Posted on 08/20/2006 9:02:08 AM PDT by SmithL
Republicans have lost their way when it comes to many core GOP principles and may be in jeopardy heading into the fall elections, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. says.
Hagel, a possible presidential candidate in 2008, said Sunday that the GOP today is very different party from the one when he first voted Republican.
"First time I voted was in 1968 on top of a tank in the Mekong Delta," said Hagel, a Vietnam veteran. "I voted a straight Republican ticket. The reason I did is because I believe in the Republican philosophy of governance. It's not what it used to be. I don't think it's the same today."
Hagel asked: "Where is the fiscal responsibility of the party I joined in '68? Where is the international engagement of the party I joined — fair, free trade, individual responsibility, not building a bigger government, but building a smaller government?"
His frustration does not lead him to think Democrats offer a better alternative. But Hagel wants to see the GOP return to its basic beliefs.
"I think we've lost our way," Hagel said. "And I think the Republicans are going to be in some jeopardy for that and will be held accountable."
Hagel has not decided whether he will run for president in 2008. But he respects his wife's reservations about being first lady — cited in a book about Hagel.
"I think it just shows the immense good judgment of my wife and how sane she is. I don't know of any spouse who would wish the job of president on their husband or wife," Hagel said on Fox News Sunday. "It's a big job. It's a tough job."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Someone ought to send the dear Senator a mirror. How many earmarks have been made in your name, Senator? How many big-government programs and stifling regulations got your seal of approval? What are the chances that you'd work to roll back, say, agricultural subsidies?
I wouldn't refer to an Army grunt who was awarded two purple hearts as a Chicken Little. We need more people in public office who have served.
Actually (see my previous on Hagel's voting record) post his stands on the issues compare favorably with the beloved George W. "RINO" Bush. If you are looking for perfection, however, then you need to consider Ron Paul.
Excellent post. I agree with every word you said, except that Bush "understands we are at war". If he truly understood this, he would do something about our wide open borders.
On Judges alone Bush has done so far much more for the Conservative movement then any of the Democrats pretending to be Conservatives on the wacko Freeper Fringe with their perpetual whining have, or ever will, do. Hagel is an idiot studying to be a moron and failing, just like all the utterly hysteric pseudo Conservatives Freeper Fringes with their DNC Virtual Campaigning pouting One has to wonder if the the 100%er Whiners with their DNC "Pretend to be a "Betrayed Conservative and infiltrate Conservative websites" propaganda posting ACTUALLY think any of us are stupid enough to fall for this Moveon.org directed clowning?
Mad as hell? Dumb as hell would be more accurate.
How about telling us what you disagree with about his statements, rather than just calling him a name?
Don't bother. He's a true believer. He'll fight to the last man for Dubya.
Well, his wife has quite a point. He ought to listen to her.
Unfortunately we see this little game every election year. No one here is fooled by stupid Leftist games
I salute Hagel's service in Vietnam, but he must have heard some really bad reporting on Armed Forces Radio if he believed Nixon was for smaller government and free trade.
You have pretty much summed up the profile of the two main (big government) candidates in the last presidential election: Bush and Kerry.
Bingo. Agree 100%
You act like your character. Stuck in the sixties.
And your point is.....?
Hagel never meets a TV camera he doesn't like.....yet another career politician prostituting himself as a media darling. He does not sound like a strong conservative to me on TV and has undermined the WH often. Bush has spent like a drunken sailor and weak on the border protection so us 'neocons' dont blindly follow a pied piper but we will hold our GOP pols accountable....Hagel is high on the list as well.
So Hagel, how long were you in the Senate? Approaching 12 years, right?
What have you done to cut the size of government?
Thank you. Too bad we can't say the same for you.
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