Chuck Hagel Pick: Final Snub Of George W. Bush

[Purveyor]

By ALEXANDER BURNS | 1/9/13 4:39 AM EST
The final insult to George W. Bush’s foreign policy may have come in the form of a Republican ex-senator from Nebraska.

Chuck Hagel’s nomination for secretary of defense has stirred opposition on both the left and the right, but the most vehement objections have come from the conservative, interventionist foreign policy community — the so-called neoconservatives who created the ideological architecture for the wars Bush launched in Afghanistan and Iraq.

For much of President Barack Obama’s time in office, right-leaning foreign policy leaders have taken heart from his extension of key Bush policies. Obama has wound down both wars, but he also retained Bush’s last defense secretary, Robert Gates; kept open the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay; massively stepped up the use of drones and added troops to the war in Afghanistan before more recently drawing back.

While Obama has cast his administration as a clean break with the past, there has been much in his record for the right to like. Republicans even sought some credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden, arguing that Bush-backed interrogation tactics may have helped bring down the Al Qaeda kingpin.

The Hagel nomination is different — and may represent the president’s most dramatic turn away from the national security tenets of his predecessor.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/hagel-pick-final-snub-of-george-w-bush-85932.html#ixzz2HWbSpE8m

[TwilightGardener]

1. You know, as someone who really liked Wes Clark, this is nice to read:

“It was the kind of opposition that’s like a show of strength, by a group in the Republican Party who are associated with strong and conservative national security positions. OK, they’ve made their statement,” Clark said. “Now they’re going to have to deal with Sen. Hagel the man himself.”

“The fact that he’s had reservations about how force is used and so forth, that shows his thoughtfulness,” said Clark, who noted that the Obama administration has hardly been reserved in its use of drone strikes or its commitment to the war in Afghanistan.

[Honeycombe8]

6. Where did you see Clark? I haven't seen him in ages. nt

[TwilightGardener]

9. It's in the story.

[Honeycombe8]

22. No, it's not. Doesn't say who he was talking to, what network or magazine, or that you even saw him.

You may think you included a link.

But no matter. This confirms....he's not around.

[TwilightGardener]

23. It's on the second page of the Politico story--

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, the former NATO supreme allied commander and Democratic presidential candidate, said the Hagel nomination wasn’t “a particular push on an ideology,” but suggested the right flank of the foreign policy community had gone out on a limb by attacking the nomination

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/hagel-pick-final-snub-of-george-w-bush-85932_Page2.html#ixzz2HdfxOybT

[DiverDave]

2. I wonder what sort of poll numbers he would have got if he

said in the campaign he was picking a stinking rethug for dod.
Just amazes me that so many worship him, while he screwes us all.
Now, someone get your panties in a wad and hide this one.
If you aint in lock step, you are silenced.
I'm done, you can keep your wind tunnel, I am a thinking person.
I just donated too, oh well, more money down the toilet
And what I see is NOT progressive at all.
wall streeters making millions, people still getting foreclosed on.
Yep, we elected our savior.

[TwilightGardener]

3. OK. Happy trails.

[Purveyor]

5. So Long, Farewell...

[Honeycombe8]

7. Hagel isn't a Republican. He left the Republican Party a while back. Which is why they're pisssed.

A turncoat is making good and will be in a position of authority. As we've seen, they do their best to end the careers of people who leave them.

Hagel is an Independent, with a mix of views on different policies. You're not truly a conservative if you think the Pentagon's budget can be cut, and it's not a good thing to send more troops into Iraq.

[TwilightGardener]

10. No, he's still a Republican. Unless he secretly changed his affiliation.

[rhett o rick]

4. I am confused. Generally here in DU we all agree that Republicans are the scourge of the earth until

the president appoints one or nominates one, and all of a sudden, that particular republican is not so bad. Chuck Hagel is a low life republican. Are there no decent Democrats the president can choose?

[Honeycombe8]

8. He's not a Republican. He left that party a while back. And Obama needs a non-Dem in that position

to lead the way to defense cuts and to fight off calls to bomb Iran. Those views carry much more weight when held by a non-Democrat. The Democratic Party has a reputation for being weak on defense.

Gates was a Republican, and he seemed to do a good job. No problem.

[rhett o rick]

13. "He's not a Republican"???? Really? What is he?

"Gates was a REpublican, and he seemed to do a good job." Are you series? So we are ok now with Republicans? WTF is going on?

[Honeycombe8]

19. Hagel is an Independent. He left the Republican Party a long time ago.

Yeah, I'm okay with Republicans being in the cabinet. If Obama decides their views and skills and intellect meet his criteria to effect his goals for the job, then that's okay by me.

Not all Republicans are the same. Just like all Democrats aren't the same, are they?

[rhett o rick]

27. No all Democrats are not the same. Some think like Republicans. That's the sad state we are in.

Domestic spying, Patriot Act, indefinite detention, drones in the skies of America. You got to love those Republicans.

[leveymg]

30. I'll take a registered Republican who avoids war with Iran over a neocon Democrat, any day.

That was the choice, and Obama made the right one in my view.

[rhett o rick]

34. Ah yes, his only choices of Democrats are neocons. False dilemma. nm

[leveymg]

35. Unfortunately, the neocons and hawks dominate foreign policy in both parties.

There are some reasonable people, like Panetta and Gates, and we've been lucky to have them.

[Honeycombe8]

31. Yes, people fall for the "ends justify the means" argument.

There's always a good reason to infringe on rights and liberties. The Patriot Act does that. And now, some liberals wants to take everyone's personal and hunting gun away from them for, their argument goes, to less mass murders.

There is no shortage of people with clever arguments to take away something from someone else for a supposed "good reason." And plenty of people who fill follow w/o giving it much thought.

[Purveyor]

11. So are you saying the President is a DINO? Fraud and forgery all this time? Don't trust

any more?

Think Romney should have won after all?

Do tell...

[rhett o rick]

12. I didnt say any of that and shame on you for trying to put those words in my mouth.

Tell us what you think, if you dare. Do you like the fact that we all agree that Republicans are destroying the country, but when Pres Obama chooses one or 10 instead of Democrats, it's just hunky dory.

I didnt vote for Republicans for a good reason. Why do you think they are somehow now ok?

[Purveyor]

14. I didn't put any 'words in your mouth'...I asked you some questions that you avoided answering.

As far as 'what I think'?

I trust the President's judgement and agree that Hagel is an excellent choice and hope he gets confirmed post haste. There I 'dared'...

[rhett o rick]

15. I appreciate that you admitted that you dont think for yourself. You trust the president's judgement

He got elected and your work is done. Now you can go back to watching Dancing with the Stars.

I thought you didnt like Republicans. But I guess it's ok if president Obama says it's ok.

[Purveyor]

16. I can't stand "Dancing with the Stars" but thanks for playing...anyway. eom

[rhett o rick]

17. Did the president tell you that you "cant stand Dancing with the Stars?" nm

[Purveyor]

18. Yes...yes he did and Michelle reaffirmed in a personal, handwritten note. "Do Not Watch '

Dancing with the Stars'".

Even included Bo's paw-print for authentication but it was late so they didn't wake the girls to chime in.

I'm done here with you but it was fun, just the same.

[Honeycombe8]

21. The Boss decides what he wants as his goals for a Dept or Agency. So he's in the best position

to know if someone has the right stuff to do the job that the Boss wants done.

I voted for Obama to make the best decisions he can at any given time. He's a thoughtful, patient, deliberative, intelligent man. I don't always agree with him (and have gotten downright mad at him), but I wouldn't have voted for him if I didn't trust his judgment.

I didn't vote for someone so that I could run the country.

Comparing Obama's probable goals with Hagel's abilities and willingness to do certain things, it sounds like he's a good choice.

[rhett o rick]

24. How sad. How very, very sad. But I do understand. It must be very comforting to put your

complete faith in a person. Then you dont have to think again. Just go with whatever he does because he is absolute. He is god. He cant do wrong.

I pity those that need that so badly. Need to have faith in their president that they wont ever, ever question his judgement. But I smell hypocrisy.

On one hand we say we know the Republicans are trying their best to destroy our democracy, but then we bow down to Republicans because our leader tells us to.

And, not that you'd understand, but President Obama isnt my boss, he is my employee. He is supposed to represent me. I realize that is a strange concept to conservatives that love to have a dictator to make all their decision for them.

Hagel is a Republican. Republicans want to destroy democracy. Therefore, Hagel wants to destroy democracy. But you love him because............ someone told you to.

[Honeycombe8]

32. Oh, how very sad that you don't know Hagel is not a Republican. How very sad.

Sheeple sometimes read other posts and blindly follow.

Others, like myself, are independent thinkers.

I agree with the Hagel choice, regardless of his party affiliation. Like Lincoln, Obama has always wanted both parties in his cabinet. Gates did a good job as Sec of Defense, IMO. But, as a matter of fact, Hagel is not a Republican.

Look at the person. Not the party.

I approve of Hagel. He will be the Sec of Defense. Get used to it.

Yes, we vote for leaders not to do what activists tell him to do, but to use his judgment and do what he thinks is best for ALL.

[rhett o rick]

33. So you say he isnt a Republican. I assume you have some proof. Not that it matters, he has been

a Republican all his life. Should he now change the letter behind his name it wont change who he is.

How hypocritical that here in DU we are constantly told that we cant support Republicans especially over a Democrat. But if the president chooses a Republican, bingo-bango all of a sudden it's just swell.

And you say "get used to it". What an audacious thing to say to a fellow Democrat. In other words, "sit down and shut up". I am a Democrat and I will never "get use to it."

[Selatius]

20. A competent man, but nothing to be enthusiastic about.

This isn't exactly a break from Bush's foreign policy as much as it is a tone down from militant internationalism to internationalism practiced with sticks and carrots.

[rhett o rick]

25. Hagel is a republican. Even idiot Bush would recognize the irony. Too bad many here dont. We are

fucked.

[samsingh]

26. kick

[Bonobo]

28. So what, pray tell, is appointing a torturer and assassin as CIA Chief vis a vis GWB?

I would have preferred demanding an accounting of GWB's crimes.

Looking back at Mr. Obama's "Let's not look back" fills me with revulsion, anger and regret.

Compared to Ford's pardoning of Nixon, it was a far more egregious perversion of justice.

And in all honesty, appointing a torturer and mastermind of secret assassination programs and a Republican war vet as SOD is a stronger sign of kinship with GWB than I think many want to admit.

[TwilightGardener]

29. My question about that is, why wasn't Morell (acting chief) simply promoted?

Aside from the fact that Obama seems to place a lot of trust in Brennan, I wonder if he felt things had gone awry under Petraeus' and Morell's leadership.