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Hagel To Colleagues On Iraq Vote: ‘If You Wanted A Safe Job, Go Sell Shoes'
thinkprogress.org — This morning in his opening statements before the SFRC, Sen. Chuck Hagel said, “The American people are far ahead of us” on what do do next in Iraq. He chided his fellow colleagues for being too concerned about the politics of their Iraq positioning. “If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes,” he said.
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- shawnfassett, on 10/12/2007, -6/+25How about we trade Lieberman for Hagel?
- 8^)Jung, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26Why not just keep Hagel? Why is it that any Senator who speaks the truth and isn't politically correct doesn't get re-elected? Our country is going down the drain and will continue to do so if we try and be politically correct and do our best to not offend anyone. We need leaders who will say things the way they. Not hide behind words.
- shadus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15I'd vote for Hagel (not that its an option where I live) in a heart beat, he's better than 90% of republicans or democrats, at least lately. I may not agree with some of the things he stands for but at least he's honest enough to stand up and say what he stands for rather than pussyfooting around it. Shrug. Last I checked that makes him vastly better than the rest.
- CraigB12, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I like this guy... he's got some balls. But I guess he can say things like this when he isn't planning on running for president, as McCain spews anything people want to hear now.
- nebrfan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I think Hagel is a great example of why Nebraska isn't nearly as 'red' as people believe - we actually have a fairly strong tradition of electing moderates of either party - our other Senator is Ben Nelson (D) - who was preceded by Bob Kerry (D) who was very critical of the Bush Administration while a member of the 9/11 Commission.
- Netmindstorm, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3>>If You Wanted A Safe Job, Go Sell Shoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-qRJM5750A (give it 30 secs)
Yeah, that really worked for Al Bundy. How many times did we see Al getting abused by woman with large, sweaty feet who thought they could fit into a "Cinderella" glass slipper? I think Al would have gladly gone to Iraqi (of course with his luck, he'd end up selling sandals to the Shiites) - hoppdawg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Hagel '08.
- MonkeyMCSE, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I also loved how he told them to look right into the camera and give their vote, so they couldn't hide(i believe this was him at least, i watched the end of the news and it was on). If i were still in Nebraska, i'd be glad this man was there trying to make a difference.
- drgori, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Hagel actually is the person that people have been snowed into thinking John McCain is.
I hope he gets the GOP nomination in '08. I won't be voting for him, but if he wins, I can at least live with it. - neave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Great blog on all things Chuck Hagel: http://hagel2008.blogspot.com/
- littlebylittle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Tell 'em Chuck.
- jackelsmack, on 10/12/2007, -16/+14Let's see those Foxnews Cheney-loving ***** call Chuck Hagel a 'terrorist sympathizer'.
- thcobbs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Why?
It's good to see someone saying what they feel. I disagree with him on the resolution, but I'm happy to see someone with backbone in congress.
Maybe we can actually have good, honest debate... and not pandering to a ***** camera.
- thcobbs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Why?
- Favre4Favre, on 10/12/2007, -19/+4Hagel is a terrorist sympathizer. And a dhimmi
- postaldave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14he must have never watch "married with children."
- tekhna, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21Most senators wouldn't find enough pork in shoes, leather is made from cows.
- DJCult, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7I see what you did there. Dugg.
- tralalaa, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0They could find jellybeans in them, but honey comes from beehives.
- chase001, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Chuck Hagel is oner of the last true moderate Republacans I can respect afte rthe Neocon revolution. Most true repuvblican moderates are now in the DLC in the Democratic Party.
- heaintheavy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Kind of like Lincoln Chafee from Rhode Island. The poor guy was in the wrong party, but he refused to leave. Sheldon Whitehouse was in the "right" party and defeated Chafee...
- CraigB12, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1There's a difference between being a moderate republican and a democrat. Chaffee was literally a democrat but registered in the republican party. My mother always voted straight republican when i was a kid, but never voted for Chaffee because he wasn't. Being from Rhode Island I can say that he's more of a douche bag than he's portrayed as in the news, but he's not in office anymore thank god.
- eric0213, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I heard Hagel votes with the Republican party like 97% of the time, more than any other Senator. But that was just word of mouth, so it's not very reliable.
Any body know of a site that shows you how often a senator or congressman votes with their party?
- Cleotis, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Hagel==RINO.
- an0nymous, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I would argue the Hagel is both the true conservative and republican. Bush and Wolfewitz are the "name only" folks. If Hagel ran for president I' ld vote for him.
- InsultComedy, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Everyone voted for the war, but there are a few in the left and right that are maligned for making sense.
- Bartboy919, on 10/12/2007, -8/+4You are the Ass'O Supremo
Democrats didn't vote for the war in Iraq, they voted for action against terrorists, and Bush thought that terrorists= guy who live next to Afghanistan. - schnikies79, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5@Bartboy919
Yes they did, it was called The Iraq War Resolution. It specifically gave the president authority to attack saddam hussein if he refused to give up WMD's. The vote was 77-23. That means 29 Democrat senators voted for it.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/ - williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The Democrats COULD bring up the point that what they voted for was use of force to get inspectors back into Iraq, not a war and occupation.
But that would take enough balls to say to the president that what he did was illegal from the start. And that would imply impeachment.
- Bartboy919, on 10/12/2007, -8/+4You are the Ass'O Supremo
- cromus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Nebraska doesn't elect pussy representatives lilke the rest of the states do.
- dvfreelancer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1"Nebraska doesn't elect pussy representatives lilke the rest of the states do."
No, but they do tax the living crap out of their residents. They're in the top 10 for overall tax burden and their property taxes are outrageous relative to the cost of the home:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxesbystate2005/index.html
Not as bad as Wisconsin, but that seems like pretty high taxes for a right wing leaning state. I think it's funny that the right will throw out a label like Taxachusetts, when Massachusetts ranks in the bottom half (32). Well behind right leaning states such as Ohio, Nebraska and Utah. But when have facts ever meant anything to the right wing?
I give Hagel credit for standing up for the truth, though. Unfortunate Senator McCain hasn't shown the valor in politics he exhibited in Viet Nam. - truspark, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If Hagel was a real man he would have stood up to Bush when it really counted - before the 2004 election. He didn't. It was well known he was unhappy with the war before the election but when the time for courage arrived he fell silent like the other pussy John McCain. They fell right in line behind their Criminal in Chief
- dvfreelancer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1"Nebraska doesn't elect pussy representatives lilke the rest of the states do."
- peanuckle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I've met Hagel a few times (I'm from NE and he came during his campaign a few years ago.) He's an extremely bright man that is very forward and direct. He doesnt take a whole lot of crap and thats why he had my vote and will get my vote if he runs for President or anything for that matter.
- cuddleparty, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4i'm kind of proud of our man for telling it like it is. but why wait so long to be so outspoken? that's the only thing that's bothering me.
- Phoxhole, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@cuddleparty:
He's probably been outspoken all along - just never had a CSPAN camera on him before.
Just goes to show us that we don't have any idea who runs our country if they aren't on TV. We are so misinformed and ignorant of what really happens - it's a wonder any of us can in good conscience have an opinion at all.
- Phoxhole, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@cuddleparty:
- Chadster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I'm sure they would sell shoes if they were qualified to do so.
- wingertank, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Chuck Hagel for PRESIDENT!!!!
- DeepDoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I am no fan of Hagel, but its nice when politicians call each other out and tell each other to do the damn job they were elected to do.
- washingtonydc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2even as a democrat, I've been a long time fan of Hagel. He's an example of a person whom you can respect regardless of party-label because he doesn't feel it's necessary to just kowtow to the GOP.
He's a man of principle--if the GOP were smart enough to make him their candidate in 2008, the Dems would have a very tough time. but of course the GOP is drifting so far from its conservative beginnings and is so mired in the mode of big-government and religious right politics, that I doubt they would nominate Hagel. - masterofNone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2hagel is what mccain used to be.
a real maverick.- williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Quite so. Electing McCain would be just putting Capt. Queeg in charge of the war. Not an improvement.
- MonkeyMCSE, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0digg down, messed up reply
- flink405, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0It´s so easy to be a quitter, so easy to complain. So easy not to offer a solution.
Hagel - can I have your job?
(Remember folks, the guy is looking for press because he wants to run for President. Which party I am not sure. And if only war veterans/heroes/multi-medal winners can speak with gravitas about war...where does that leave Hillary and Obama???) - dracheflieger, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Why does Chuckie just stamp STOOPIT! on his forehead and join the democraps?
- brianburnham, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I can't get over the fact that Hagel thinks he's so "brave" for pushing a non-binding vote against an unpopular war. Is there anything safer than that?
How about offering a plan of your own. That would be brave. Or what about term limits and ethics reform. Just another loser jumping on the war sucks bandwagon.- geekee, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Actually, they do have a plan. Withdraw troops and admit defeat. They are just too cowardly to say it.
- williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@geekee
Have you got any idea how irresponsible it is to keep spending blood and treasure when you have no plan? Having no plan to win means... you have lost!
This was an undeclared and illegal war from the beginning. Let's stop wasting money and kids' lives on it. Let's stop using up all our tanks and helicopters. Lets stop breeding thugs like the Abu Ghraib guards.
Let's get back our freedoms and privacy and tell all the warmongers to go to hell.
- geekee, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Whichever way they voted, it was for political reasons.
There are two camps.
1. Wants to win in Iraq, but doesn't know how. Hoping new strategy will help.
2. Doesn't care if the US wins in Iraq. Wants to bring troops home as soon as possible, regardless of the consequences in Iraq. - fishbert, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1At least he didn't say "go make shoes" -- that industry went over seas quite a while ago.
But yeah, the low-wage service industry is about the only one growing by leaps and bounds here, so selling shoes is probably safe. - boomboxer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I feel like he's mostly talking about democrats. personally I am liberal, but I agree. Dems are the ones whose positions are tailored to go both ways - to not to appear "soft" while at the same time meshing with the current polls. it's *****. that's why so many dems voted for the war in the first place. they should have voted their conscience then, and they should do the same now.
ironically, while dems' conscience probably told them not to vote for the war in 2003, I think most dems' conscience currently tells them that pulling out of Iraq abruptly would result in the fall of the Iraqi government (which is bad for everyone). the problem is that in 2003, the polls wholeheartedly supported going to war. so the politicians went with the polls instead of their conscience. now, bush and co are doing such a poor job running the war, that the polls have done a complete 180. again congress feels pressured to go with the polls, even though that might not be the best idea.
too bad elected officials are constantly worrying about their next election. I hereby propose a 1 term limit on all elected offices. - funkspiel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Think of all those shoe salespeople, slacking off today.
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