Sen. Hagel on Iraq: " We are Occupiers, Targets and We need to Get OUT"!

[leftchick]

I wonder what "more troops" Biden has to say about this...

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-08-18T151632Z_01_SCH854948_RTRIDST_0_USREPORT-IRAQ-HEARTLAND-DC.XML

<snip>


Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, acknowledged the U.S. military presence was becoming harder and harder to justify. He believes Iraq faces a serious danger of civil war that would threaten Middle East stability, and said there is little Washington can do to avert this.


"We are seen as occupiers, we are targets. We have got to get out. I don't think we can sustain our current policy, nor do I think we should," he said at one stop.

[ironman202]

1. wow that's significant

I'm really stunned. Normally, I want to slap Chuck Hagel upside his head...

[leftchick]

3. I would too for everything but Iraq

He has consistantly said it is a mistake.

[julialnyc]

6. he's been pretty consistent about Iraq

I don't agree with him on many other things.................... but he is one of the more bearable Republicans (if there is such a thing)

[Emendator]

16. He will be

the Republican peace candidate in 2008. By that time an antiwar Republican without any links to Bush will have a very good shot at winning, especially if the Democrats are ambiguous and try to have it both ways. The way the country is responding to Cindy Sheehan shows that there is an antiwar sentiment out there. Whoever fills that vacuum first will probably win.

[converted_democrat]

35. I have a hard time believing Hagel is doing this for any other reason than

to try to save the Pubs 2006.

[kansasblue]

2. I can't figure this guy out. Is he for real?

did he not drink the koolaide?

Did he lose his RW script? I've been up in Nebraska and the average Nebraska Republican voter doesn't like this opposition to Bush.

If you read blackboxvoting.com 's book on Hagel you'll see they think he might be in the thick of the e-voting equipment scam. All that has been developed it seems by the theocrats. And he's giving the Neo-cons hell.

What's going on?

[PassingFair]

29. He is SERIOUSLY off message here.

Gonna be some HARD arm twisting coming his way...
Maybe they'll sic Candace Miller on him.
He'll be sorry...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. Hagel has been very outspoken about Iraq for a couple of years now.

He and Peter Luger, both. They have been very vocal about how the shrub has been handling it.

[joemurphy]

22. I think you meant Indiana Senator Richard Lugar n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

31. Sorry, I misspelled Peter Lugar's name. Both of them have. I used

to post alot on AOL boards with many bushbots present, so I always used Lugar and Hagel to prove that not all Republican's followed the sociopath-in-chief.

[Why Syzygy]

5. Half right

"Occupiers"? Not even close. "Squatters", as is our spineless not-even-leader? Closer. "Targets", for gd sure.

Bring them Home. And then let's give our nation a make-over.

What a freaking mess. Thank you George W. Bush (screw up from get go).

[jsamuel]

7. WOOT!!!

HAGEL! HAGEL! HAGEL!
FEINGOLD! FEINGOLD! FEINGOLD!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Now, if some of the collaborator Dems would follow suit.

Instead of calling for more troops and "staying the course".

Biden, Hillary, Kerry, Lieberman, etc.

[barb162]

25. Yes, if a pug senator can say it, why can't the Democrats

[Hardrada]

30. Vichy Democrats is a term I like.

[leftchick]

9. He is on Leslie's CNN show "disassembling"...

Leslie is comparing what Chuck said with Feingold's proposal today. He is distancing himself from the word "timetable".

[Windy]

11. He may be, but for other reasons than it will

embolden the terrorists.. bottom line, he wants the troops out and the Iraqis to take care of themselves.

He has guts. He just got irritated with the Darth Cheney and blasted him on Leslie's show.

I give him a hearty woo woo... :woohoo:

And hope that dems biden, clinton etc... get a spine!

[leftchick]

13. that was a great cheney smackdown!

I enjoyed it. :)

[Child_Of_Isis]

10. He also just said that shrub should meet with Cindy.

And she have met with her again as soon as the whole thing started. He was on Wolfe.

[WI_DEM]

12. If Hagel is the GOP nominee in '08--he could probably win

especially with that message. But it's doubtful that the boy king and Dick head would allow him to be nominated.

[leftchick]

15. that is what I was thinking

I could see some Democrats sick of this war and no Democratic nominee saying bring them home going for Hagel. Sad but true.

[jsamuel]

17. Thats what the Dems who push for us to be more to the RW are asking for

You don't win primaries OR general elections by going against the people who put you where you are.

[IADEMO2004]

14. What is a cost effective and sustainable solution to our energy problem?

Focus on developing other energy sources and conservation of resources or kill everybody that has oil, take the oil, and worry about it later.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

18. It irks me to no end thatREPUBS are about the only ones saying 'we need to

get out' among the well known officeholders.

Dem leadership seems to be relying on a "practical" "rope-a-dope" strategy where they criticize Bush but call only for "more troops to WIN the war!" instead of calling for a full examination of withdrawal options.

[Mr Rabble]

19. Guess who's running in '08?

[leftchick]

21. yes and right now he leads Biden

at last among the 'end the war' folks which is now clearly the majority of Americans.

[converted_democrat]

38. Exactly, and he's tryin to save the Pub party in '06.............n/t

[Imagevision]

20. Hagel is smart, he knows whats coming in 2006

He'll be keeping his job unless a Dem unseats him.

[IADEMO2004]

23. Only a republican primary will beat Hagel

[hatrack]

24. So, how did ol' Chuckles vote on the IWR. Hmm, let's see . . .

EDIT

Still, 126 of 208 House Democrats yesterday objected to the resolution, a higher number than some had expected. In the Senate, 22 Democrats and one independent opposed the president in a vote just after 1 a.m. Friday. Many cited concerns that Bush might take military action without U.N. approval and provoke a terrorist reprisal from Hussein or from al Qaeda or other militant groups.

EDIT

http://www.geocities.com/tom_slouck/iraq/congress_approves_war.html

Gosh, " . . . 22 Democrats and one independent . . . " That would seem to exclude the gentleman from Nebraska.

Fuck you, Hagel, you faux maverick. Get out there and own up to your responsibility for making it happen. You voted for our current policy, so shut the fuck up.

[leftchick]

26. yes a typical repuke hypocrite

reading the tea leaves for his 2008 run. BUT at least he is saying it now and are any potential 2008 Democrats saying this?? I hope one comes forward and soon!

[Mr Rabble]

28. Nice!

[Z_I_Peevey]

36. IIRC, Hagel was the last to vote.

He must have made contact with his conscience briefly, but his loyalty to Smirky won out.

[In Truth We Trust]

39. Exactly- thank you

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. THAT is what our useless Democratic Senators should be saying!

FERCRYINGOUTLOUD! Where the hell are they, anyway? I haven't heard SQUAT from them since they left DC or since Cindy went to Crawford. :wtf:

[UrbScotty]

34. Russ Feingold isn't useless!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=332x69

[Roland99]

32. He's exactly right! Our troops are of NO benefit in Iraq.

[UrbScotty]

33. GASP! How dare he criticize Dear Leader!

No presidential nomination for you, you liberal pig!

[geek tragedy]

37. Finally, a 'serious' Democrat speaks up.

Oh, wait .. .

[BlueJac]

40. Holy Smoking Guns

Hagel better look over his shoulder because the entire Shrub clan will pressuring him to change his stance on the war. Kind of like pressuring congressman to change their votes on CAFTA-THESHAFTA !

:kick:

[jonnyblitz]

41. i wonder what birthday boy Clinton has to say about this also...nt

[Neocondriac]

42. Screw this bastard...

He is tied to the voting machine scandal. I beleive he was the former CEO of one of those shams. He's just a kinder , gentler fascist. Remember , if the Neocon attack machine is not all over your ass, you're working off their directive.

[Hubert Flottz]

43. Chucky's going to run for prez and he has an edge...

since he's still in the Electronic voting business!

They play good pub bad pub all the time