Sen. Chuck Hagel (R- Neb): your thoughts about him?

[npincus]

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070129/truthdig



Hagel's been a critic of the Iraq debacle for quite some time-- he was a lone voice of sanity among the war-mongering, rubber-stamping GOP congress, exposing himself to all kinds of ridicule from the RW media. I nod my head in agreement with the sentiments coming out of his mouth-- something which never happens when a Republican speaks.

I was curious to get thoughts and opinions here on Hagel, and his record other than being anti-war. The so-called GOP frontrunners are all loathesome and grotesque. I can't imagine a President McCain or Guiliani or Romney. All unnaceptable. Of course, a Dem has to win, but a GOP nominee who is not a huge, giant, stinking scumbag would be preferable to any of the aforementioned.

Robert Scheer, from The Nation writes:

Chuck Hagel for President! If it ever narrows down to a choice between him and some Democratic hack who hasn't the guts to fundamentally challenge the President on Iraq, then the conservative Republican from Nebraska will have my vote. Yes, the war is that important, and the fact that Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, the leading Democratic candidate, still can't or won't take a clear stand on the occupation is insulting to the vast majority of voters who have.

Sen. Hagel is a decorated Vietnam War vet who learned the crucial lessons of that Democrat-launched debacle of post-colonial imperialism. Even more important, he has the courage to challenge a President from his own party who so clearly didn't.

"The speech given last night by this President represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam," Hagel said. "We are projecting ourselves further and deeper into a situation that we cannot win militarily.


"To ask our young men and women to sacrifice their lives to be put in the middle of a civil war is wrong. It's, first of all, in my opinion, morally wrong. It's tactically, strategically, militarily wrong," he added.

[SaveElmer]

1. Based on this article...

Scheer is an idiot and a dissembler...

As to Hagel, he is a right wing Republican...which doesn't mean you can't be an honorable person...he has shown a willingness to look at the facts and change his mind if the situation warrants...

I wouldn't vote for him in a million years, but I can respect the guy!

[demnan]

2. He's ok for a Republican

n/t

[mod mom]

3. How did he get elected? As (now former)Chairman of ES & S!

Chuck Hagel, the previous chairman of ES&S, another major manufacturer of voting machines and still a $1m stock-holder in McCarthy & Co which owns a quarter of ES&S <17>, became a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1996. Hagel's Democratic opponent made a formal protest to the state of Nebraska over the conflict of interest. Hagel had significant AIS holdings when the company counted the votes for his surprise election victory. Hagel has been scrutinized by the Senate Ethics Committee over his investments in the McCarthy Group. ES&S, which counted 80% <18> of the votes when Hagel was elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2002, is a subsidiary of the McCarthy Group, according to The Hill. <19>,<20>



-snip

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_presidential_election_controversy,_voting_machines

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. BINGO! Good old ES&S! Funny how those evoting machines always elect repukes, isn't it? n/t

[acmavm]

16. And folks, he denied any connect with ES&S. Don't be fooled.

Just because he's against Iraq doesn't mean he is presidential material.

Anyone with a shred of sanity knows that Iraq is lost and we need to get out.

[Neecy]

4. I don't know enough about him

Does he pander to the religious right? Where is he on choice? Gay rights? Labor? Is he a knuckle-dragger on every issue save Iraq?

[npincus]

8. neither do I, hence the post!

It's possible he can be right on Iraq and wrong on everything else. But he had the backbone to stand against his party on this one, the issue of our time.

[AX10]

5. Scheer is being an ass to say the least.

Hagel is right on Iraq, but wrong on everything else. Also, Hagel is opposed to the minimum wage. That can sink him right there.

[saltpoint]

6. An evolved Republican on the Iraq war, but

a conservative Republican in nearly everything else.

As long as the GOP is going to nominate someone, I suppose I'd prefer Hagel to Huckaback, Gingrich, Tancredo, Romney, Giuliani, McCain, Gilmore, and the others, and I credit Hagel for speaking out against Bush's escalation and for his tidy dismissal of Condiliar at the SFRC hearings last week.

But he's still too conservative. All his judicial appointments would be too far to the right, and we've had more than enough right-wing kooks appointed to judgeships as it is.

Better than your average cretinous Republican, but not good enough to switch me from blue to red.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. He's a Repuke. Enough said.

If he'd like to switch parties, I might have a positive thought about him.

[LynneSin]

9. Republican - nuff said

He needs to do one of two things to impress me

1.) Take on those fundie nutjobs head-on demanding that some of the moderate republicans get leadership positions within the senate, not just committee assignments

or

2.) Leave the party

[peacetalksforall]

11. Look at him. He is a vote thief and a vote privatizer. How can

anyone want to know more? Do you know which machines are involved in the Sarasota debacle? ES & S. The machines are the issue here. Now there is a wall built up around them to protect their 'secrets'.

I'll repeat from another thread - someone proposed that he run as VP to Clinton or Obamas - if that happens - I will campaign will all my strength against any or either combination. I am insulted by the suggestion.

Don't be misled by Coleman, Hagel, Snowe, Collins, Warner. They speak words that give the impression that they are their own person and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS end up voting with and for Dick Cheney and his marionette.

You asked. I answered.

[npincus]

15. thank you.

I would turn to stone if I ever voted for one of them-- it ain't gonna happen. Ever.

Hagel is a curiousity to me, I didn't know anything about him except for his anti-war position. Thanks for posting.

[ronnykmarshall]

12. I like that he's coming out against the war.

I don't know much more about him other than that. That position alone gets my respect.

I think we are going to see a VERY interesting election in 2008. There will be at LEAST one viable 'third party' ticket running, I think.

[Rosemary2205]

13. AHA!! I was wondering what all the Hagel posts today were about! Thanks

I appreciate the sentiment of the nation author, but I don't think after the last 12 years of Republicans antics I could ever vote for an R for anything. The games they have played just make them untrustable IMHO. And Iraq is important, WOT is important, but it's not the only issue.

[BuyingThyme]

14. Well, he hasn't taken impeachment off the table.

[LSK]

17. geeezzzz, a Republican can see the OBVIOUS in Iraq and hes God now???

:wtf:

[PATRICK]

18. I won't add to my previous post

on the same topic except to notice an old bug I had about the Nation putting principle ahead of sanity in enthusiastic judgments about issue purity. I called it Naderization of one's political choice on the other post.

Do we have to stampede once more against the imperfect Dems toward another wolf in sheep's clothing because of seeming manly rightness on the war issue? This is the ex-president of Es and S who had his own machines count his own surprising upset and subsequent odd strength in Dem districts. He has to wrest control away from the Bush faction aka lapdog wannabe McCain the escalator. In his own limited way being sincere coincides with his political ambitions. Whoopee. And I wonder why the Nation thinks GOP ham sandwiches are a great viable option anyway? Could it be the blind acceptance of Hagel's great voting machines?

[Bobbie Jo]

19. Well...if all Repukes

Were reasonable enough to see the truth for what it is, and honorable enough to speak out publicly, we might be able to finally accomplish something worth while in this country. Extreme divisiveness perpetuates self-serving divisive policy and disastrous decision making.

Such as what we have now....

I hope the more reasonable adults mired in the dregs of the RW will emerge now that Hagel has made it safer territory, so that we can clean up this ungodly mess they have made.

[sandnsea]

20. He's the right's Biden

Talks all sensible on Sunday, but never gives up the vote on Monday. He's also very conservative economically and socially. Plus his voting machine interests. He's good on the war, but that's about it.

[cyclezealot]

21. Did he not start out with Iraq as a hawk?

He evolved. He's a decent guy, but I'd never vote for him; even if his views on Iraq are more progressive than Hilary's. I'd likely still vote Democratic. And Hilary is a disappointment. Once a hawk, always a hawk. I am not convinced another issue another war, he'd revert to his old ways.
As for me, I am attracted to the bumper sticker, " I am already against your next war."

[nevergiveup]

22. I don't particularly care for him

but next to McCain he looks like a saint and his position on the war has always been far superior to the Democratic senator from Nebraska. If Hagel were running against Hillary today I would take a walk. Hagel's social positions suck and Hillary is a hawk. Please don't let it come to a choice like this.

[mod mom]

23. Hagel's Voting record-for those with any doubts:

http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=BC031069

[sendero]

24. He's looking to get elected...

...and nobody who supports this war-fiasco is going to win the presidency.

Politicians jump ship all the time. I can think of at least one prominent Dem candidate who did a U-turn only months ago.

He may really believe what he is saying, he may be saying it to get elected. It's happened before.

[Swamp Rat]

25. He is getting ready to run for president. n/t

[GreenTea]

26. Just a different smelling pile of republican do-do.

[SteveG]

27. Sane Conservative on Foreign Policy

He's a principled conservative - a bit too conservative on social issues for my taste, but not a maniac. He is very good on foreign policy in general, and if the election were between him and Joe Leiberman - Hagle would have my vote in a heartbeat.

[chaplainM]

28. Did he vote for...

...Bill Frist?

[Nutmegger]

29. ES&S

That's all I have to say.

[MoonRiver]

30. He represents the beginning of the end for our selected resident.

Brownback followed suit, and soon, I hope and predict, a special Nixonesque envoy will be dispatched to "advise" * and Cheney that resignation would be a much better option for them than impeachments and criminal trials.

[goodhue]

31. dangerous