Posted on 07/04/2005 9:04:08 AM PDT by ovrtaxt
GOP's Sen. Chuck Hagel: 'We're a Bunch of Democrats'
Thanks to GOP-backed spending policies, Republicans have transformed themselves into the Party across the aisle, an often dissident Republican senator says. "In terms of the deficit, we have blown the top right off," charged Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb). "We're a bunch of Democrats." In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, he responded to Deborah Solomon's remark that she had never heard anyone call President Bush a Democrat. Hagel said "That's my point. We're less honest about it. We built the biggest government history has ever seen under a Republican government. The Democrats are better because they are honest about it. They don't pretend. I admire that. They'll say: "We want more money. We need more money."
Hagel added that he wants to take the GOP "back to the party of Eisenhower, Goldwater and Reagan. It was a pretty simple party in those days. It was all about limited government, fiscal responsibility, strong national defense and pro-trade foreign policy."
Hagel also didn't spare his artillery against the administration's Iraq war policies, stating that "If someone says I am a disloyal Republican because I am not supporting my party, let them say it. War is bigger than politics."
Citing his service in Vietnam, where he was twice wounded and lost some of his ability to hear, he recalled that "Congress was absent during the Vietnam War, and they didn't ask the tough questions, and consequently we lost 58,000 Americans and lost a war and humiliated this nation. It took a generation to get over it. As long as I am here as a U.S. senator, I am going to do whatever I can to make sure that isn't going to happen."
The Nebraska Republican complained that the U.S. doesn't "have enough troops. But I don't think the answer to increasing manpower is to pursue some of the things the Pentagon is doing, such as doubling and tripling bonuses for those in the military. Kids do not serve their country because they are in it to make money."
He danced around the question of whether he will run for President in 2008. "I haven't said I am running," he told Solomon. Reprinted from NewsMax.com
Monday, July 4, 2005 10:48 a.m. EDT
Even that idiot Hagel admits that, in the subject of this thread.
Logically, you're correct. But I don't think that's what's going on here. Hagle hasn't ever distinguished himself as an opponent of GOP overspending. What's with the sudden attack of thrift?
If you look at all of the positions Hagle has taken over the last eight to twelve months, the only pattern that emerges is an attempt to down-talk the administration and cozy up to the Dems.
This is a pre-presidential bid 'move to the center'. Nothing more.
He has "soft spots" regarding liberty and political free speech, too; that dovetails nicely with his gigantic-spending tendencies.
And, remind me, which party has run Congress for years and years?
I agree,but look for McCain and Hagel to be pals down the road. Graham is kind of girlie- like even though he is Military JAG,and chunky and not good looking,and Hagel is more manly and ruggedly good looking (in a bassett hound kind of way )and of the two is much more electable. The worst feature for Hagel is he always looks like someone just killed his best friend.
That is silly, look at George Forman. LOL!
I agree. I just think he's trying to cover his flank here. He wants to be President and I think he realizes he needs to be to the right of somebody if he hopes to get elected, or to pass the primaries.
He probably sees this as an issue on which he can appeal to conservative discontent.
But yes, you're fundamentally correct about Hagel and his liberal pandering.
You cannot say his rantings have not harmed the party or the Country. He was given time to speak in Houston at the Convention and it has taken Pro-lifers all these years to overcome the hateful rhetoric. How many innocents have been lost because of his harshness in his speech. We are now beginning to win the battle,but it is not over yet. If he stays away a lot more people will listen. If he makes a statement the news media will be all ears and make like that is what pro-lifers are all about.
Hagel the cry-baby wannabe Prez. He is in la-la land!
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