The Hagel Factor
Chuck Hagel has really become a curious and frustrating figure on the American political scene. This speech he gave last week at Brookings on "U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East" is one of the very best I've heard from any American elected officials -- free of the sort of defensiveness and weasel words that characterize things the Democrats say. But what's he ever done? I recognize that Senators have a limited ability to actually achieve things besides giving speeches, and Hagel made a number of endearing jokes on this score. But his constant joking seems like a form of denial about the fact that though Hagel doesn't have much influence over the course of American foreign policy he has a whole lot more than you or I or just about everyone else in the country. He needs to figure out a way to have an impact on the world or else leave the Senate and just go be a blogger or something.
His remarks yesterday on Iraq also seem sound: "It is very wrong to put American troops in a hopeless, winless situation, just keep feeding them in to what's going on. That's irresponsible and that is wrong."
Good ol Rove..he will have a guy out front who is pro-war (McCain) but if the mid-term elections turn on the war...his back up plan is Hagel. They are covering all the bases.
Hagel has character, the courage of his conviction and real clear reasoning.
Watch out McCain and watch out Hiliary.
August 7, 2006 7:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Couldn't we Dems just work out some sort of trade of Lieberman for Hagel? Both of these guys seem near the end of their contracts with their own parties. We may have to throw in a couple of minor league legislators, since Smokin' Joe has lost his fastball. But it's a deal that makes sense for both sides.
Frankly, though, I'd be willing to part for Joe for some cash and future considerations.
August 7, 2006 8:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
The thing about Hagel - and the few other Republicans remaining with anything like principles or a realistic approach to policy - is that they can't possibly be so stupid as not to see what the rest of the GOP has become. It is disgusting and corrupt to its very core, betraying the very principles that helped it achieve power. This must be very tough for people who really actually stood for those old-timey conservative principles - but those principles don't really exist anywhere anymore in our politics, and a full repudiation of the current party would have to be something along the lines of destroying the village to save it.
One day, perhaps, a GOP leader will come forward and have a Gorbachev moment, seeing that it is, indeed, "all rotten" - but I don't think it will be from this generation of leaders. Which concerns me greatly, as this current generation and their progeny seem not to understand how to run a country, but understand quite well how to maintain their grip on running the country, and so it will probably be a Gorbachev moment for us all.
August 7, 2006 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I believe what you see in Hagel is the positive side of Midwest and Western isolationism. He's Gary Cooper in High Noon. He'd fight to defend his town but he'd fight reluctantly and as a last resort. That sure seems to ring an authentic note in the Midwest. I think that kind of sentiment could have worked in Hillary's village before she left it behind and marched off to the crusades.
August 8, 2006 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
"seems like a form of denial about the fact that though Hagel doesn't have much influence over the course of American foreign policy he has a whole lot more than you or I or just about everyone else in the country."
I'd love to know how you think a back bench Senator has any more influence on current US foreign policy than you do.
Unless Congress wants to cut off funding for operations in the field, Bush will exercise the responsibilities of CiC for the next two and a half years at his whim.
If Bush wishes to have US troops in Iraq prioritize tying pretty red ribbons on the tails of all Iraqi dogs, that's that the military will do. And Chuck Hagel will be able to do nothing to stop it other than making speeches.
If the Dems take back a House, we'll be able to give the executive branch a hard time, but still won't be able to have any real influence on current US foreign policy.
That's how the system works.
Still think it doesn't matter who wins Presidential elections? That they just alternate according to some mystical schedule?
August 9, 2006 6:09 AM | Reply | Permalink