The Socrates of the Senate (Rich Lowry on Chuck Hagel)

Natrional Review ^ | 9/25/2004 | Rich Lowry

[sinkspur]

Foreign-policy crises, like the current one with Iraq, serve to magnify the inherent strengths of certain leaders in Washington, and so it has been with Sen. Chuck Hagel.

The Nebraska Republican has raised senatorial vacuity (his strength) to such exquisite heights, one doubts that the world's greatest deliberative body will ever be the same.

Rarely has someone won so many accolades by saying so little, despite so much cable TV airtime.

Hagel invariably sets the camera with a determined gaze, then asks questions about a military intervention in Iraq without expressing an opinion himself.

The Washington Post's David Broder recently joined the rush to lionize the brow-furrowed senator with a column titled The Hagel Doctrine — but no one has any idea what it is, including Hagel himself.

As Broder writes, "Hagel, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has explored the issue [of Iraq] more deeply than many of his colleagues, but he confesses he cannot answer the questions he is raising." In most places, that would make you an annoying pest; in Washington, it makes you the next Metternich.

[sinkspur]

Hagel is a gutless narcissist who actually thinks he has a shot at the GOP nomination in 2008.

[sinkspur]

Hagel is also doing as much damage to Bush politically as the terrorists are. Does anybody have his Nebraska email address? Emails get flushed in Washington, but not in the home district.

[demlosers]

When is Hagel up for reelection?

[sinkspur]

A good, short take on our boy Chuckie. He specializes in giving the Democrats sound bites to use on the President.

[sinkspur]

Ping

[Steve_Seattle]

"As Broder writes, "Hagel, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has explored the issue [of Iraq] more deeply than many of his colleagues, but he confesses he cannot answer the questions he is raising." In most places, that would make you an annoying pest; in Washington, it makes you the next Metternich."

Zing And that's Kerry's style, too, and that of the critics of Bush's Iran policy. What would the critics do about Iran? Furrow their brows and jawbone.

[gilliam]

How about Hegal vs Byrd ... it really would be entertaining.

Might help the High School debate clubs as well :)

[hyperpoly8]

He will run again in 2006. We in Nebraska weren't too comfortable with him, but his Democrat challenger was much worse, so he got in.

[gilliam]

Hagel is also doing as much damage to Bush politically as the terrorists are.

No one pays any attention to him, so don't worry.

[duckln]

Seems like Hagel will be replacing McCain as the Democrats main mole in the Republican Party.

McCain may have decided to move out and up, we'll have to wait to see where. It's odd that when McCain recently criticized W, Hagel standing right next to him said almost the same thing. Like getting a little on the job training.

[cksharks]

Bend over and spread your cheeks because they are setting him up for 08. I will never vote for the asshole.

[BnBlFlag]

Bingo! He is an "internationalist" of the worst sort. One of the worst RINOs in the Senate. (I was going to call him the worst, but we have some pretty bad ones).

[Unemployed Capitalist]

There are pre-9/11 mindsets and post-9/11 mindsets. I'm not sure that we can distinguish between parties anymore. Just mindsets.....

[Recovering_Democrat]

"Yes, that is right, I'm Chuck Hagel, and yes, I do know more about Iraq than anyone else...mmmhmm...what's that? Private counsel to the President? Why do I go on national tv and rip into him? Well, you see, the President hasn't personally invited me to dinner and solicited my opinion. Naturally, I am offended by this slight, so my only recourse is to run to every network news camera within a 500 mile radius of the Beltway and criticize the administration, you see.

Yes, yes, well, I see your point. Yes, and I see why you citizens might resort to a letter or a phone call, but you see, I am a United States Senator.

Hmmm? What's that? Giving encouragement to Democrats? I'm sorry, all other questions will have to be filled out in triplicate and sent by certified mail to my Omaha office.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I've been reading the adventures of Till Eulenspiegel, the hilarious (and raucous) German clown from the late Middle Ages. In one episode, Eulenspiegel passes himself off as a master tailor and invites tailors from all over the country to attend a sort of symposium on tailoring. After getting them all together he gets up to address them and says something on the order of, "Gentlemen, four things are necessary for tailors: thread, needle, cloth and a thimble. Remember, when you thread your needle, to put a small knot at the end of the thread, so that it doesn't unravel."

One of the tailors points out that those things had been known for a thousand years. "If it's been around for a thousand years," says Eulenspiegel, "no wonder you can't remember it."

[Bob Eimiller]

Hagel is the Liberal media's token "Conservative" he fits their agenda perfectly.

On top of that he's dumb as a "blocked Punt"

[geedee]

Hagel started out as a mere pain in the ass . . . but he has metastasized into a full-blown political hemorrhoid.

[duckln]

On Charlie Rose, Holbrooke in debating a WH Spokesman on Iraq, had to rely on 'quotes' by Un's Annan (illegal war), and GOPers McCain and Hagel (being straight with the people).

You've probably swerved into it, these guys are selling sound bites for cash or later chits.