Hagel's Big Mouth

Anyone catch Chuck Hagel (for president) ranting at his fellow Repubs yesterday?

This is a very real, responsible addressing of the most divisive issue in this country since Vietnam. Yes, sure, it’s tough. Absolutely. And I think all 100 senators ought to be on the line on this.

What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected?

If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes. This is a tough business. But is it any tougher, us having to take a tough vote, express ourselves and have the courage to step up on what we’re asking our young men and women to do?

I don’t think so.

I'd find such an argument as he goes into much more convincing if he wasn't running for President in '08. His political grandstanding, while yelping that others are playing politics is laughable.

He then states:

But you know what, the American people have got this sorted out. They always have. They’re not conflicted with the nuances of life. They understand what’s going on. What we are proposing here — and everyone will have an opportunity to voice their opinion, present their amendments, make their case, as they should.

I couldn't agree less. A large share of the public wants to pull out of Iraq for no better reason than they hate Bush. Another group wants out because obviously Saddam was our fault and we shouldn't be trying to stabilize the middle-east because we caused the mess in the first place. Then there are the peace activists and the parties who seem to think that by giving up and walking away the terrorists now in Iraq and elsewhere will just leave us alone. All views with complete detachment from reality.

You can no doubt disagree with the President, but if you don't have some plan that will lead to success in Iraq, you are just pissing in the wind. For all the calls to withdraw or to lower the amount of security provided to the Iraqis the yelpers constantly ignore historical perspective on insurgencies. Security is what they need to allow political solutions to start to work. Without the military piece, the political piece doesn't even begin. Add in the foreign insurgence and you have instability that ensures that the various parties remain at odds.

Hagel just joined the pile of posturing jack-asses. Not that he has a snowball's chance in Hell of getting the nomination. I may be wrong, but I won't be voting for him.