Hagel: Bush administration is 'incompetent' and he would consider joining a Dem ticket

[tekisui]

"This is one of the most arrogant, incompetent administrations I've ever seen personally or ever read about," the always blunt and frequently quotable Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said yesterday during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

"This administration in my opinion has been as unprepared as any administration I'm aware of," Hagel added, "not only the ones that I have been somehow connected to and that's been every administration -- either I've been in Washington or worked within an administration or Congress or some way dealing with them since the first Nixon administration. I would rate this one the lowest in capacity, in capability, in policy, in consensus -- almost every area, I would give it the lowest grade. ...

"And you know, I think of this administration, what they could have done after 9/11, what was within their grasp. Every poll in the world showed 90% of the world for us. Iran had some of the first spontaneous demonstrations on the streets of Tehran supporting America. They squandered a tremendous amount of opportunity."

Hagel, who toyed with the idea of running for president himself, also said:

He would be open to the idea of either working in a Democratic administration or even running as the vice presidential nominee on a Democratic ticket -- though, he conceded, "I probably won't have to worry about it" because he's unlikely to be asked.


link: http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/11/hagel-bush-admi.html

[acmavm]

1. Hee hee. Hagel is sniffing around for another job. A promotion

no less.

[Truth2Tell]

2. Curious what all the Kucinich bashers

would have to say if one of the "top tier" candidates said they would consider Hagel as Veep?

[cali]

15. how about "fuck you" to whoever suggested it?

Why is all criticism called bashing when it's criticism we don't like?

[Taverner]

3. He will be our Zell Miller

Around convention time. Plan on it.

[tridim]

7. What will he challenge Tweety to?

I don't think he's in to dueling.

[Taverner]

8. Well I don't think he'll be as batshit as Miller

but he might challenge him to a rousing game of toe-wrestling

[TwilightGardener]

4. He may very well be asked to serve in a Dem cabinet, but not VP--he's right about that.

[Alter Ego]

5. While he won't find his way onto the ticket,

Hagel could find himself in a cabinet post.

[Blackhatjack]

6. Hmmm.... or appealing to the DEM base if he makes a 3rd Party Run with Bloomberg.

There is no doubt that Hagel is a Repub. Look at his voting record. He came out against the war in Iraq, but that does not mean he supports a Democratic platform by any means.

But if you are going to have to appeal to both DEMS and REPUBS to win as an Independent, you are going to have to reach out to them in a conciliatory manner.

THis may be exactly what he is doing. (Of course it was reported that after he made these remarks he went to have dinner with Bloomberg).

[TwilightGardener]

13. I used to think he wasn't a very natural politician, because he made Repubs mad

at him for his disloyalty and wasn't influential enough to get them to follow him on war votes. Now I'm starting to see him as a potentially very wily and talented pol--he's certainly spent years building up a good reputation in the media and with Democrats and Indies. He's never shown any damaging chinks in the armor in which to attack him--Repubs don't know what to do with him (conservative and a combat vet), and the worst Dems can say is that he's a conservative and often votes like it. If he does get onto a ticket with Bloomberg, he's all advantage and no risk. That said, VP's tend to make not much difference, so Bloomberg would have to succeed or fail on his own merits--same as Roody or Hillary.

[fascisthunter]

9. We Already Had a Joe Lieberamn

so no thanks

[gratuitous]

10. Memo to Hagel

If you're uncomfortable with the GOP, switch your party registration. Watch Joe Lieberman soil himself.

[lumpy]

11. We have plenty of damn good Democrats to fill positions.

Who needs a guy who has been a faithful Republican and you can be damn sure will always be one.

[book_worm]

12. Hagel if you want to make a real statement either become an indie or Dem and vote w/ Dem caucus in

Senate.

[Disturbed]

16. He is obviously fishing for a new job.

He is tired of being a Repug Senator that is being ignored by his fellow Repug Senators.
His voting record is straight up Repug but he can't get "respect".

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. FORGET IT! Get your own freakin' party, Mr. ES&S!

:grr: No Ron Paul or Chuck Hagel, PLEASE!:grr: