Hagel Says Republican Party Must Change

Sen. Hagel May Run For President With The Hope Of Shifting Republican Philosophy

(CBS)  In recent weeks, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., has seemed to go against the Republican party and has even suggested that he might consider running for president as an independent. Appearing on Face the Nation he said if he runs, he will do so as a Republican but hopes his party can shift back to the center.

Hagel has been one of the most outspoken Republican critics of President George W. Bush's handling of the Iraq war, and he continues to try to force his party to adopt a new strategy — not just with the war but in it's overall philosophy.

On Face the Nation he criticized the way his party has changed over the years.

"For example, the Republican Party, interestingly enough as the new chairman of the Republican Party said in his acceptance speech two days ago, needs to get back to what it once stood for," Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, continued. "The party that I first voted for on top of a tank in Mekong Delta 1968 is not the party I see today."

Hagel said that right now he's "not a candidate for any office," but he will make a decision about the 2008 race soon. Earlier, Hagel said on C-SPAN that he would consider running for president as an independent, but he told Bob Schieffer that he will stay a Republican. What it means to be a Republican, he said, is what should change.

"I think we are living through one of the great historical, political reorientations of our time," he said. "I think we are seeing defined right now through the process — and it will continue right up to November of next year — a new center of gravity for both parties based on beliefs, philosophies."

If he runs, Hagel said his candidacy would not be solely based on the Iraq war. He will try to return his party to a platform based on fiscal responsibility, trade and smaller government.

But, Hagel, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is the co-sponsor of a high-profile resolution opposing the expansion of the war in Iraq.

The resolution, which is also sponsored by Senator Olympia Snow, R-Maine, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., will "put congress on record" and encourage debate, Hagel said.

"I want every member of the United States Senate to have to take a position on this," Hagel said. "We have kids dying every day."

The president's plan to send a "surge" of American troops into Iraq to quell sectarian violence is a mistake, Hagel said.

"I think, for whatever reason, the advice he got was not very solid," he said. "It is wrong to put American troops in the middle of a sectarian civil war."

Even though Vice President Dick Cheney says talk of resolutions undercuts the troops, Hagel said he would have welcomed similar congressional action when he was fighting in Vietnam.

"We're Article 1 of the Constitution," he said. "We are a co-equal branch of government. Are we not to participate? Are we not to say anything? Are we not to register our sense of where we're going in this country on foreign policy? Bottom line is this. Our young men and women and their families, these young men and women who are asked to fight and die deserve a policy worthy of those sacrifices."

[dallison7]

Just one indication that the neocons and the religious right are finished. So long Jerry Fallwell, Good-bye Pat Robertson. You will never again be allowed to mislead the poor and uneducated of our nation. Oh, you will still make massive fortunes stealing from the poverty striken who search for something... anything to improve their lives, but your political influence is mute. You will bark and bark and no one will listen... then you will go to hell.

[naber1961]

thanks for saying what u said, Dallison. I couldnt have done any better keep it up!

[randalds]

"We're Article 1 of the Constitution," he (Hagel) said. "We are a co-equal branch of government. Are we not to participate? Are we not to say anything? Are we not to register our sense of where we're going in this country on foreign policy? Bottom line is this. Our young men and women and their families, these young men and women who are asked to fight and die deserve a policy worthy of those sacrifices."

In Cheney's world Congress and the Courts are nothing more then rubber stamps to an all powerful Executive branch. In other words he supports a dictatorship. No more, no less. Once enough Americans realize that he wants to fundamentally change, destroy actually, the Bill of Rights and most of the Constitution then maybe they'll finally stand up to these Nazi want-to-be's in the White House.

[rafterman1]

"So long Jerry Fallwell, Good-bye Pat Robertson. You will never again be allowed to mislead the poor and uneducated of our nation."

Unfortunately, guys like that never go away. They may go to sleep for a while, once people figure out what they really are, but they always come back in another form to mislead future generations. We have not seen the last of the Fallwells and Robertsons.

[bluestardad]

It is amazing what an election can do. We need to clean house again in 08.

[bluestardad]

Closly monitor the Democratic party and make sure they don't cut any back room deals with Republicans not to challenge specific races. That does happen.

[jw218389]

The GOP should change their name to: The rich white party that believes there are just a few "good" brown people out there in a world of "bad brown people".

The GOP mantra (if they know what mantra means) is: If you are brown you're going down.

Colin Powell should have picked "Democrat" many years ago and he'd still have the respect of the nation. Instead he's just a discredited "WMD's in Iraq" Uncle Tom.

[nowayjosay]

Hagel should get out of the GOP. The party of
liars and cowards is unworthy of him.

[exusmcsgt]

"I think, for whatever reason, the advice he got was not very solid," he said.

Bush got very good advice, and simply chose to ignore it.

The man doesn't wish to hear what's sound, logical, and true. He wants to hear that he's right. He is obviously ill.

[fredgrad2000]

Not one non-MoveOn.org deciple here...nothing but rhetoric; as usual from the wacky left, no solutions just complaining, Bush and GOP bashing, and conspiracy theories - just remember Americans didn't "buy your brand" in the last election (or any other in the last 30 years by the way). They rejected the performance of the one in office - Americans don't buy the looney left's policies on virtually anything; and you all know that Americans didn't repudiate the GOP stances, just their performance in those stances - you'd all be wise to remember that (or course if you don't - then we'll get another lefty liberal to kick around in 2008; so PLEASE, don't remember!!)

[randalds]

Hagel should get out of the GOP. The party of
liars and cowards is unworthy of him.
Posted by nowayjosay at 04:42 PM : Jan 21, 2007

I say trade him for Joe Lieberman straight up.

[exusmcsgt]

fredgrad2000-

Ahhhh...a neocon shows himself. A question for you, fredgrad.

What price do you think is appropriate for Iraq? Let's see, right now we're at $500 billion, 3,100 American dead, 25,000 American wounded and you obviously think it's worth more.

How much more?

5,000 dead? 50,000 maimed? A trillion dollars?

[exusmcsgt]

"nothing but rhetoric; as usual from the wacky left, no solutions just complaining"

Posted by fredgrad2000

Apparently, no answers from the "right", either. I'm still waiting.......

[dallison7]

fredgrad

You are correct. You will indeed get another lefty liberal to kick around. There aren't as many of you kicking though. Your party is in the sh*tter. There is a mass exodus. Soon you will be alone, kicking and kicking and kicking and crying.

[randalds]

just remember Americans didn't "buy your brand" in the last election (or any other in the last 30 years by the way). They rejected the performance of the one in office - Americans don't buy the looney left's policies on virtually anything; and you all know that Americans didn't repudiate the GOP stances, just their performance in those stances - you'd all be wise to remember that (or course if you don't - then we'll get another lefty liberal to kick around in 2008; so PLEASE, don't remember!!)
Posted by fredgrad2000 at 05:20 PM : Jan 21, 2007

LOL! This one is a comedian too! The last election wasn't because Bush wasn't good enough on making war, it's because enough people finally woke up to the insanity of his war in the first place. And as for not "buying it" we're only telling the truth, not trying to sell anything, unlike the Bushites and your cute little theory completely ignores the Clinton years or are you going to tell me Bill was a raving right winger like Bush too?

[dallison7]

Did he run away?

[randalds]

When Clinton left office his approval ratings were through the roof. hardly a "rejection". And what are Bush's now? Why the answer to that would be in the toilet with the sh*it he pumps out.

[macusweil]

"Hagel should get out of the GOP. The party of
liars and cowards is unworthy of him. "

On the contrary Hagel and those left in the party with integrity must clean house. Throw out all the criminal element in the party ushered in during the Regan era and made systemic with the 'Contract on America' and the stolen election of 2000.

Republicans must focus on their ancient strength and throw out all of the lairs, cheats and hypocrites. Ney, Delay and Foley should all go to jail for a long long time. Bush & Regan will only be exposed as the complete fraud they really are only once this house cleaning is complete.

[exusmcsgt]

dallison7-

They always run away when you ask what price is appropriate. I've never had a single neocon answer that question. Not one.

[dallison7]

mac

I agree. They do eventually self-destruct like Ney, Delay and Foley. Just not enough of them and not fast enough.

[dallison7]

sarge

It would be interesting to find out how many of the neocons who pop up have ever served in the military. I'll bet not one. They can't answer your question, can't even say "oops!" because they have no reference point. So they run away.

[exusmcsgt]

dallison7-

As do all cowards......

[chagres-2009]

Do you think Hagel's comment about voting while serving in Vietnam being in the same sentence with Cheney's name has some Freudian meaning?

I may have found my candidate. Although Mayor Bloomberg looks good, too.

Garry
Panama City, Panama

[gdmoore2]

The Republicans remind me of Marley's ghost, impossibly weighted down by a chain of all their failures - Afghanistan (cut and ran), Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Darfur, Venezuela, Israel, Palestine, Europe, Mexico, Hurrican Katrina, the heartland economy in decline, immigration, manufacturing gone overseas, corruption, NCLB, petroleum prices, no national health insurance, and on and on. These days, anything the Republicans touch turns to another link in that chain. Chuck Hagel is just trying to cut the chain. Understandable.

[nyckate]

chagres - I'm with you on that - Hagel looks to be the best man for the job - well as of now anyway!

[skyk-2009]

The Republican Party sold it's soul to the Religious Reigh. As someone who grew up in the South during the 50's, I'm here to tell you that ONCE the Hood and Sheet Crowd have your soul, there's not much you can do to get away.

[bdukas]

By hood and sheet crowd do you mean their Grand Wizard; democrat Senator Byrd?

[chadb19]

Its finally good to see a republican stand up to Bush but- in the end Bush dont give a dam what republicans, congress, the public, polls, news media or anybody else has to say for that matter. He is going to do what he wants...I thought there were 3 equal brnaches on goverment in the US!..guess not!

[pat153-2009]

Hagel has the courage to stand against this crooked Presodent, a liar and manipulator. Hagel has been there (fight a war) but none of the so called chicken hawks the like of Bush, Cheney & other neocons who betrayed our military thru this misadventure in Iraq.
Republican party is run by religious nuts who talk to God and the previous congress was run by THUGS like Tom Delay, that fat Hastert and *** licker Frist. Now many republicans claim thay can vote with their coscience. These are the same republicans who claim to be godly, values and the other PR *** they put had no moral integrity when Republicans were in power.
We cant blame them since we voted them in. Think about it when in the booth the next time.

[rharrin1]

It's way late to talk about change, the republican party is dead.

Check the voting record of the republicans including Hagel.

It is good that he speaks out but......too little too late.

[dvmx-2009]

Hagel seems to be an honest, wise and courageous statesman. I hope the Republican Party will shed their evil ways and get behind him and work to restore their honor. I think all of us, Democrats like myself included, would breathe a sigh of relief.

[billpl-2009]

there you go Rudy.

the perfect running mate

[joanpz]

Vote for Hagel, with his correct "read" of the Bush Administration these last years, Chuck Hagel could even switch to DEMOCRAT *like Jim Webb* and GIVE THE DEMOS A CHOICE to go with Edwards and Obama - 2008 GOP motto: Anyone but Guilani and McCain *this listing is short because the GOP hasn*t many GOOD CHOICES! Welcome, Chuck Hagel - you*d make a good president AFTER NANCY PELOSI who DESERVES to serve two years AS 2007-08 US PRESIDENT after Bush Administration is *put out to pasture*.
Thanks for making these next two years brighter!

[largebill2]

Hagel might as well switch to the other side. He has proven to be as stupid as the average democrat. The attacks over the last decades (embassies, USS Cole, WTC twice, Pentagon, etc) were invited by showing we were a weak country. Punch us in the nose and we'll act like a bunch of p)$$1#&. If we abandon Iraq the United States will never be respected or trusted again. I'm a good American but I'd vote for a Democrat like Joe Lieberman before I'd vote for a defeatocrat-"republican" like that clown Hagel.

[frankly6]

largebill2

Please come back and give us regular reports on how well everything is going in Iraq. Mmmmkay?

[wayfedup]

We cant blame them since we voted them in. Think about it when in the booth the next time.
Posted by pat153 at 07:37 PM : Jan 21, 2007



Speak for yourself DUDE, MANY of us NEVER VOTED FOR THAT IDIOT ONCE, Let alone TWICE.

[lieberman18]

largebill,

you are absolutely on the mark.

Hagel is wrong

He is wrong on ILLEGALS - no conservative here, he supports amnesty.

He is wrong on the War against Terror - he has even expressed sympathy for the Palestinians.

He is wrong on Iraq.

Because he, Murtha, and Kerry were in 'Nam, they seem to want America to lose future wars.

Hagel is a Republican from the 1939 era - the Isolationist wing that crumbled at Pearl Harbor. We can't afford to crumble in the face of future 9/11 - a Nuclear one.

And besides, he's no George Norris or Robert LaFollette.

Better the surrender monkey Dems should have him. No great lost to the GOP. Heck, I'd trade him anyday for Lieberman.

[bluestardad]

Fights On!
Nancy Bar the Door! Now Iraq is no longer an immediate threat to America, There are no Weapons of Mass Destruction, Saddam Hussein is no longer in power, and a New Elected Government is in office. Mission Accomplished Pull the Troops OUT and come home. If accomplishment of the Original Mission is considered failure in Iraq then who is writing the History here? To encapsulate the countries wish to Withdrawal from Iraq into a Losing Sound Bite argument for staying the Course in Iraq is a Rovian NeoCon Tactic that the Rest of America has rejected on November 7, 2006 and is not buying now. So Republicans take your Neocon, Chicken Hawk Stay the course or people will die bologna and pounditupyourasssideways. Americans are dieing three per day and billions of dollars are being spent so you can set in your offices drink coffee and say YOUR PLAN MR. NEOCON for Iraq did not fail. But it did America saw thru your lies and calls you into account. you are going to Jail!

[billion2005]

It seems like someone in the republican party MIGHT have a brain... America is rejecting the Neo-Conservative party.

[clemenhagen1]

I'm sorry Sen. Hagel but I have a hard time with the "my party has moved away from me" line. While you and others now seek to distance yourself from Captain Codpiece and his arrogant swagger, the Bush Administration has simply played the pat Republican hand. For my entire adult life I have had to stomach the deification of Ronald Reagan, though much of Bush has simply been a sick repeat of Reaganesque techniques. Sell tax-cuts to the rich as economic bliss for Middle Americans, and then watch idly as your fiscal irresponsibility bankrupts our kids future with spiraling deficits. Bang the drums of World War III so that defense budgets can be bloated and the insatiable desires of the industrial-military complex be quenched. Support corrupt and illicit wars and then lie to the face of the American public. Deny all when any semblance of truth emerges, be it Iran-Contra scandals or the traitorous selling out of CIA operatives. Pandering to the God Squad fanatics of the religious right in a deliberate attempt to destroy the time-honored separation of church and state. Using the mechanisms of the executive branch of government to deny science, destroy unions, and ignore the health of the environment, consumers, and the working man. Sounds like the same old Republican party to me, Sir. Perhaps you've simply felt the unfamiliar pangs of conscience.

[elkcreek3]

To Lieberman18 - so what is wrong with siding with the Palestinians? Israel is occupying their lands. Vietnam was a no win war - you wanted more to die - were you there? America is not the dictator of the world - I suppose you think we are better than anyone else. Grow up and shut up. The truth always brings out the bigots, like you. If you think the Iraq war is so important to win, why aren't you there?

[andy_f90]

Sen.Hagel is probably the most refreshing, courageous, and honest politician (yeah I know honest politicans is an oxymoron 99% of the time).

He is a realist, a courageous patriot that fought for us during Vietnam, and a true Republican (not the pro-Israeli lobby dominated, neocon hijacked Republican party of Barry Goldwater and Gingrich.)

I admire him tremendously as a Democrat and wouldn't hesitate voting for him as an Independent (not the Joe Liberman, Israeli-firsters kind..but the truly Independent kind) or even as a RepubliCON. Though I have to hold my breath doing so as the latter.

[elkcreek3]

Everyone who is for the war in Iraq should be there and fighting the war, not sitting in their comfort zones sending our children to die in sectarian fighting. Get off your duffs and enlist if you want us there so much and send our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews home. I have always believed this war should be fought by the ones who want it the most - recognize yourself - enlist and fight

[gdmoore2]

Well said, elkcreek3, well said. They want to send everyone else's sons and daughters to fight a war of attrition.

[acauble1]

'elkcreek3' says it best. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who still support the war in Iraq are either those who spend too much time drinking beer and watching Nascar, or the folks who have made money from the current war in Iraq, (either by rising stocks of the companies involved or through other means). And you can bet that they won't enlist simply because they wouldn't want to get their fancy Cardigan sweaters dirty, (and Rolex's don't do well in sand storms I hear).

[plowhandle]

The Republishit Party is going to re-invent itself ? As what - the Christian Coalitiom II ?

These filthmongers have used the 'christian' right , gun lobby, queer haters and tadpole-baby anti-abortionists as their base of support for EONS (as soon as they realized that pandering to the lowest common denominator got them elected), and they are not about to change.

Ronny Ra-goon was a brainless, addled mope that actually thought he DID all those heroic feats he portrayed in the movies (a lot like California's 'governor'). Bush I and II have been watered=down Ra-goon clones without what little charisma the old fool had.

Get used to saying it, "Yes Ma'am, Madame President!"

[nyckate]

Plowhandle - sorry Hillary is not going to win - she's just not the right person for the job.

Someone like Hagel is going to win - a centerist who can unite more than divide - this much I know - if someone like Lieberman18 is against Hagel then Hagel is worth taking a second look at!!

[nyckate]

Plowhandle - couple of reasons to take a look at Hagel:

On August 18, 2005, Hagel compared the Iraq War to Vietnam, and openly mocked Vice President *** Cheney's assertion that the Iraqi insurgency was in its last throes.

In December 2005, in reference to Bush, the GOP, and the Patriot Act, Hagel made a much-publicized statement: "I took an oath of office to the Constitution, I didn't take an oath of office to my party or my president."

Hagel further criticized the Bush administration, saying, "National security is more important than the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. And to use it to try and get someone elected will ultimately end up in defeat and disaster for that political party."

[skyk-2009]

No Republican can win the nomination without kissing the ring of Fieldmarshall's Falwell and Robertson. When they kiss the ring of those two Fascist they are doomed. The Republican Party sold it's very soul for power and they will pay the price for such for a LONG time to come. One need only look back to the last time they used Fascism and Fascist to dominate power...they were OUT of power for nearly 70 years!

[lieberman18]

elkcreek,

you're occupying Native American Land, you dumb fascist. Give it up and go home to your backwards dump in Europe.

Don't give me lectures in morality - you don't even know who originally owned the land over there.

As for Hagel - again, his kind of Lindbergh Republican Isolationism went out with Pearl Harbor. What would he do? Wait for a nuclear 9/11 before he reacted?