Posted on 05/08/2005 6:40:34 PM PDT by Carl/NewsMax
Maverick GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel said Sunday that U.S. power and influence in the world is in decline, then added, "That's good news, I think."
Discussing whether the Iraq war had left the American military stretched too thin, Hagel told ABC's "This Week":
"The world is now so vastly different in its distribution of not only economic power ... but also in military and diplomatic power."
The Nebraska Republican then explained: "The great challenge of our time for America is our competitive position in the world and understanding this great diffusion of new power. The United States is no longer the dominant power on earth as we have been the last 50 years. That's good news, I think."
Though Hagel's comments could come back to haunt him if, as is widely rumored in Washington, he decides to seek higher office, the GOP maverick had some good news for the Bush administration.
Asked if he'd seen any evidence that would cause him to oppose U.N. ambassador nominee John Bolton since his confirmation was put on hold two weeks ago, Hagel said, "I have not seen anything that would keep me from voting for him ... from what I know now."
He did add, however, that he reserved the right to change his mind if more credible allegations about Bolton came to light.
What, exactly, is Republican about Hagel?
This guy is a loser.
Gee... sounds like Clinton and Albright. NO WAY will he get the GOP nomination.
This jerk is ra-raing over supposed US decline?
What a traitor
RINO Commie Ping!
Huh?
Perhaps we should enjoy Mr. Hagel's declining strength as he grows old because it would be better if the local predators are able to beat the life out of him for his wallet.
What a freakin idiot this man is.
I read on a leftist site that they believed Hagels election was rife with fraud, saying he came out of nowhere. H'e's a pawn of the UN.
I wonder what color the sky is in Mr. Chuck Hagel's world.
Replacing Hagel (and several other RINOs) with a real Republican would be very good news.
I burn to show Hagel what I think of him
The other good news is that he is totally wrong. If there is any truth to his statement, it would only be related to the fact that in the last year we now have to compete for energy resources (oil) with developing industrial nations (China), which is why our gas prices are soaring.
Other than that, this is an idiotic claim.
Didn't you know? That's going to be Hagel's campaign slogan. "Vote for me and I'll manage America's decline more gracefully than anyone else." It's a sure vote-getter.
Bolton really has to watch his step because he has on his staff (or at least did have) one Rexon Ryu who is a State Department employee who was transferred from his position when he failed to produce a document requested by John Bolton' Chief of Staff at State.
The only explanation I can think of is that Hagel is counting on California & other states' open primaries to give him democrat crossover voters if Hillary sows up her nomination early.
It is insanity, but then that is what they are.
Someone ought to introduce Hagel to Arnold Toynbee's "Challenge-Response" theory of history.
Drunk, maybe. But not dumb. I blame this failure, therefore, on his staff.
Congressman Billybob
There is nothing good about the U.S. losing its preeminent position in the world; there is nothing good about us losing our industrial base; there is nothing good about us going into deep debt to other nations.
Recognizing that we have problems is one thing; celebrating our problems and our increasing danger is Clintonesque.
Some RINOS are ok, because they are to be expected.
I do not expect Rhode Island, or Maine to elect Conservative Republicans. That's why I can stomach Chafee, Collins and Snowe.
Now, states like Arizona and Nebraska are Conservative states, so jerks like Hagel and McCain are intolerable.
Specter is intolerable as well, as Penn has shown it can and does elect Conservatives to statewide office.
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