I want to have Chuck Hagel’s baby
Okay, I really don’t want to have his baby, but now that I have your attention… I’ve always liked Hagel. He’s the real “straight talker” of the Republican party. And before conservatives try and link my praise to my support for Obama let me point out that I’ve admired Hagel for quite some time. Hagel, like Obama, spoke out against the Iraq War at a time when doing so could be viewed as political suicide. But, hey, I guess talk is cheap.
But, cheap or not, Hagel’s speaking out again.
Hagel, speaking to a small gathering at the residence of the Italian ambassador, took umbrage with several positions taken by the McCain campaign, including the Arizona Senator’s criticism of Obama for pledging to engage with Iran. Engagement is not, and should not be confused for, capitulation, he argued.
“I never understand how anyone in any realm of civilized discourse could sort through the big issues and challenges and threats and figure out how to deal with those without engaging in some way….”
Sounds like the death of the appeasement argument.
And when asked to respond to rumors circulating within political circles that the Bush administration was ginning up the possibility of war with Iran, the Senator even raised the specter of impeachment.
“You’ve got the power of impeachment, now that is a very defined measure if you are willing to bring charges against the president at all. You can’t just say I disagree with him, let’s impeach him,” said Hagel. An attack on Iran without Congress’ consent, he added, “would bring with it… outstanding political consequences, including for the Republican Party.”
Did he just say impeachment?
Tags: 2008 Presidential, Bush, John McCain
Hagel has a good record on some issues however he is a bit weak one the social ones
Chuck Hagel can be a realists’ realist when it comes to US foreign policy, but make no mistake that he isn’t a pretty conservative repub. He voted against SCHIP and stem cell research and voted for the Patriot Act. It is compelling to listen to his views on foreign policy because his is a non-fear driven, no-bullshit view of America’s place in the world.
And those wingnuts have no hope of getting their house in order — no money, no candidates, no message, a hugely damaged brand, and the only way they can get any real attention now is to try to game the Democratic primary. It is pathetic. Someone should remind them that they haven’t finished looking for WMDs in Syria or something.
I asked Senator Biden what would occur if we attack Iran or anywhere else in the world without congressional approval. He said, “I am prepared to bring impeachment charges against the president and anyone else involved.” Sounds good to me.
Sen. Biden would not bring impeachment charges against the President for attacking Iran. Biden said when running for President, if he could verify Iran had missiles he would take them out. All bluster I am afraid.
If you want to rescue the national GOP please push impeachment at that level.
Joe should know that the House is the only branch of goverment that can bring impeachment charges and the Senate tries the case
Why didnt Biden push Pelosi (House Speaker) to bring impeachment years ago! The Articles of Impeachment were written by consitutional lawyers, hearings were held, but Pelosi “took impeachment off the table”, Pelosi is despised for that among many progressives which is why Cindy Sheehan is opposing her in November.
They impeached Clinton over a BJ, but Bush violates the Consitution, invades a soverign nation on lies/distortions., yada, yada, and these democrats and real republicans did nothing while hundreds of thousands of innocents died, the treasury robbed, the constitution trampled and this Congress couldnt find the will to bring impeachment proceedings. What cowards!
The next president will have huge precedents because of Bush Imperial Presidency, we can only hope the next President will restore Habeus Corpus, end Gitmo and all secret prisons, etc, etc, etc.
If the democrats wouldnt impeach Bush/Cheney, who would they impeach. Impeachment at this stage is to keep the progressive base in their corner.
I am sure Joe knows that he cannot directly pursue impeachement except through extraordinary session, but his influence in the house is sunstantial enough to do it. Or to get Kucinich’s bill moving. That I am sure he will do becuase like me he knows what a catastrophic mistake it would be to attack Iran or anyone else when we are trying to negotiate with other nations behind closed doors.
I guess Hagel is the closest thing we are going to get to a Howard Baker in this age.
Thank God for retirement.