Chuck Hagel on The Daily Show
Chuck Hagel, another Vietnam Veteran serving in the Senate as a Republican, was on The Daily Show Monday night to promote his new book, America: Our Next Chapter.
It's a shame that Senator Hagel has opted not to run for re-election. While Democrats may be chomping at the bit to get his seat, there's no guarantee that they'll get it. Senator Hagel hails from Nebraska, not the bluest of states. While Nebraska's other senator is a Democrat, he's been described as one of the most conservative of Democrats and has been slow in coming around to Hagel's POV on Iraq.
Hagel's opposition to the war in Iraq is probably the most prominent issue that got him into the national spotlight. He refuses to toe the party line and has called the Iraq War one of the greatest blunders in US history (see video). For a Republican to take a stand against the Iraq war in this political climate is nothing short of brave. We've seen the depths of depravity this administration can resort to when reality-based dissent is uttered.
It is this courage, to pick conscience over politics, that will be sorely missed. It's something sorely lacking in the Republican party these days. If the party is to save itself from the three headed hydra of the fundamentalist Christian agenda, corporate profiteering, and neoconservative imperialism, it needs people willing to stand up to these groups and say, "No!"
The Democrats need more Republicans like him. Yes, Hagel gets along fine with W on other issues and he gets high marks from the American Conservative Union. Democrats may think that they'll be enjoying politically brighter times come November, but complacency has undone them before. The shouldn't forget the 90's, when people got fed up with Democrats and voted in Newt Gingrich and his "Contract With America." The Karl Rove era followed and, well, you know the rest. Democrats need sane opponents, not a party so consumed with partisan rancor that it's willing to destroy the Constitution and the country in order to achieve its goals.
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DED
It's a shame that Senator Hagel has opted not to run for re-election. While Democrats may be chomping at the bit to get his seat, there's no guarantee that they'll get it. Senator Hagel hails from Nebraska, not the bluest of states. While Nebraska's other senator is a Democrat, he's been described as one of the most conservative of Democrats and has been slow in coming around to Hagel's POV on Iraq.
Hagel's opposition to the war in Iraq is probably the most prominent issue that got him into the national spotlight. He refuses to toe the party line and has called the Iraq War one of the greatest blunders in US history (see video). For a Republican to take a stand against the Iraq war in this political climate is nothing short of brave. We've seen the depths of depravity this administration can resort to when reality-based dissent is uttered.
It is this courage, to pick conscience over politics, that will be sorely missed. It's something sorely lacking in the Republican party these days. If the party is to save itself from the three headed hydra of the fundamentalist Christian agenda, corporate profiteering, and neoconservative imperialism, it needs people willing to stand up to these groups and say, "No!"
The Democrats need more Republicans like him. Yes, Hagel gets along fine with W on other issues and he gets high marks from the American Conservative Union. Democrats may think that they'll be enjoying politically brighter times come November, but complacency has undone them before. The shouldn't forget the 90's, when people got fed up with Democrats and voted in Newt Gingrich and his "Contract With America." The Karl Rove era followed and, well, you know the rest. Democrats need sane opponents, not a party so consumed with partisan rancor that it's willing to destroy the Constitution and the country in order to achieve its goals.
\_/
DED
Labels: Chuck_Hagel, politics
posted by DED at 3:56 PM
3 Comments:
I agree that politics and government would be better if more people acted like Senator Hagel.
After reading your blog, I can see why you would. :)
Hagel, in many respects, is what Republicans used to be like.
Now the GOP is overrun with Self-loathing demagogues.
I imagine that has something to do with his retirement.
They have no place for true conservatives or, God forbid, moderates.
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