Sen. Hagel says GOP has lost its way

[Herman Munster]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060820/ap_on_el_pr/hagel_republicans

WASHINGTON - 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 (news, bio, voting record), 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.

[AX10]

1. Hagel has no authority to speak about this. He was there every step...

of the way. He voted for these stupid massive tax cuts for the rich, he voted to spend, spend, spend. He voted for Bush's increases in the size of the Federal government. Hagel just wants to be the President, so he has suddenly found his conscience. If you want a truely principled person to be President, vote for Wesley Clark, Russ Feingold, or Howard Dean.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. Hmmm... looks like someone's campaigning for 2008.

Now that Allen's made a giant faux pas this week, gives him time to get his name on the positive side of the news cycle.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Oh, this should be interesting.

We've got McCain supporting the "unitary executive" and Bush's war, Hagel questioning the war and (at least now) trying to distance himself from the "new" Republican party, and then there's the usual collection of fundie wackjobs and racist loons like Frist and George Felix Allen, Jr. Schism, anybody?

[SaveElmer]

4. Disingenous...

I suppose some recognition is due him for saying this..


But saying that the Democrats do not offer a better alternative is Bullshit...

Bill Clinton did bring back fiscal sanity to the Government, with no help from the Republicans, and as soon as they got back into power created a mess exponentially greater than the one solved by Clinton...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. No matter. The only chance Hagel has to be president is to run

as a Republican. Even if he secretly agreed with the Democrats it wouldn't do him any good to become one now because of his long history of doing Republican shit -- the Dems wouldn't have him, no matter what he said or did at this point. So the only thing he can do is appeal to the Repubs who have become disappointed or disillusioned with what their party has become, but who are too conservative to leave the Dark Side. Hagel is placing his bets on the fact that the mood of the country is changing, turning away from Bush. McCain is stuck with his Bush-hugging, fundie-appeasing antics, and I think Hagel is going to try to out-"maverick" him.

Divide and conquer. Hagel will never take the fundies; I hope he splits the party.

[SaveElmer]

7. Oh I wasn't suggesting he become a Democrat...

But if he is trying to cultivate an aura of no nonsense truth telling, its best not to lie so blatantly about which party represents fiscal sanity!

[B Calm]

5. Sen. Hagel, take a long long look in a mirror & maybe you will see

the problem!

[tbyg52]

8. Never forget...

..that this is the guy who was part owner of a voting machine company, did not disclose it on his campaign paperwork, and "won" on those very machines.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. But not enough to make him switch parties