Hagel knows Bush is an idiot and has almost said exactly that many times. He knows Iraq was fake (and may well know more about that than we know) and has been a vocal critic. Aside from those points, he is a very conservative GOPer and has always voted that way. What this means is he votes for stuff Bush wants, even though he knows Bush is an idiot. The AUMF, for example. Of course, he's not the only politician who voted for the AUMF. I'd hope that would disqualify a VP candidate for Obama by itself.
Posted by T2 at May 22, 2008 11:12 AMHagel on the ticket would be the deciding factor for me. I could vote for Obama/with any Democrat on the ticket. But never a Republican. Especially one like Hagel.
I really hope this is not being floated by the Obama campaign.
Posted by coral at May 22, 2008 11:14 AMIf Obama picked Hagel, all he would do is succeed in creating division in the democratic party and alienate his base, i'm sure he is intelligent to figure that out.
I doubt Obama is seriously considering Hagel, I think that is media driven nonsense, it just makes good fodder for journalists, when Obama speaks of unity, thats not the kind of unity the Democratic Party needs or wants. I'm sure the Democratic Party elders would counsel him on that.
Posted by Heather at May 22, 2008 11:35 AMBO is considering it and paying for polls that are being made public to see how they play in Peoria
http://www.surveyusa.com/electionpolls.aspx
Well, he did say he's interested in reaching across the aisle.
Posted by snark at May 22, 2008 11:53 AMBO could choose the Jesus for all I care. I'm not voting for him. He is the liberal (though not as liberal as some believe) Bush, not accomplished and not a divisive person. When the campaign started I would have voted for anybody but a Republican. BO turned me 180 degrees. The more I saw him work the campaign, the less I liked him. He displayed no civility a the SOTU, he used the race card and sexism against HRC, and dissed the boomer generation. I'm the epitome of a liberal Democrat. I've never voted or even considered voting for a Republican until BO showed me the error of my ways.
Posted by Prabhata at May 22, 2008 11:57 AMI should have previewed. My post should read:
could choose Jesus as VP...
not accomplished and divisive...
Posted by Prabhata at May 22, 2008 12:06 PMNo!
Posted by Bob In Pacifica at May 22, 2008 12:09 PMI'm the epitome of a liberal Democrat.
duh, buy a mirror, you're a troll! But take solace cuz here's your boy stumbling and bumbling down the campaign trail ....what a good choice in these tranquil times.
I think all this chitter-chatter about Veeps and Obama being the "presumptive nominee" is all premature. And it is designed by Obama's campaign and the MSM to break the will of the people yet to vote in the primaries.
You want to engage in hating Hillary? Be my guest.
Just remember, the primary season is still on.
Also, the delegations of both Michigan and Florida will be seated.
Premature actions on the part of Obama betray arrogance.
Arrogance will lead to Obama's defeat.
You have now been told, forewarned.
Posted by Troubled American at May 22, 2008 01:48 PMHagel might be a good choice for a cabinet post, but I agree with everyone that he won't be the VP.
Posted by CA Pol Junkie at May 22, 2008 02:14 PMT2's NO to any possible Veep who voted for the AUMF is the best (almost only valid) argument Obama supporters have against including HRC on the ticket. If BO were to name Hagel, it would be a massive betrayal of the base. And, as we all know, Democrats in public office are supposed to wait until after the election to betray their base.
Posted by Barry at May 22, 2008 02:18 PMI think we need to commit to having NO Republicans in the new Democratic administration. We also need our new Pres. to commit to combing all the Republican nits out of the politically-appointed bureaucracy. It's what the Repugs always do when they take power. We need to take a leaf from their book on this if we want to start fixing the govt.
Posted by Barry at May 22, 2008 02:25 PMOF COURSE Obama's going to0 pick Hagel. What would you expect this is the same immoral dortbag who eats kittens for breakfast. This is is the same guy who murdered Vincent Foster.
Oh wait, that was Bill Clinton. Damn, I get so confused sometimes when my direct line to the right wing noise machine gets static.
Posted by joel dan walls at May 22, 2008 02:58 PMChuck sees the writing on the wall. His retirement is the only thing keeping him from being in a murderous battle to keep his job. If he wants to work in politics again, (He's only 61 years old!) he'd better speak often and positively about Obama and derisively about the forces in his own party currently running the country off the rails. It's the only way he's going to have future prospects.
VP? Both Clinton and Obama would be certifiable to do so this campaign. Defense? Not impossible, but improbable.
Posted by idiosynchronic at May 22, 2008 03:31 PMOh yes, Chuck would be fine. My first choice, though, is the man that Oabma endorsed for Senate in Connecticut--Lieberman. Yes, a unity ticket, by all means. Let's get together! (oh, my stomach hurts.)
Posted by candideinnc at May 22, 2008 03:47 PMSo, Prabhata, you're the epitome of a liberal Democrat? I'm a Democrat, period, and I'm voting for the nominee, whoever it may be.
Posted by at May 22, 2008 04:28 PM"Of course, he's not the only politician who voted for the AUMF. I'd hope that would disqualify a VP candidate for Obama by itself."
But voting for several years to fund the bloodshed and desecration , as Obama has done, is different how?
You're Hillary hatred (if not outright hatred of women) is showing. You're so stupid, it's almost sad.
That perfunctory get elected in a liberal CD speech that Obama made against the war which you cite as his anti-war stance - gee, I've never heard a politician say anything like it before - that animates your hatred was preceded by a far greater President than Obama could ever be, Jesse Jackson. I'll stick with Hillary Clinton, thanks.
What ever happened to those endless by any conceivable metric posts you flipped out with disturbing regularity. It's about money for you, isn't it?
Posted by justslap at May 22, 2008 05:14 PMhagel is not rightwing - where in the world did you get that idea?
Posted by the young Judith at May 22, 2008 08:49 PM
Hagel would be a massive mistake.
He's still a "Republi-con Obstructionist!" He hasn't done anything to help the Democrats except be vocal against bu$h/cheney, his votes are still along party lines. And if anything happens to Obama?
Wasn't he on the board of ES&S voting machines? Thought I heard that on Thom Hartmann today.
Posted by Seven of Six at May 22, 2008 09:02 PMI agree with those who say it won't happen.
But if it did -- then the Kennedy comparison could be complete. Kennedy had charisma and gave great speeches. Kennedy's lack of experience gave him trouble at the start of his presidency, both with foreign policy blunders and an inability to get much through Congress. And Kennedy was killed by a hired gun in order to elevate his much more conservative VP to the Presidency.
Posted by Anonny at May 23, 2008 07:29 AM"hagel is not rightwing - where in the world did you get that idea?"
Oh, Judith, you must indeed be young!
Here's an example of where we got that idea. The American Conservative Union, whose idea of perfection is my Oklahoma senatorial twins, Coburn and Inhofe, gives Hagel a lifetime rating of 84.67, which is more conservative than the very-conservative McSame (lifetime rating 82.16).
For comparison (all ratings "lifetime ratings"), Minnesota's Coleman is "only" a 73.00.
Maine's Collins is "only" 52.24 and Snowe is "only" 49.12.
Pennsylvania's Specter is "only" 44.56.
And we were and are damned committed to taking all of them out of the Senate.
Hagel and McSame both talk nice for a minute while the cameras are rolling, then vote the fascist line.
Posted by bartcopfan at May 23, 2008 08:31 AM"Wasn't he on the board of ES&S voting machines?"
Close. Try Chairman of the Board of the voting machine company that became Election Systems and Software (ES&S).
From Hagel's senatorial website: "Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Hagel worked in the private sector as the President of McCarthy & Co., an investment banking firm based in Omaha, Nebraska, and served as Chairman of the Board of American Information Systems (AIS)."
AIS is the predecessor company of ES&S. Hagel was also the subject of this article at the commondreams.org website regarding electronic voting.
VP, absolutely not. If the unthinkable happened, Hagel would be right in line to impose the whole right wing domestic agenda. Obama isn't about to play chicken with the nation's future like that.
A cabinet post? It would have to be something in the military/foreign affairs line. We have too many good people of our own for State who see eye to eye with Obama on more than just the Iraq war. Hagel would be great at Veteran's Affairs, but might consider it a step down. Perhaps Steve Hadley's job.
Posted by nicteis at May 23, 2008 07:13 PM