For those who think Chuckie Hagel is such a good guy...

[acmavm]

Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill that would add 3 million lower-income children to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Sen. Chuck Hagel voted NO
Sen. Ben Nelson voted YES

[TwilightZone]

1. I don't think there are many left.

He was pretty well outed as an ultraconservative when he was flirting with running a few months ago.

[TwilightGardener]

2. LOL! I know this doesn't surprise you, does it?

I would have been surprised if he VOTED for it, frankly. He won't betray his cold-hearted conservative principles, not even for little kids, NOT EVEN when other Repubs supported/cosponsored it, like Chuck Grassley. He's nothing if not consistent when it comes to screwing the average Joe. The good thing is, it will bite him in the ass if he does decide to run for Prez. And Nelson gets a gold star for that vote.

[Peregrine Took]

3. If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times, "Never trust a republican -

not one - ever!!!"

[MasonJar]

4. As I understand it, Hagel is ultra-conservative except in his opposition to the war.

Is this right?

[TwilightGardener]

5. Pretty much. Even his opposition to the war can be considered

consistent with conservatism--why keep wasting our troops and resources for diminishing returns? I hope the other R's start to see it that way. But yeah--he's a right-winger, though a sane/non-fundie one.

[acmavm]

8. Yep!

[murielm99]

6. Thank you!

I was extremely pissed when he spoke at my son's college graduation. There were people on DU defending him. I could not believe it.

[TwilightGardener]

13. Curious as to what he said that was so offensive.

[murielm99]

21. The f*cker had the nerve to speak about ethics.

Imagine that.

This is the guy who did not admit until later that he owned the company that counted all his votes...electronically. This is the guy who was on the short list for vice-president on the Bush ticket the first time around.

A repuke...who rubber-stamps all the shit that they are doing - talking about ethics. He agrees with them about everything except the war, as I understand it. It seems he is a veteran, a rarity among that group of chickenhawks, who knows what war is.

I don't think it was appropriate to have a politician who, although unannounced, may be considering a run for the Presidency during this cycle. I would not have minded another office holder of either party, as long as he or she was not someone using this graduation as a possible photo op for higher office.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Fair enough! I don't think candidates should give grad speeches either, but

it appears to be common practice now. I thought Obama gave a great one in the spring, but still...I have to agree with you.

[Egnever]

7. People think Hagel is a good guy?

Wow

[Perry Logan]

9. Forget about him. Hagel is a "Diebold Republican"

Chuck Hagel doesn't belong in public office at all:

"The respected Washington, DC publication The Hill (www.thehill.com/news/012903/hagel.aspx) has confirmed that former conservative radio talk-show host and now Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel was the head of, and continues to own part interest in, the company that owns the company that installed, programmed, and largely ran the voting machines that were used by most of the citizens of Nebraska.

Back when Hagel first ran there for the U.S. Senate in 1996, his company's computer-controlled voting machines showed he'd won stunning upsets in both the primaries and the general election. The Washington Post (1/13/1997) said Hagel's "Senate victory against an incumbent Democratic governor was the major Republican upset in the November election." According to Bev Harris of www.blackboxvoting.org, Hagel won virtually every demographic group, including many largely Black communities that had never before voted Republican. Hagel was the first Republican in 24 years to win a Senate seat in Nebraska.

Six years later Hagel ran again, this time against Democrat Charlie Matulka in 2002, and won in a landslide. As his hagel.senate.gov website says, Hagel "was re-elected to his second term in the United States Senate on November 5, 2002 with 83% of the vote. That represents the biggest political victory in the history of Nebraska."

What Hagel's website fails to disclose is that about 80 percent of those votes were counted by computer-controlled voting machines put in place by the company affiliated with Hagel. Built by that company. Programmed by that company.
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0131-01.htm

[acmavm]

10. Yes, that is so true. I've posted about that before, and so many people

seem to either want to ignore that fact, or think I'm full of shit.

The truth is the guy is republican. Through and through. Not what the propagandists call a fiscally responsible republican, but a money grubbing, vote stealing, lying, self-serving shit of the type that party spits out.

Being against the war isn't that big a deal. It just proves that one is capable of logical thought and has tracable brainwave patterns.

[Perry Logan]

11. As far as I'm concerned, America is in a state of civil war. The left and right are going to fight.

[TwilightGardener]

12. Well, I disagree with you there. He's one of the few Repubs I respect.

I disagree with his votes (like on SCHIP) and his ultra-conservatism, but I expect him to vote the way he does--he's a product of, and represents, both Nebraska and his party. I think he has integrity, and as a military wife, I appreciate that he served his country (no chickenhawk, he) and ALWAYS stands up for fellow vets--sorry, can't join in on the Chuckie hate.

[acmavm]

14. That's fine. Yeah, he served. So did millions of others. And they

all didn't turn out to be corporate shits. Whatever.

[TwilightGardener]

15. Yep, he is as pro-big-business as they come.

There's no question about that. He will always side with their interests. (There are many Democrats, though, who do the same thing, just not as obviously or as consistently.) But that's the conservative Republican religion. It's like getting angry at a wolf for being a predator and eating bunnies--that's just the nature of the beast. That doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the wolf who occasionally goes against the pack to do the right thing.

[acmavm]

16. See, I can't appreciate someone just because they served if

they are elitist, corporatist, and a liar. And if they won their first election by votes counted on machines produced by a company of which they are a part-owner. Especially when he'd never won anything else before.

Nope, military service don't cut it. He's not a chickenhawk. But he is a chickenshit.

[TwilightGardener]

17. I can understand if you don't like him, certainly. I respect him, but

he often aggravates me. It just all comes down to what you're willing to believe about certain people. I don't believe he rigged his elections--aside from the fact that there's no evidence, nor any credible current allegation or investigation against him, there's just nothing about his character that suggests he would commit this sort of serious crime. Hell, two of our Prez candidates made him their official favorite Republican on national TV, and I would think Biden and Edwards wouldn't say that if they thought he was a corrupt Stevens-like scandal waiting to happen. But a guy who volunteered for combat, and still has shrapnel in his chest from it, is not someone I'd call a chickenshit--an asshole, maybe, but chickenshit, no. Voting against expanding kids' healthcare--assholiness. On that we can agree. :-)

[OHdem10]

18. GOP using this bill to hit Dems .

It has been on every news channel --Some Republicans used
it to slam Dem. Party at the Iowa Rep. Debates this weekend.

I respect Hagel. He has excellent forein policy ideals and
ideas.

On Domestic issues he is arch conservative. I thought everyone
new this.

[TwilightGardener]

20. I find it hard to believe that they are using this bill against us--

I would think it's the other way around. Who wants to be AGAINST health care for kids? But that's how craven they are. And I agree, Hagel is a highly trusted and respected voice on foreign policy--he is going to leave a big hole in the Foreign Relations Committee when he's out of the Senate next year.

[democratsin08]

19. he is a rep

whats good about that?