Hmmmm ... I see Hagel now ... he's sitting in a field watching the corn grow.
Posted on 02/19/2006 8:48:28 AM PST by new yorker 77
I was flying this past Sunday so I bought the New York Times (which is really the only time I buy a newspaper....what does that say about the news print business?) and I read the Magazine cover story on Chuck Hagel. Senator Hagel is the type of Republican that media liberals love, because he is almost always good for a shot at President Bush, particularly when it comes to Iraq.
And that in and of itself is fine, each party could use more Senators who don't always toe the party line all the time. But it is one thing to buck your President or party on substantive policy issues out of conviction, and quite another to take cheap shots at leaders of your own party.
I don't know the tone with which Hagel uttered his snide comment on the Cheney shooting to the Omaha World-Herald that "If he'd (Cheney) been in the military, he would have learned gun safety" but unless it was a bad attempt at a joke, this comes across as the type of cheap shot I'd expect from left-wing partisans. And to that point, Ari Berman over at The Nation latched on to Hagel's comment Friday as the "best zinger of the week."
I don't know how serious Hagel is about higher positions in politics. If he is content being a Senator from Nebraska he can probably get away with this stuff for as long as he wants. But if he has aspirations for higher office, as a Republican, he is going to need to change his attitude and change it quick.
Otherwise I can give him and any of his would be supporters a piece of advice -- comments that win kudos form The Nation and the New York Times are not the path to winning the Republican nomination or a VP slot. Sucking up to the Washington press corps may get you good coverage in the Washington Post and on CBS News, but it is not going to win Republican votes in 2008.
If Hagel cares about his standing in the Republican party he ought to clarify his remark or publicly apologize to the Vice President.
Posted by John McIntyre at 01:34 PM
It's a little too late for that. We've noticed his attitude long ago. A change of attitude now wouldn't do any good.
Hagel is "dead man walking". He may be re-elected as Senator, but he will NEVER be a National candidate.
LLS
Chuck Hagel is the NYT's type of Republican, meaning he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell in a national election. His behaviour this past week only confirmed that, and local Freeper comments indicate that he'd even have trouble getting re-elected in he were up in 2006.
Hmmmm ... I see Hagel now ... he's sitting in a field watching the corn grow.
At least. Hagel will pay... oh yes.
"I don't know the tone with which Hagel uttered his snide comment on the Cheney shooting to the Omaha World-Herald that "If he'd (Cheney) been in the military, he would have learned gun safety" but unless it was a bad attempt at a joke, this comes across as the type of cheap shot I'd expect from left-wing partisans."
I've heard that sort of comment/joke plenty from conservatives as well as liberals.
I wonder what Senator Hagel thinks of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison?
Too bad Hagel was not hunting w/ Cheney.
I can't 'figger this scum-bags angle.
Completely agree. But that guy has been taking pot shots and worse for quite a while now
He's been openly criticizing the admin. for the longest and his remarks have been getting personal.
It must be some unrecognized brain syndrome prevalent on the East Coast and DC in particular.
That is good!
Can't the farmers in Nebraska come up with someone better than Hegel to represent them?
THATS the word I was looking for. Hagel is not a RINO...he's a FRAUD. Liberals only know how to play one way....dirty. It's the only way they've ever played. Either the left is taking lessons from Al-Q or the other way around. Chuckie is not only a fraud, he's an infiltrator. Elections this year should be interesting.
I very much doubt Hagel's term as a Senator will last beyond this term! The Nebraska is a very conservative state and don't like being hookwinked! They thought he was conservative!
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