Posted on 01/25/2007 9:14:42 PM PST by quidnunc
We all complain, and with justice, about the falseness of much that is said in Washington, and the cowardice that leaves a great deal unsaid. But I found myself impressed and grateful for the words of Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator from Nebraska, in a meeting of the Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. Because his message was not one Republicans or Democrats would find congenial, it may be accidentally dropped down the memory hole, so I'll quote at some length.
The committee was nearing a vote on what was, essentially, an announcement of no confidence in the administration's leadership in Iraq. Specifically it was a nonbinding resolution opposing the increase in troops the president has requested. This was not significant in a concrete way: The president has the power to send more troops, and they are already arriving. But as symbols go, it packed a punch. You couldn't watch it on television or on the Internet and not see that Mr. Hagel was letting it rip. He did not speak from notes or a text but while looking at his fellow senators. There seemed no time lag between thought and word. He was barreling, he was giving it to you straight, and he'd pick up the pieces later.
This is what he said: Congress has duties; in the case of the war, meeting those duties was not convenient; Congress did not meet them.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
In my opinion? Yes. In some ways, on some topics. She's hit some out of the ballpark, but her thinking on Iraq is wrongheaded. She's starting to think (and sound) like the liberals do. Also with George Bush there has been a surprising negativity. At times it seems - though we are in no position to know - that she is predisposed to it. That, too, is more like a liberal than a conservative.
coulda been the whiskey
mighta been the gin
coulda been the 3 or 4 six packs, I don't know
But look at the mess I'm in....
Possibly her lips were wet. Was it whiskey or something else? I do not know.
She was speech writer for Reagan and George HW Bush.
Spot on, JW.
Something else.
I think it's more to the point to say that Congress made the right decision in 2002; keeping faith with that decision became inconvenient; Congress is now trying to find a way out.
Et tu, Brute?
A lot of Reagan's people have no use for either of the Bushes. As I remember, Lyn Nofziger wasn't too fond of this president either.
Okay we had Hanoi Jane--now we have Tehran Chuck.. how about some sly Photoshoppers help here :)
If Hagel and the rest of the punks had "guts" they wouldn't be making a non-binding resolution. They are gutless. Peggy is clueless.
I am very familar with Peggy Noonan's past history, but that doesn't make her a good fit for G.W. Bush. She wanted to make him over in Reagan's image and it couldn't be done. He's better off being who he is. Noonan has turned into a witch since she was turned down. I guess she couldn't take the criticism. Anyway, the Granny knows best crowd is a better fit for her.
Yes because we all know definition of jumping the shark is criticizing the President or anything that comes from his mouth. Good on Chuck Hagel for standing up for what he believes and any other Republican who finally discovers the reason for the Legislative Branch's existence is not a rubber stamp of anything the Executive Branch wants to do.
One can only hope the past 3 years is the death knell of the neoconservative movement and interventionist foreign policies. From the speeches coming even from original Congressional supporters of the police action in Iraq, it looks like it very well may be.
There's a tagline in there somewhere.
You nailed it. She's bitterly against George W. Bush now. It's sad, she's lost her credibility with me.
Do you?
Maybe she's auditioning for a gig on PMSNBC.
Not
I was never a fan of her flowery style of writing. I prefer plain speech, but ever since she was turned down as a speech writer for G.W., she has been overly critical, and just plain nasty. It's time for Peggy to retire, she's beginning to sound like the old folks at community association meetings. They drive me crazy, everything is about the way it used to be in their previous life.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.