| Monday, August 21, 2006 |
| Hagel's lament |
I think I've said this before, but I love Chuck Hagel. He is, in my opinion, by far the most honorable Republican in Washington, if not the most honorable poltician, period. He speaks his mind, without regard to the orthodoxy of his increasingly extremist, authoritarian and greed-centered party, and unlike ex-Democrat Joe Lieberman, his independence doesn't seem borne of supplication to executive authority or an alien, extragovernmental orthodoxy (neoconservatism). So when Senator Hagel says his party has gone astray, people ought to listen. Here's what he had to say on Sunday:
"First time I voted was in 1968 on top of a tank in the Mekong Delta," said Hagel, a Vietnam veteran. "I voted a straight Republican ticket. The reason I did is because I believe in the Republican philosophy of governance. It's not what it used to be. I don't think it's the same today."
Hagel asked: "Where is the fiscal responsibility of the party I joined in '68? Where is the international engagement of the party I joined — fair, free trade, individual responsibility, not building a bigger government, but building a smaller government?"
His frustration does not lead him to think Democrats offer a better alternative. But Hagel wants to see the GOP return to its basic beliefs.
"I think we've lost our way," Hagel said. "And I think the Republicans are going to be in some jeopardy for that and will be held accountable."
Hagel has not decided whether he will run for president in 2008. But he respects his wife's reservations about being first lady — cited in a book about Hagel.
"I think it just shows the immense good judgment of my wife and how sane she is. I don't know of any spouse who would wish the job of president on their husband or wife," Hagel said on Fox News Sunday. "It's a big job. It's a tough job." ... and if he stood for that top job, I would have to, for the first time in my adult life, seriously consider voting Republican.
Hagel has real reason to be concerned. As the WaPo reported in its Chris Matthews-wowing missive last week, the GOP is losing the so-called "security moms" (which is WaPo-ese for "the gender gap -- a generational staple -- has returned.)
Tags: Chuck Hagel, Politics, elections, Republicans, News, 2006, Bush, Congress |
posted by JReid @ 8:39 AM   |
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