Senator Hagel (R-France) Says Bush Given Too Much Leeway

the new york times ^ | 10/21/2003 | RepublicanWizard

[republicanwizard]

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel is strongly criticizing Congress, saying it gave President Bush too much latitude in conducting foreign policy following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Hagel, of Nebraska, voiced his disapproval Monday in a speech at the Gallup Organization World Conference in Omaha.

``When the security of this nation is threatened, Congress and the American people give the president great latitude,'' he said. ``We probably have given this president more flexibility, more latitude, more range, unquestioned, than any president since Franklin Roosevelt -- probably too much. The Congress, in my opinion, really abrogated much of its responsibility.''

Hagel, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voted last year to give the president the authority to attack Iraq but has frequently criticized Bush's execution of the war. He has been especially critical of the lack of allies and U.N. support.

Most people in other countries are too young to remember the good done by the United States in World War II and the Korean War, he said.

``The great reservoir of pro-American good will that has existed in the world since World War II . . . that reservoir is now down very low.''

[pogo101]

Time for Rove to pluck a young, solidly conservative up-and-comer to run against Hagel in the next primary. The state already has one Democrat Senator; it doesn't need Hagel too.

[William McKinley]

"Why is it everyone picks on Arlen Specter, but no one ever goes after this idiot?"

Hagel's ACU rating, 2002: 95. Lifetime: 84.

Arlen's ACU rating, 2002: 50. Lifetime: 42.

Granted, Hagel is wrong on this issue, but his looks to me like dissent from within from one of our own, while Arlen too often appears to be trying to be a Democrat while wearing the Republican cloth.

But as I have mentioned to you on the state board, Arlen would still be better than just about any Democrat; Zell Miller, for all the cheering he gets at times, had a lower 2002 ACU rating than Arlen (47) and his lifetime rating is barely higher (54).

[Flux Capacitor]

[Digger]

..Per Vote Match: "Where the candidate's Personal score meets the Economic score on the grid below is the candidate's political philosophy. Based on the above score, the candidate is a Moderate Libertarian Conservative."

[ought-six]

Isn't Hagel one of the guys who is all for the illegal aliens?

[Wright is right!]

"Yes, what is Hagel's problem anyway?"

You really don't know? Hagel is amongst those in DC who crave media adulation. The easiest way to get your face on TV is to be a Republican willing to voice disapproval of Bush (or any other Republican). Hagel has, in one way or another, told the media that ANY time they want a Pubbie on camera taking shots at Bush, he's their man.

If you take a look back at news stories mentioning Republicans taking a contrarian view of Dubya's policies, 99% of the time it's Hagel, followed by McMaxHeadcase of AZ. The networks have those two on SpeedDial.

Hagel just loves to be on TV and the media love to have him on. Simple.

Michael

[Finalapproach29er]

I think this Republican version of (French) John Kerry violates the 11th commandment every time he gets in front of the cameras and is asked about President Bush. Hagel's act is wearing thin.

[The Wizard]

hagel is a dickhead

[republicanwizard]

EXCELLENT! I'll have to save this one.

[republicanwizard]

Yeah, I know. Sometimes I wonder if Hatch is becoming a garage band punkrockster.

[jonalvy44]

tar and feather time boys...

[F-117A]

Omaha World-Herald link to Hagel comments.

(No Slimes sign-in required.)

[republicanwizard]

Sounds good to me. I'm sure we can find a rail.

[attiladhun2]

John McCain(iac) talks like a d*ckhead from time to time also. Did you hear him the other day expousing the Kyoto Protocol? I could have fallen out of my chair when I heard him say that global warming was a fact. Is the air in the Senate building full of some kind of hallucinagenic gas or something? It seems as though they get goofier the longer they are in the Senate. Look at "Sheets" Byrd and Kennedy--a couple of real screwballs, also "Jiltin" Jim Jeffords. They really are a bunch of nutcases. A lot of 'em are so old and senile they fall asleep and drole all over themselves while the Senate is debating this or that issue, so they don't know what the hell's going on. The Senate is undoubtedly the worst part of government, maybe even worse than the State Dept., if that's possible.

[tx_eggman]

We probably have given this president more flexibility, more latitude, more range, unquestioned, than any president since Franklin Roosevelt

Because he's the first President since FDR that has had to respond to a direct attack on the United States ... sounds like he needs all the flexibility, latitude and range he can be given.

[Right Wing Professor]

I want to congratulate Nebraska from the bottom of my heart for sending this RINO to the Senate.

Hagel has been a disappointment. This is one Nebraska Republican who will be looking hard at the Libertarian candidate in 2004.

[Right Wing Professor]

Isn't Hagel one of the guys who is all for the illegal aliens?

Yep. The INS ran a serious operation a few years back to root out and deport illegals working in the meat-packing industry (operation Vanguard). Hagel got it shut down. The meat packers like illegals and make big contributions to Hagel.

[Right Wing Professor]

Aaack. I meant 2008. A long time to put up with Chuckie.

[what's up]

Hagel's a McCain supporter...what do you expect?