The preliminary buzz (and by buzz we mean circumstantial speculation of the media) is that Chuck Hagel is positioning himself for a run for the presidency in 2008. News people seem to think that Hagel's criticism of the war in Iraq stems from his presidential aspirations and the almost universal sense among Republicans that, in order to succeed in '08, any viable candidate must distance himself from the President, particularly on the issue of Iraq.
However, the Blue South does not necessarily think Hagel's criticism of the war is necessarily political in nature (at least not entirely). After all, Hagel does not only have a war record, he has war wounds, and lots of them. And Hagel didn't receive those wounds in just any war, it was the Vietnam War. And since it seems in vogue to draw comparisons between the Iraq and Vietnam wars, the logical conclusion might be that Hagel, who witnessed the shortcomings of American policy in Vietnam first hand, simply doesn't want Iraq to turn into the same kind of conflict.
Now, the Blue South is on the record as saying that Iraq is definitely NOT Vietnam, and we stand by that assertion. However, there are similarities, at least superficially. But we want to give Hagel more credit. We like the guy. He's what McCain might be if he were a few years younger. Hagel's a tough guy. He just told the US Senate that, if they want an easy job, "go sell shoes." Chuck Hagel might be just what the Republican party needs: a tough guy that can appear to be tough on security matters, yet pragmatic in the face of disaster. And it is pragmatism that we desparately need in the politics of our country.
The American people did not elect a whole bunch of Democrats last year because they want hippie love-ins, higher taxes, and expanded government. What America wants is a counter-balance to the President, who has sought to expand the powers of his office drastically since he's been there. America is not a nation of politically polarized people. They do not exist only at the far ends of the spectrum. The vast majority of American people are in the middle, where they ought to be. That's because we're a nation of pragmatists (just ask John Dewey, William James, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., etc.). As far as we're concerned at the Blue South, Chuck Hagel's a pragmatist, he's the kind of guy we need in politics, and we like him.
7 comments:
You make some excellent points. Hagel is known for his pragmatism and we need more of that in politics, as the voters showed last year. Likewise, Chuck Hagel's criticisms of the war are not new; they began with warnings in 2002 before the invasion.
I certainly hope he runs for President; the Republican party needs to find a new direction from the one it is currently on.
I dont know much about the guy, but if he's a republican and has the confidence of The Blue South, the democrats had better think very carefully before they nominate a yankee liberal.
Has Hagel ever sold shoes for a living? It is a lot tougher than passing a series of non-binding resolution. OK, OK on a serious note, very good piece and nice points. If he runs some think he might go for it as an independent (which would significantly decrease even the chance he might be able to win electoral votes), Also, if he does run as an idependent on a strong anit-Iraq war record he would only stand to hurt a major party's Anti-Iraq War candidate - should one emerge in juxtposition to the other party. Do you think he might run or wants to run as an Indpendent?
It's probably too early to call whether Hagel will run at all (imagine that, it's actually too early to call something about next year's presidential race), but I have serious doubts as to whether he'd run as an Independent. The chances of a successful run at the presidency as an independent are, at least in recent history, slim. Indeed, a Hagel independent candidacy on an anti-war platform would serve to hurt the democratic candidate since, if we're honest, any right leaning swing voters are most likely to vote for a dem only because of their opposition to the war. I think when it's all said and done, Hagel might make for a good Rep. VP choice, but unless I hear more than mere speculation, I don't see him making a legitimate bid for the presidency.
Gosh, I must be out of the loop. I thought John Fitzgerald Obama had already won the election.
Chuck needs to stop cracking on Al Bundy. The guy is an American icon.
The Blue South likes a republican?!?!?!?
Hell is freezing over, pigs are flying, and Hillary will win the presidency.
Lester, Obama's not even the top Dem in polls so far, although he is making strides (check out the legislation he introduced re: Iraq). The fact remains that Reps. still have a fighting chance in '08, especially Reps. like Hagel that come out for conservative values but against the war in Iraq (as now, the majority of the population is). Obama has charisma on his side, but substantively he may be lacking for the taste of the American moderate.
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