 at 11:33 amInteresting feedback yesterday from a friend who also happens to be a hard core Repug. He said that Bush, Cheney and KKKarl have damaged the Repuglican party to the point that not only will the D’s control the big 3, that he fears that we won’t see any real strength from the R’s for years to come.
Even the hard core R’s hate Bush. The 24% supporters are not R’s so much as they are C’s. The onion of Bush supporters has been stripped down to the rotten and pus filled core of born again Christians.
Praise Jesus for bringing us his disciple George W. Bush. He (he not He)has shown us the true face of the Neocons and brought about their demise. May they all rot in hell.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:33 amNow that Hagel is retiring, can we reboot the ESS voting machines in Nebraska so they will register votes for both parties.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:34 amChuck, Bush is not incompetent. He has met his goals.
He accomplished his crusade in the Middle East that is now enriching the military industrial complex. Oil companies are swiming in cash.
His constituents are not ordinary Americans, it all about the elite. The top 1 percent.
He has succeeded in all his goals. He has hoodwinked the vast majority of Americans. An incompetent administration would never have accomplished these goals. They now have the main stream media in their back pocket.
I say this administration is anything but incompetent.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:34 amThe fact that the Congress, even with the Dems in the majority, continue to support Bush and his sub 30% approval rating perhaps stands as the most definitive proof that both parties have sold their soul to the large corporations (aka large donors).
There are certainly more persons of honor in the Democratic party than the Republicans, however, their numbers are not sufficient to tilt the balance, not in the winner-take-all world of politics in the United States.
And when their career in Congress is over, only those who’ve served as loyal sock puppets for their corporate masters will receive lucrative positions on their respective boards of directors and/or hired for seven or eight figure salaries as lobbyists.
Trent Lott will be the next case in point.
Greed rules.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:38 am“O Bigfootinmouth is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.
Comment by thebobh ”
Obigfootinmouth also has the right to post on this blog, which is a right his Republiscum friends don’t afford progressives. So Obigfootinmouth, can you tell us ONE conservative blog that allows progressives to post?
November 29th, 2007 at 11:38 amsorry, that would take intelligence, courage and patriotism. GOP pols come without any of those options, and if they had them, they’d be Democrats.
It will also take desperation. Sooner or later they are going to realize that if they don’t let go of the anchor that is sinking them, they will end up looking for a new job in 2009.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:41 amF-ck You Hagel!!
You supported this incompetent moron with most of your votes.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:41 amI, too, think the Chuckster is a Huckster, fishing for a VP invite.
He was, though, the first R I recall calling out Bush on policy. Sad, indeed, he has voted with the WH his entire term.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:43 amHagel did speak out about the war beforehand saying something like “if Wolfowitz wants it so much, why doesn’t he lead the troops.”
I don’t agree with Hagel on much politically, but, unlike Bush and all his sycophants, he’s actually seen combat and is not going to send troops to war to fulfill some childish fantasy about being Mr. Tough Guy.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:44 amStating the obvious! Or… are they incompetent really? They managed to steal two election, they managed to engage in two wars they wanted to start, they managed to reduce civil liberties and transform the constitution of the USA into an abstract piece of paper, they managed to openly (the US always did) torture prisioners, they managed to exercise an act of TREASON (Valerie Plame) and got away with it, they managed to spy in everyone and are getting away with it, they managed so far to get away after commiting inumerous WAR CRIMES. Incompetent… I don’t know… I find the Republicans dressed as Democrats in Congress much much more incompetent!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:45 amNotice a pattern amongst these Republican a’holes.
Greenspan knew that Bush’s tax cut for the uber-wealthy was wrong, but he waited until the country was nearly bankrupt before saying anything.
James Comey was present when Gonzalas tried to strongarm the hospitalized, incapacitated Ashcroft into signing approval for Bush’s illegal warrentless wiretapping, but he waited years to spill the beans to Congress.
Scott McClellan knew that Bush/Cheney/Rove outed Valerie Plame, but waited until well after the investigation and trial to come forward with his accusation.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:45 amRe: Post #58 –
How many of Chimpy’s Christian Reich supporters will tell you that every word in the Bible is the absolute truth? Accepting that as a given, how many (including the Bubble Boy) personify the values espoused in the following passage in their own lives? Perhaps W’s veto of the SCHIP Program would be a good place to start…
Matthew 25: 31-46 31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:47 am34″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41″Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44″They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45″He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46″Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
‘Despite the harshness of Mr. Hagel’s criticisms and the seriousness of the subjects being discussed, the mood of the event was not unremittingly grim.
One question from the floor asked Mr. Hagel to consider the possibility of an independent “Hagel-Bloomberg†ticket in next year’s election.
“Bloomberg’s got the money. I think it would be Bloomberg-Hagel,†Mr. Hagel shot back to laughter.’
http://www.observer.com/2007/hagel-cfr-would-consider-running-dem-ticket-calls-hillary-capable?page=0%2C1
November 29th, 2007 at 11:48 amI have some family members who are hardcore repubs. They despise Bush though still voted for him in ‘04, more of a vote against Kerry.
Anyhow it was heartbreaking to see them give validation to Bush with knowledge (admittingly not full knowledge – thanks Faux Noise) that Bush is a criminal. War and otherwise. Still they could not fathom voting for Kerry (cognitive dissonance) and refused simply not to vote like several other repubs we know.
The only thing that made one hardcore repub family member say that she would instantly switch parties is when she heard a rumour that Dems were going to eliminate payroll taxes. That’s it. Not torture, not Plame, not half a million dead innocents. Just the elimination of payroll taxes.
They said even though they hate Bush, they hoped the people surrounding Bush would assert the conservative values that they hold so dear. Pretty sad and scary. Values which we Progressives know don’t exist.
Still an illuminating look into what would pursuade a 27% kool aid drinker.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:50 amDamn him, and his plainspoken, Midwestern honesty!!!!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:55 amSUREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Hagel, but ya still voted with them 90% of the time.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:02 pmHagel is a political opportunist. He happens to be correct in this case, but he’s only come to this opinion as public opinion has turned against Bush. That’s not exactly a courageous position.
The people who criticized the Iraq War from the beginning as illegal, immoral, and unnecessary–back when support for the war was over 80% and it was politically perilous to take such an unpopular position–those are the ones who have my respect.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:13 pmAnd the fact that the Republicans stayed quiet on this for 7 years says what about their competency ?
November 29th, 2007 at 12:45 pm“Chuck Hagel is wrong, of course, but he has the right to his opinion.”
Please note the smug little “of course” dropped in there. As sure a mark of your true turd as driving a Hummer.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:48 pmYou don’t need a magnifying glass, only common sense and honesty to see what’s so obvious!
November 29th, 2007 at 1:27 pmour unabashed dictionary defines “RINO” as [i]anybody with an ‘R’ after their name who doesn’t shine and polish the Bush Administration’s ASS to a magnificent shine!
November 29th, 2007 at 2:16 pmComment by curmudgeon — November 29, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Thanks for posting that. That’s part of the stuff that the right wing bible cherry-pickers always seem to miss.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:33 pmBush has done more than “fail” this country. He’s committed crimes against this country. “Arrogant and incompent?” Try criminal. Although I appreciate Hagel’s statements, I wish he’d get to the meat of the problem: War crimes, crimes against humanity, treason. Any one of which would at the very least condemn Bush to impeachment, and if prosecuted to the full extent of the law, would condemn Bush (and those who enabled him) to execution.
November 29th, 2007 at 2:48 pmHagel for VP on the Democratic ticket? I’d bet it’s a distinct possibility.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:35 pmand the person saying this is…………..
Comment by John Kerry — November 29, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
I think it is the republican senator from Nebraska but I might be wrong
November 29th, 2007 at 4:22 pmIs Hagel’s level of honesty a result of his deciding to leave politics? If so, then I think it’s a day late/dollar short. If not, then perhaps the rumors about Mike Bloomberg picking him up as Veep have more subtance to them? — Veritas
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In all fairness, it’s not impossible that the man has come to his senses and had a change of heart — it’s not entirely unknown to happen (even though it doesn’t happen nearly as often as it should, either in the political sphere specifically or in life as a whole). If so — although only time will tell whether he’s genuinely seen the light or whether he’s merely engaging in lip service for his own benefit — then perhaps he should be given credit where credit is due in spite of his previous support for Bush.
Hagel is actually one of the very few Republicans for whom I have any respect…and personally, as a longtime resident of New York City, I might actually consider voting for a Bloomberg/Hagel ticket. I have very little interest in voting for either Clinton or Obama and I seriously doubt that Edwards will be selected as the nominee — but Bloomberg strikes me as someone who has at least some of his priorities in the right spot. He’s certainly more tolerable as a mayor than Giuliani ever was, in spite of running as a Republican. This is a man who’s known to take the subway down to City Hall as if he were any other New York working stiff — and he voluntarily turned down the salary that his position entitles him to receive. True, he hardly needed the money…but when was the last time that you heard of any politician (or businessman, for that matter) turning down money, regardless of whether they needed it or were even entitled to it or not? Granted, some people have suggested that by throwing such a staggering amount of money into his mayoral campaign, he virtually bought the election — but a lot of it was his own money and the fact is that it’s simply not possible to find a candidate with absolutely no question marks in his or her background because both business and politics are rather dirty and it’s simply not possible to find someone who’s so squeaky-clean that nobody can find one word to say against them. True, Bloomberg doesn’t have any experience running a country — but neither does Giuliani. One thing which Bloomberg definitely does know how to do is run a business — something which can’t be said for George W. Bush, who’s served two terms in spite of the fact that he’s incapable of running either a business or a country effectively.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:13 pmAs a Nebraskan democrat who voted for Hagel in 2002–the only time I have ever voted for a republican–let me put to rest the idea that his 80% win was the result of the voting machines. I know other democrats who cast their first vote for a Republican in that election. Why? Because Hagel, as well as Bob Kerrey, was seen as someone who doesn’t follow party line lockstep. Our two senators were both mavericks, which we admire. Yes, I held my nose, knowing how very conservatively Hagel votes. But I deeply value having someone, anyone, in Congress who knows something about foreign policy, and was pleased to have a chance to vote for such a representative. Hagel from day one expressed misgivings over Iraq–subtle perhaps but easy to pick up. For that reason he has been vilified for years in our local paper’s public comment section by those Republicans who believe in party over country. And for that reason, he is not running for re-election–too many Republicans in Nebraska don’t forgive him for his disloyalty to Bush on Iraq. No one was contributing to his re-election campaign. It is a shame. He is truly an expert on foreign policy and diplomacy and he is being punished for raising the questions on Iraq, as carefully as he could as a Republican, from the very beginning He showed much more courage than most of the Democrats.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:25 amAHHH chukie must have found the the funny chocolates in the fanny room otherwise how do you explain the five year absence of anything remotely close to what he’s braying now,
I know he was being rip van snoozle, couldn’t get his nose out of the K street feed bag long enough to look up and see that his term in office was about past due.
Oh well I suppose as a democrat I should be happy to see a puke braying about what was painfully obvious 5 years ago, and as for the BIGGIE with Blinders, shouldn’t you and anonymous be holding hands and playing toe tappers delight somewhere where its quiet?
Not in public though your an embarrassment to a mirror.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:22 am.
What’s all the yappin’ about?
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk…
NO ACTION!
An Oath of Office requires ACTION.
How is talking about being the most arrogant, incompetent administrations to have EVER failed the Country, supporting AND defending the Constitution?
.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:38 amBush is not a legitimate President. His presidency started off on the wrong foot since day one. This administration cannot expect to succeed. It never has and never will. Time has proven GW Bush dead wrong. What can he expect? Staging a terrorist attack on 9/11 killing thousands of innocent people using it as an excuse to invade Iraq, how can this administration expect to succeed?
November 30th, 2007 at 5:08 am“ONE” of the most arrogant, incompetent administrations ever? ” “ONE” of them? Weak. THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION IS HANDS DOWN, WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST ARROGANT AND NOT ONLY INCOMPETENT BUT CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATIONS THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD.
These crooks rival corrupt governments in Africa, fer Christ’s sake!
November 30th, 2007 at 2:25 pmAmerica’s Senator? Hagel is rated 100% by the ChristianCoalition. Check out this dailyKos diary for Hagel’s voting record http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/16/185310/186
December 1st, 2007 at 1:32 pmThe GOP eats their own and no better example of that nasty habit is when they turned their backs on Hagel!
Had Hagel run for president?
He would have been very, very hard to beat!
And I for one take no solace in knowing he isnt running this time aorund, this country deserves, needs, a statesman like him.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 amI’d be more inclined to believe Hagel was being sincere if he called for impeachment.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:27 pm