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Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)

32. Hey! I have to say this is the first, the only statement in his favor that I have read on DU that

Fri Feb 1, 2013, 10:56 AM

Feb 2013

makes an actual point of fact. I thank you for that. I have been asking 'why Hagel' for weeks and the answers are never like this one. This gives me something to read up on.
The 'he opposed Iraq' arguments are daft because he voted for that war. People keep saying 'he opposed Bush's wars' but he only did so 5 years into the war. That makes him better than those who still support it, but it is not a good argument for putting him in charge of wars.
I have asked many 'what do you like about him' and they don't provide a thing positive about Hagel that is true. They often claim he voted no on IWR.
You gave a reason, as the OP asked. I respect that. I don't support Republicans ever, particularly not the anti choice, anti gay variety who voted to invade to look for WMD, but at least you came up with an actual positive.

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What's the plus side of Hagel? I'm not seeing it. [View all] JVS Feb 2013 OP

McCain and Graham don't like him liberal N proud Feb 2013 #1

true dat. When did the two of them become in charge of the world? I missed that. Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2013 #14

Sorry, but no. Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #52

They loved him in 2008. What has changed? Laelth Feb 2013 #80

Two points ... JoePhilly Feb 2013 #2

He'll do a good job is the plus side BeyondGeography Feb 2013 #3

He appears inept to me. There are lots of good Democrats for that job. The Link Feb 2013 #4

Who? Let's hear some names. War hero, battle hardened, national defense experience.... Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #6

If he thinks waging war is only a last resort, how do you explain his YES on invading Iraq? Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #20

The same way you can explain why John Kerry voted YES on invading Iraq. BlueCaliDem Feb 2013 #34

You are wrong about that. 21 Democratic Senators voted NO in invading Iraq. 21. Not just Boxer. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #42

I had forgot that Byrd voted no. didact Feb 2013 #92

Here is a link to the 126 Democratic House Members who voted NO. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #44

Hagel was a Senator, not a U.S. House member. BlueCaliDem Feb 2013 #51

Yeah, that's why I posted the list of Democratic Senators who voted NO before I posted the House. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #61

Me! maxsolomon Feb 2013 #69

LOL. TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #74

Wesley Clark, Tom Harkin, leftynyc Feb 2013 #85

Yea, give us some names. nt babylonsister Feb 2013 #12

Shall we hold our breath for an answer, babylonsister? eom BlueCaliDem Feb 2013 #35

Please don't! babylonsister Feb 2013 #38

He didn't give them the damaging headlines they pressed for, for eight hours. TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #47

No, Hagel wasn't selected because it would make Republicans happy. Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #5

You don't even have to leave the category of former Nebraska Senators to find a more decorated man JVS Feb 2013 #18

Hagel and Kerrey are good friends. He campaigned for him in Nebraska, which TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #50

To Clean Up... KharmaTrain Feb 2013 #7

He's not likely to lead the charge into a war with Iran. Maybe, that's too big for you to see. leveymg Feb 2013 #8

Glad you mention Wes. He would have been a brilliant choice. It Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2013 #13

Who is John Kerry replacing? Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #16

That decision would be for the president anyway. JVS Feb 2013 #15

I have to differ: 1) tensions with Iran are higher now than in 2009; 2) the SOD exercises a leveymg Feb 2013 #19

Hagel's voting record does not support those theories at all. He voted for the Iraq Invasion which Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #24

Hillary did too and that turned out ok. But, I agree, if he could find someone who Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2013 #30

'Hillary did it too' is disturbing because Obama so roundly Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #39

Like Kerry, he came out afterwards against the Iraq invasion and for restraint w/ Iran and a leveymg Feb 2013 #43

Got a quote where Hagel says he was duped? Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #46

Here's a quote: TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #54

Hey, you posted a Hagel quote I can support.... Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #65

David Corn reviewed Hagel's IWR statements as follows: leveymg Feb 2013 #55

So we know he can be fooled by the likes of GW Bush. Great. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #60

This is about the best one could possibly expect from the people running U.S. foreign policy. leveymg Feb 2013 #62

Others were far more correct than Hagel, and Chuck admits it: Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #66

Contrast with your view on other IWR Yes voters: Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #64

The difference between Hillary and Hagel (and Kerry) on this one is she endorsed the IWR and leveymg Feb 2013 #67

Explain how one Yes vote is worse than another. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #71

Hillary was a leading voice in the Senate for the IWR, didn't express doubts about WMD, and leveymg Feb 2013 #83

Both IWR votes proved wrong, but Hillary cheerled the war and influenced other Senators to vote yes leveymg Feb 2013 #84

Hillary and Kerry differ from Hagel in many ways. Here are a few of Hagel's bonus features. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #73

Many dislike both RINOs and DINOs...I'm one of them.. pipoman Feb 2013 #9

I was watching Graham's questioning also.... a kennedy Feb 2013 #10

Graham looked like he has Parkinson Disease. Auntie Bush Feb 2013 #26

What's ironic is that he and McCain thought they looked tough...but in actuality they looked Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2013 #31

Graham looked like he had to take a dump. immoderate Feb 2013 #59

What a question, its because his views coincide with Obama's 1-Old-Man Feb 2013 #11

Why not Wesley Clark? SayitAintSo Feb 2013 #17

There are some issues with how he handled Kosovo Recursion Feb 2013 #29

Yeah, no drones and no troops killed on the ground, terrible record. 1-Old-Man Feb 2013 #70

My Senator Dick Blumenthal gives him strong support. CTyankee Feb 2013 #21

I don't have a very strong opinion on this but.. union_maid Feb 2013 #22

great point about the reward Enrique Feb 2013 #25

Then maybe you can leftynyc Feb 2013 #87

Sick of Republican appointees Generic Other Feb 2013 #23

He rubs the Iraq War fiasco in the Republicans' faces. They hate that. Skinner Feb 2013 #27

Successful history with nuclear nonproliferation, and Obama trusts him on a personal level Recursion Feb 2013 #28

Hey! I have to say this is the first, the only statement in his favor that I have read on DU that Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #32

Glad to help! Nonproliferation is one of my "things", so I've followed Hagel for a while Recursion Feb 2013 #36

I have been challenging his supporters for weeks now, yours is the first actual factual piece of Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #40

Oh he's popular inside the beltway simply for being a Republican; that's the gushing Recursion Feb 2013 #41

The fans say things like 'every Democrat expect Boxer voted for the Iraq War'. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #49

When was the last time someone who never had been a Republican had the position? TheKentuckian Feb 2013 #33

He's a good model for a Republican who saw the light flamingdem Feb 2013 #37

His hearing was not a hearing (for the GOP). It was intended to trap and disqualify him. TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #45

He's a Republican. What's not to like? kenny blankenship Feb 2013 #48

The biggest plus for Hagel is he has been war as a grunt. That alone qualifies him. southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #53

He is a republican, and therefore is willing to serve the needs of the 1% without question, so Zorra Feb 2013 #56

He's Obama's pick marshall Feb 2013 #57

You're such a good little solider. bigwillq Feb 2013 #63

Do you support EVERYTHING leftynyc Feb 2013 #88

He was one of the few who finally questioned why we spent so much man power and resources... dmosh42 Feb 2013 #58

He voted for the Iraq War, while 23 Senators voted No, 21 of them Democrats. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #68

I only claim that he at least did question his vote, while many of our own still haven't backed down dmosh42 Feb 2013 #95

So we can rest assured Union Scribe Feb 2013 #76

Well, sure hope you didn't vote for Kerry. Sure hope you don't vote for Clinton TwilightGardener Feb 2013 #79

I vote for Democratic nominees, none of the IRW yes voters had any support from me in primary Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #82

Small comfort to the dead. Union Scribe Feb 2013 #96

Panetta could not cut the defense budget. kentuck Feb 2013 #72

I like him. Seems to make decisions based on data and not ideology. EastKYLiberal Feb 2013 #75

He voted Yes on the Iraq Invasion...later he claimed he was confused by the false data Bush Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #81

obama trusts hagel madrchsod Feb 2013 #77

There is no plus side. William769 Feb 2013 #78

I'm with you. Less bad is not good. And when is he going to "reach across the isle" Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #86

He's a Republican who wants to cut Defense spending. WilliamPitt Feb 2013 #89

You said what I said, only different.. fadedrose Feb 2013 #91

He shares Obama's view that war should be avoided if possible fadedrose Feb 2013 #90

I think his IWR Yes vote says the opposite of that. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #93

I think he has changed... fadedrose Feb 2013 #94