Hagel Says Palin Not Qualified

Retiring Republican Senator Chuck Hagel told the Omaha World Herald today that he does not think Sarah Palin is qualified to be president. "I think it's a stretch to, in any way, to say that she's got the experience to be president of the United States," he said. "She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials," Hagel added. "You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don't know what you can say. You can't say anything."

More Hagel: "I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, 'I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia.' That kind of thing is insulting to the American people." Hagel says he has no plans to endorse either presidential candidate but he has spoken highly of Obama and accompanied him on his summer trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. Hagel has also been a vocal critic of his party when it comes to the war in Iraq.