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Sunday, July 13, 2008
Obama picks Hagel as his travel buddy for Iraq
Last year, I wrote of Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE):
It's not that I think he's unpatriotic. It's that I think he's too stupid to be left alone in a room with a book of matches.
So to demonstrate his bipartisan bona fides, and to illustrate his willingness to seek wisdom and judgment from across the aisle as well as from MoveOn.org his own party caucuses, 
who has the Chosen One selected to accompany him on his historic fact-finding tour to Iraq?
Yes, in addition to a reliable piece of deadwood from his own party who can be guaranteed not to outshine the star of the trip, Obama has chosen the Republican senator whose own amply demonstrated past bad judgment about the Iraq war most closely duplicates Obama's own.
It's a pity that Bozo the Clown died, but in all likelihood, Obama will be happier with Bozo the Senator along anyway. If Obama's still cadging cigarettes in secret on this trip, however, let's hope, for the safety of everyone around them, that he keeps the matches or cigarette lighters safely out of Hagel's reach.
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UPDATE (Mon Jul 14 @ 10:40am): I didn't know that in January 2007, Hagel was quoted as saying that the surge would be "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out." Given that position, Mickey Kaus asks: "Is [Obama] trying to deflect attention from his own poor surge judgment ("the surge has not worked") by bringing along as a lightning rod someone whose judgment was even worse than his?"
Posted by Beldar at 03:57 AM in 2008 Election, Global War on Terror, Obama, Politics (2008) | Permalink
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Comments
(1) Gregory Koster made the following comment | Jul 13, 2008 4:13:03 PM | Permalink
Dear Mr. Dyer: This is a swell example of why I keep roaring that McC must make this a foreign policy election. Five buck a gallon gas stings, but it is a feather compared to Chuck Hagel in Obama's Cabinet. That's what this trip is all about: an audition for Chuck. His Senate term expires this year, and he'd get killed if he ran again. He's 62, has no future, having promised in 1996 when he first ran that he would only serve two terms. But he is to the GOP as Joe Lieberman is to the Democrats. He's great "bipartisan" cover for Obama and his Get The Hell Out Now policy. And if it seems that come January 2009 that the GOP would filibuster his nomination to Defense, or less likely, State (he's served on the Foreign Relations Committee), he can be tossed aside. What's he gonna do about it? If a filbuster isn't likely from a demoralized GOP, he can follow William Cohen as a useful Republican imbecile in the Cabinet for "bipartisanship."
As you say, Obama's trip to Iraq would be more impressive if he had, say, Jeff Bingaman and Norm Coleman accompanying him. But this trip is for the suckers and cynics of the press, who will write another chapter in The Education of Barack Obama. Trouble is, he's paying his tuition for this Education with loans, loans that will come due during his Presidency. High gas prices? Forget them, save as part of a National Security strategy to make this nation safer. Think about foreign affairs, and then:
Vote for the Grumpy Old Man.
Sincerely yours,
Gregory Koster
(2) Carol Herman made the following comment | Jul 13, 2008 5:47:04 PM | Permalink
I hate ta tell ya, but the "bozo in residence" is what Bush did to the presidency; as he tried to get the Saud's more real estate. (And, even there, he failed.)
While people choose not to discuss politics. And, most people just shrug.
If Obama wins? I'd be surprised. But then I was surprised when Adeli Stevenson lost. TWICE! So, there's no accounting for taste.
Only that the ballot box brings enough Americans together that common sense tends to prevail.
As to Chuck Hagel, most people don't even know who he is.
And, once Bush went and backed the Saudi's plan (for a Mideast map), he lost all the goodwill people held for the whole Iraqi adventure. Let alone that Maliki probably hates Bush's guts.
And, if the Iraqis get to vote again? Whose to say Maliki has a lock on the prime minister's chair?
Of course, the nice thing about our ballots, is that they are cast in secret.
By the way, the only really successful move open to Obama is to pick Colin Powell for his veep.
Bust, so far? Whose McCain gonna pick? Because when you come down to it, a McCain pick that doesn't give him cross-over (democratic and independent) votes, will signify a loss to him. And, a victory for Obama.
While the one vote I'm sure Obama won't get, will be the one belonging to Hillary. Make that two. He doesn't get Bill Clinton's either.
At least people are paying attention. I'd bet more people are lathered up, even if they have no intention of voting on Tuesday, November 4th.
But that's just me. And, I vote absentee.
(3) Roy Lofquist made the following comment | Jul 16, 2008 3:17:58 PM | Permalink
My understanding is that govt policy requires trips to be bipartisan. I guess Hagel is the only R who would go.
(4) Ernest Lane made the following comment | Aug 20, 2008 11:52:46 AM | Permalink
Do you know who's running against Hagel in the primary? I need to send a contribution.
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