Senator Chuck Hagel: The new John McCain?
I’ve watched with amusement over the last several days as the media has all but fallen at the feet of Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, treating them like they used to treat Senator John McCain, which is to say, they are treating him like a ‘maverick’. Since McCain’s media darling days are over because he’s tried to break bread with the "Christian right" and is on friendly terms with the President over his surge plan, the media has been on the hunt for another Republican war veteran – one who is at odds with the President – who they can bestow their unofficial ‘maverick’ crown. Hagel, it appears, is that man and is now being portrayed as a "rebel" and even in certain conservative circles, a man with "guts", because of his opposition to the surge – and the Iraq war. Micky Kaus at Slate begs to differ on the assessments of Hagel as being ‘courageous’ on this issue:
Lieberman not ruling out backing the ’08 Republican nominee
Good for him. Via AP:
Sign the pledge
Want to show your opposition to the Republicans in the Senate who plan on siding with the Dems by voting to express their opposition to Bush’s surge plan? Dean Barnett explains exactly how you can do it.
The President to Iraq naysayers in Congress: “I am the decision-maker”
Uh oh! I’m waiting for the “dictator” accusations to start flying anytime now from the usual suspects. MSNBC is reporting this on their front page but there’s no link to the story just yet.
Will they be bringing white flags along for the visit?
The SF Chronicle is reporting this morning that Pelosi, Murtha, and a few other Dems have visited Baghdad this week for a quick ‘fact finding’ mission and to meet with Prime Minister al-Maliki.