Obama plans to pick Lugar and Hagel?

[SHRED]

Based on these guys' stance, on a majority of issues, I sure hope this is a purely political stunt on Barack's part.

If not, then WTF is he doing?

Lugar
http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Richard_Lugar.htm

Hagel
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm

---

Obama Plans To Pick Republicans For Cabinet

AS Barack Obama enters the final stages of the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination, he is preparing to detach the core voters of John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, with the same ruthless determination with which he has peeled off Hillary Clinton's supporters.

The scene is set for a tussle between the two candidates for the support of some of the sharpest and most independent minds in politics. Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/02/obama-plans-to-pick-repub_n_89438.html


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[MannyGoldstein]

1. That Would Be Amazing [nt]

[SharonAnn]

41. We need Democrats in the Cabinet, not more Republicans. I know these

guys aren't the worst Republicans, but if they were good guys they would have left the party. They're still Republicans!

We are the OTHER party! There are millions of Democrats in the United States, I'm sure there are sufficient qualified Democrats to fill the Cabinet.

For Pete's sake, even if we win we still get Republicans in the Cabinet?

What's the point, then?

[MannyGoldstein]

42. You Have A Good Point

But it would be great to pull the Right into our plans. In the end, we may need them if we're to dig ourselves out of the mess we're in.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Oh for God's sake. Lugar and Hagel are two of the best Repubs in the Senate.

This is such a non-issue.

[SHRED]

6. Based on?

[TwilightGardener]

13. Well, Lugar is considered an old-fashioned moderate Repub and a statesman--

he supported Biden's legislation to restrict Bush's war plans severely in 2002, before the IWR vote. So did Hagel. Both Lugar and Hagel bucked their party and voted No on Kyl/Lieberman. Hagel has always spoken out, loudly and publicly, against his party when he thought it was wrong, at the cost of his own career and Presidential ambitions. He voted to end the war, supports closing Gitmo, voted against waterboarding/torture, helped rewrite the IWR to make sure we could only invade Iraq and NOT Iran/Syria, voted to restore habeas corpus, and has warned BushCo against striking Iran. His domestic/fiscal votes are conservative, but he is essentially a Democrat on foreign policy. He goes his own way when he disagrees with his party, and also has a long history of working with Democrats and defending them against smears and unfairness. He's my Senator, and I hold him in high regard, for a GOPer.

[BlackVelvet04]

28. Did you read what you just wrote....

are you really justifying playing nice with the republicans after the last 7 years? If so, you REALLY, I mean REALLY have had too much kool-aid.

[TwilightGardener]

30. Edwards also said he'd put Repubs in his cabinet. McCain said he'd

put Dems (well, Lieberworm) in his cabinet. I'll bet Hillary will put a Repub or two in HER cabinet, just like BILL did with William Cohen as SecDef. That's not "kool-aid", that's how it's done in politics. And in a very shallow pool of acceptable GOPers, Lugar and Hagel are two smart and thoughtful men.

[BlackVelvet04]

32. Sure........

I don't give a shit what Edwards or McCain said....what's that got to do with anything? And bill isn't running, now, is he? When he was president the rightwing hadn't totally derailed, either.

[TwilightGardener]

34. Hillary would do it too--it's commonly done to show goodwill--of course, I hope

I never have to find out.

[BlackVelvet04]

36. LOL....

I thought Obama was the promise of politics in a new way yet you are pointing a finger at what Bill Clinton did to justify Obama. God, that's too rich.

[TwilightGardener]

37. Not everything comes back to Bill. FDR had a Repub SecDef, Eisenhower

had a Dem Sec of Labor, Kennedy/Johnson had a Repub SecDef AND a Treasury Sec, I don't know about Nixon or Reagan or Poppy, and Bush has a Dem Transportation Sec. It's commonly done.

[BlackVelvet04]

52. But I thought Obama was going to do everything differently...

not politics as usual. God, you people are really unbelievable.

[anamandujano]

45. Good point! Nothing new about that. He has some ancient military guy

doing TV spots for him here in Texas. The guy has the nerve to say things like "old guard."

What the freak does he consider himself to be other than an old, entrenched link to the past.

Ancient history. Crikey!

[Mike Daniels]

39. unlike those represented on DU and FR....

The people that will ultimately decide this election are sick and fucking tired of the partisan BS that has made it impossible to accomplish anything of real meaning the last God knows so many years.

The left wing and the right wing can not win an election on their base alone. Either candidate must rely on the moderate/independent 20 percent to bring them to victory. It's this 20 percent that's looking for real leadership (not partisan circle jerking) to bring people from both parties to work together for the greater good.

No side has the absolute answer for what's best for any country which is why government best serves the people when there's a divide in the respective controlling factions (in our case, executive and legislative).

I have voted Dem and Rep based on who I think represents the ideas needed for my local, state and federal government as circumstances dictate. 20% or more of my fellow countrymen feel the same.

The basic reality is we want to see both sides included in the fate of this county and short sided refusal to accept that will not lead you to victory. Dismiss the non-purists as you see fit, but when you lose a third election you only have yourselves to blame.

[Moderate Dem]

40. GREAT POST! Great great great!!!

I could not agree more.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

49. exactly - a United States, no more red/blue shit, and Hagel is VERY anti Iraq war

He pissed off other repugs for being vocal and strongly against the debacle.

[thunder rising]

3. I have not seen a single statement of cabinet selection from Barack.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. Keep 'er down.

[babylonsister]

4. I've read this numerous times, but do wonder if Obama

has confirmed this. I haven't seen one quote to indicate that. I find it curious he's picking a cabinet when he isn't the candidate yet.

[TwilightGardener]

7. He's said to Newsweek that he isn't picking his cabinet yet, obviously, but

he told them he likes and respects Hagel and Lugar, so I suppose we can assume they might end up in his cabinet.

[gateley]

9. I would have no problem with either Lugar or Hagel --

I respect them both enormously. As if my opinion means anything :eyes:

[SHRED]

15. look at how they voted...

...on trade, th environment, and healthcare, to name just three.

WTF are you "enormously respecting" them for?

---

[TwilightGardener]

16. I respect them too. I disagree with them, but they are honorable guys.

[SHRED]

19. we need social progressives in a new cabinet

NOT Hagel and Lugar!!

[TwilightGardener]

21. He'll definitely put a Repub or two in his cabinet. That's the way it's done--

Hillary and Edwards would do it too. As long as they're decent and honorable, who cares?

[gateley]

20. They've also supported issues --

against the Republican tide -- which I feel very strongly about.

So, WTF do you care WHY I respect them? You don't, that's all that counts.

[anamandujano]

46. How did they vote on IWR, since that is the most important thing on earth.

[leftofcool]

5. What else would you expect a republican lite to do?

[JimGinPA]

24. You'd Need To Ask Hillary That...

:dunce:

[lapfog_1]

8. Previous article by the same author in 2004

One Sarah Baxter...

"I will be one of the millions voting for Bush because I trust the president’s judgment on the war on terror more than Kerry’s. In this election, I am a single-issue voter. It is that simple. Even in the New York metropolis, there are more of us out there than he imagines."

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=35E8F7F8-3A55-49BF-ABE1-6F605642A203

Always, always, always... consider the source.

[babylonsister]

11. AMEN and thanks for that! nt

[stillcool]

17. I responded yesterday...

to her article from which all these inferences are drawn. She was with the press on the back of the plane. No quotes, no interview...sounds like she wrote it 'on the fly' you might say. People don't read.

[NEDem]

10. They would both be excellent cabinet choices.

I think Hagel for Sec of Defense is a wonderful move

[bellasgrams]

23. Lugar is a decent man but has no business in a dem admin.

He is strictly a repb.

[ruggerson]

29. Hagel is for keeping DADT. Obama is for getting rid of it.

Hagel would not be a good choice if Obama really wants to repeal DADT and wants a DOD Sec who will implement it forcefully.

[Infinite Hope]

12. Different opinions are not something to banish.

We learned that during the Bush years. If nothing else, someone else's opinion can make you see better the strength of your own.

...


"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts" -Bertrand Russell

[Wickerman]

14. Interesting - that would put two senate seats in play... n/t

edit - dumbb

[GoreVidalIsGod]

18. Hagel is the ultimate tough guy and has kicked ass and taken names against Bush on Iraq and Iran.

He would be awesome as Sec of Def!

Lugar I'm more hesistant about. He's 76. I could def could for Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins for a cabinet position. Both are mods, pro-choice, pro-environment and Snowe voted against the tax cuts.

[Recursion]

22. Lugar is (other than Obama) the absolute best Senator on non-proliferation

If Obama can find a way to get Lugar to work on that in his administration, that's awesome as far as I'm concerned.

[madrchsod]

25. we have guys just as good these two but

hagel and lugar are not as bad as some of the turncoat democrats we have in the senate

[high density]

27. Heavens to Murgatroyd if our candidate actually tries to unite the country

I guess some people here want our own Bush that gets a 19% approval rating and gives the middle finger to everybody else.

[Sadie5]

33. Obama is a fool

Lugar is a dried up crusty old asshat that should have retired long ago. He has been around longer than dirt. He is repug thru and thru, no consideration in the past for Democrats and this is how Obama is going to run this country? Give me a break. his son was stopped by police several years ago while riding in his Jeep and pot was found. The son lied his ass off and blamed the pot being there on his kid. Nothing was done to him, he did not serve time in jail nor any probation. Talk about reaching across the aisle. maybe Obama can also find a place for Jeb Bush in his cabinet.

[anamandujano]

47. Thank you.

[Thurston Howell III]

31. Here's some of Lugar's voting record from the link.

Lugar:

"Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1
YES on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1
YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Opposes topic 1
YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes topic 1
YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Opposes topic 1
NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Opposes topic 1
YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Opposes topic 1
YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 "

"YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Opposes topic 2
YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Opposes topic 2
NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2
NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Opposes topic 2 "

"YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3
NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Opposes topic 3
YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3
NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Opposes topic 3
YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 "

"Rated 12% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 5
NO on medical savings acounts: Opposes topic 5
YES on Medicare means-testing: Opposes topic 5
YES on limiting self-employment health deduction: Opposes topic 5
NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Opposes topic 5
YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5
YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5
NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Opposes topic 5
NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Opposes topic 5
NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Opposes topic 5
YES on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Favors topic 5
NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Opposes topic 5 "

"Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record: Strongly Favors topic 6
YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Favors topic 6
YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors topic 6
YES on allowing personal retirement accounts: Favors topic 6
YES on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Favors topic 6 "

"Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17
More foreign languages courses and exchange students: Favors topic 17
NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17
NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Opposes topic 17 "

Lieberman's is better on most of those issues.

[Moderate Dem]

35. I think that would be great!

I have had enough of slash and burn partisanship. I'm not a hardcore leftist, and I do not want a hardcore leftist President. Obama talks about working across the aisle, but is seems that many people only want that to be more campaign bullshit.

Do you support it when Obama talks about bipartisanship, or do you just nod and wink?

[Radical Activist]

38. Every President picks someone from the other party.

Including Clinton and Bush.

[Exilednight]

43. Did you complain when Bill Clinton did it?

[SoxFan]

44. Or FDR? Or JFK?

[Bluebear]

50. Yay! "Clinton did it too!" I was waiting!

Thanks!

[Exilednight]

53. I just find it odd that people are making a mountain out of a mole hill of a common practice.

[Bullet1987]

48. I doubt Obama goes for a Unity ticket...this is just smoke and mirrors

and pure speculation.

[UALRBSofL]

51. SHRED I saw that on FOX

You know when they are talking dooky about Hillary on CNN and MSNBC I turn the channel to Fox. They were talking about Obama mentioning a few republicans who he might pick for his cabinet.

[berni_mccoy]

54. How about Clinton's Wal Mart Buddies? Those guys are surely Democrats...