I love how Chuck Hagel is always running around pretending to be courageous by bashing president Bush and republicans. It’s only courageous when you’re actually a member of the party you’re bashing. Hagel was written off by most republicans years ago when he joined with the cowardly democrats against the Iraq war. The reality is that Hagel’s been auditioning for a prime spot in an Obama administration for at least 2 years.

Which is why the Bush bashing, Limbaugh bashing, and general republican bashing he engaged in today rings so damn hollow. I find people like Hagel particularly distasteful in the same way I do Scott McClellan. They’re the kind of people who would sellout their beliefs, their values, their friends, or their own mothers for more power and prestige.

Hagel’s got no problem throwing absolutely anyone under the bus for a coveted spot close to The One. Compare Hagel to someone like Joe Lieberman who did the exact opposite. If Lieberman had wanted to increase his power and prestige in the Senate he would have backed Obama from day one. But Lieberman didn’t give a damn about power — he cared about doing what was right for the country.

He literally put his entire Senate career in jeopardy by throwing his full support behind John McCain and the war in Iraq.

That ladies and gentlemen is real courage.

-Chris Jones

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that faux Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel from Nebraska will be joining Barack Obama on his Iraq trip.

I can’t imagine why anyone would be surprised by this development. Hagel is a perfect Iraq companion, because like Obama, Hagel is clueless about the success of the surge or what’s happening over there.

This has been a long time coming and is nothing more than an elaborate media ruse. Hagel’s trip to Iraq with Obama is the precursor to Hagel’s full throated endorsement of Obama when they get back. This will give Obama added credibility to say he “reaches out” and “brings people together” in a “bipartisan” fashion. A claim he’s made since the beginning of the campaign even though his record (what there is of it) shows no evidence of that whatsoever.

The problem with Obama using Chuck Hagel as his “bipartisan” straw man is that Hagel isn’t really a Republican. He’s always had an (R) next to his name, but it’s been a little (r) at best. He’s become a darling of the far-left for his outspoken and misguided criticism of the war. In fact I’m pretty sure the Republican party traded him last year for Joe Lieberman.

So look for Hagel to begin shilling for Obama as soon as they get back from Iraq. The liberal media is certain to gush over the development and blather on about what a “transformative” candidate Obama is, etc.

All this really does is tie the score between Democrats and Republicans. Republicans traded their faux Republican (Hagel) for a faux Democrat (Lieberman). But in an outright comparison I think the Republicans got a far more valuable player.

-Chris Jones

(hat tip to Andrew Sullivan)

Chuck Hagel should really stop pretending to be a Republican, when he hasn’t actually acted like one in years. Republicans should just officially take Lieberman in trade for Hagel and get it over with.

Chuck’s most recent act of treason was his speech to a small gathering at the home of the Ambassador to Italy a few nights ago. The faux Republican lambasted McCain and heaped praise on Obama for his willingness to appease talk with America’s enemies.

He even urged John McCain to “elevate his campaign discourse to a higher and more honest level.” Which is a pretty stunning request, considering what a pussycat McCain has been thus far in the campaign. He’s treated Obama with kid gloves at times when he could have done some real damage.

When asked about the rumors circulating around Washington about President Bush potentially ordering air strikes on Iran before he leaves office, Hagel responded like any good Democrat would and said, “impeach.”

You’ve got the power of impeachment, now that is a very defined measure if you are willing to bring charges against the president at all. You can’t just say I disagree with him, let’s impeach him,” said Hagel. An attack on Iran without Congress’ consent, he added, “would bring with it… outstanding political consequences, including for the Republican Party.”

The Republican Senator from Nebraska went on to say that he’s confident if Obama is elected he’ll make the right foreign policy decisions, even though “his friend” John McCain has said other things about that.

What Chucky is trying to say is that John McCain is an idiot and he’s voting for Obama.

-Chris Jones

From the AP:

Helicopters carrying three senior U.S. senators made emergency landings Thursday in the mountains of Afghanistan because of a snowstorm.

Sens. John Kerry, Joseph Biden and Chuck Hagel were aboard the aircraft. No one was injured, according a statement from Kerry’s office. The senators and their delegation returned to Bagram Air Base in a motor convoy, and have left for Turkey.

“After several hours, the senators were evacuated by American troops and returned overland to Bagram Air Base, and left for their next scheduled stop in Ankara, Turkey,” the Kerry statement said. “Sen. Kerry thanks the American troops, who were terrific as always and who continue to do an incredible job in Afghanistan.”

The lawmakers were on a trip this week that included stops in India, Turkey and Pakistan, where they observed the elections earlier this week.

Kerry and Biden are Democrats from Massachusetts and Delaware, respectively, and the Republican Hagel is from Nebraska.