by Mark Silva
Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska parted ways with the Bush administration over the war in Iraq some time ago, and Hagel is departing from the Senate as well. But he is leaving with a rough parting shot at his own party's president and his record in the White House:
Bush has "squandered the time and the opportunity'' he had as president, and his administration will be remembered as "one of the most arrogant'' and "incompetent,'' Hagel says. And the next president "is going to take four years'' to "dig out from under that.''
In a conversation with an audience at the Council on Foreign Relations this week, Hagel, who considered his own campaign for president in 2008 but decided against not only that, but also reelection to the Senate, was asked if he can "name a less effective Republican administration since Herbert Hoover'' and if this one will have "a comparable effect on your party.''
"History will make that determination... and I'll leave that to history as to its determination,'' Hagel replied. "As to my personal opinion, which I have not been shy about sharing... this administration... has been as unprepared as any administration I'm aware of, not only the ones that I have been somehow connected to and that's been every administration -- either I've been in Washington or worked within an administration or Congress or some way dealing with them since the first Nixon administration. I would rate this one the lowest in capacity, in capability, in policy, in consensus -- almost every area, I would give it the lowest grade...
"It is my opinion that this is one of the most arrogant, incompetent administrations I've ever seen personally or ever read about,'' Hagel said. "When you think of the time and the opportunities that have been squandered by this administration, that's how you judge...
"Time is the most critical commodity you have,'' Hagel said. "If you squander the time, if you squander the moment, if you squander the opportunity, if you squander the boldness, what price do you pay on that? At what cost does that happen?''
For more on Hagel's comments, read on. For the entire address, click here.
"You know, I think of this administration, what they could have done after 9/11, what was within their grasp,'' Hagel said. "Every poll in the world showed 90 percent of the world for us. Iran had some of the first spontaneous demonstrations on the streets of Tehran supporting America. They squandered a tremendous amount of opportunity.
"Now, it will come back. I have enough confidence in our country and in the next set of leaders that will lead. It will come back. ...
"They've squandered the time and the opportunity that they had, and the next president is going to take four years to not only dig out from under that, but I also would put this caveat on
"I think this next president is going to have more opportunity to turn things around than almost any president in modern history. And why is that? Because I do believe the confluence of events, the critical mass is here, and if the next president is wise enough, this country will follow a consensus president, a wise president because they want to.
"The world will follow an America that they want to believe in. Most nations of the world, the leaders and people know that the world is more dangerous when America doesn't lead through wise, consensus leadership. I'm told that by every leader I talk to. They have their problems with us. They all think we're arrogant, whatever it is. But when America is weak, when America is not leading, the world is very dangerous.''
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Comments
This is what most people think of this administration. Only the arrogant, incompetent followers feel different.
Posted by: bill r. | December 1, 2007 7:18 AM
Hagel has always been a straight shooter. He is one of the few retiring Republicans that will be missed. As a combat veteran he understands that war is "hell" and just how much this Administration has hurt our country.
Posted by: John A | December 1, 2007 8:47 AM
Bush White House incompetent, arrogant? Helloooooo, anybody home upstairs? I knew that the first month he got in office he was preoccupied with trying to undo all of Clinton's last minute executive orders, and I'm just a working stiff. It's no consequence that 25
% of the population, mainly Republican androids, think he has been terrific and would line up in subzero weather to wash his dirty underwear. I know some of these androids will have heart palpitations and whine about left wing Bush bashing, but facts are facts.
Posted by: GW | December 1, 2007 8:50 AM
Hey Bruce,
Another critic. Another naysayer. Surely we need to know his party affiliation. You know your rant....
A little louder. What?! GOP?!!!
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | December 1, 2007 8:58 AM
Chuck Hagel is a poor excuse of a Senator. Thank God and Greyhound he's gone. He is a do nothing RINO who takes himaself too seriously and nobody would support him for President. Like Jumpin Jim Jeffords he is a Benedict Arnold. Demorats always like traitorous Republicans. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | December 1, 2007 9:41 AM
The man who couldn't get reelected advises to lead by consensus. No wonder senators have such a hard time being elected to president. He must have never even heard that its lonely at the top.
Without a hand to hold they turn to mush. I'll bet he asks for company when he needs to go wee-wee too.
Posted by: whatnow | December 1, 2007 12:08 PM
Jerry White calling anyone a traitor is beyond the pale. You support outing UNDERCOVER CIA AGENTS IN A TIME OF WAR. The only traitors here on this blog are you an Paulo...PERIOD!
Posted by: Neal | December 1, 2007 1:31 PM
Like Jumpin Jim Jeffords he is a Benedict Arnold. Demorats always like traitorous Republicans. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
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Go back to your history books, Jerry. Benedict Arnold once fought on the side of the liberal revolutionaries. Then he fell in love with a conservative Torie. You know, the conservatives who didn't want America to be free. Benedict Arnold and today's GOP have a lot in common.
Posted by: Bruce Y | December 1, 2007 1:45 PM
Chuck Hagel is a poor excuse of a Senator. Thank God and Greyhound he's gone. He is a do nothing RINO who takes himaself too seriously and nobody would support him for President. Like Jumpin Jim Jeffords he is a Benedict Arnold. Demorats always like traitorous Republicans. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
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If j whitey was a student of American history, he'd know that Benedict Arnold was the first American Captain to defeat the British Navy on American waters (Lake Champlain), using an armada that he built using his own money from his considerable business interests. Mr. Arnold's life and business were destroyed by arrogant, incompetent Washington congressmen, and it forced him into bankruptcy. Anything Mr. Arnold did after that was a direct result of massive fraud and betrayal of his interests by enemies of true American freedom. So when the ignorant whitey compares Jefford and Hagel to Arnold, he is in essence calling them true American heroes. As opposed, I guess, to whiny, ignorant little nits that occupy such backwaters in places called springpatch.
But I am sure that he and brucieee, and juanniee, and pillow, and all the other head-in-the-sand 26% dead-enders will be hopping on to the kill the messenger bandwagon any minute now. Lord forbid their precious little reality should be altered by truth in any way.
Posted by: rncbs | December 1, 2007 1:45 PM
Neal, take a chill pill. Also, sorry Plame's "outing" was not traitorous or someone would have been indicted for it. No one was.
Hagel is an idiot and is not running for re-election because the folks in his own state think he is arrogant and incompetent, and he would have been clobbered in the primary.
Glad he is going.
Posted by: John D | December 1, 2007 2:36 PM
"If j whitey was a student of American history, he'd know..." Posted by: rncbs | December 1, 2007 1:45 PM
I don't disagree with you, rncbs. But Jerry and his ilk are not students of history. Their history began in 2000. I'm sure they will attempt to re-write it when this country finally wakes up from Bush's reign of ignorance, incompetence, and arrogance. Go to sleep, Jerry. Bush will be gone soon. We'll call on you to explain the damage done once it has been finally tallied.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | December 1, 2007 2:53 PM
"Chuck Hagel is a poor excuse of a Senator."
Posted by: Jerry White | December 1, 2007 9:41 AM
Jerry your a poor excuse for a right wing windbag.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | December 1, 2007 4:39 PM
At least we now know what a Republican has to do for Mark Silva to about him.
Denounce other Republicans.
Mark, you're sorta wasting your with articles like these, because there's only three Republicans that still bother to read the DNC Swamp.
And "mcbs", if you knew anything about American history and Benedict Arnold, you'd know that Arnold's fleet LOST to the British in the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776. He wasn't a "captain" at the time, the fleet he commnded didn't win any battle on Lake Champlain, and he didn't finance the fleet on his own. And his career couldn't have been destroyed by "Washington congressmen", since Washington DC didn't even exist at the time.
All in all, "mcbs" is a fitting follower of Mark Silva's writings.
Posted by: Bruce | December 1, 2007 5:13 PM
I am utterly astounded at the stupidity of the 26%s. I can see what kind of person j. white is and I'm glad I don't know him.
Posted by: pwd | December 1, 2007 5:37 PM
And "mcbs", if you knew anything about American history and Benedict Arnold, you'd know that Arnold's fleet LOST to the British in the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776. He wasn't a "captain" at the time, the fleet he commnded didn't win any battle on Lake Champlain, and he didn't finance the fleet on his own. And his career couldn't have been destroyed by "Washington congressmen", since Washington DC didn't even exist at the time.
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Sure brucieee, post your ISBN, and I'll post mine. That is, if you know what a book is. faux noise doesn't usually include citations.
Posted by: rncbs | December 1, 2007 6:26 PM
JohnD,
I guess you choose to ignore Fitzpatrick's statement when he indicted Libby. His stated that because of the depth and breadth of lies and distortions by your hero's, er worst ever Presiden'ts administration he couldn't try for anyone for treason. McClellans latest admissions proves that both Libby and Rove are outright liars who should and still could be tried for treason. Stop drinking the kool-ade you two bit trade rag writer.
Posted by: Neal | December 1, 2007 7:00 PM
Be careful Jerry White of Springfield. Whenever you attempt to be intellegent your ignorance begins to show.
Chuck Hagel has been a very good Senator and one that should be commended as one thinking of all the people not just the Party. Hagel has done more for his country than
bush has thought about, providing bush can think rational thoughts.
Not quite sure Jerry White of Springfield how folks like you can so easily worship at the alter of bush but then again if this were the times of Columbus, you would probably be one of those that thought the world flat.
Just a question Jerry White of Springfield, does Bruce and Paulo live with you in the Springfield basement.
Posted by: Ken | December 1, 2007 7:43 PM
At least we now know what a Republican has to do for Mark Silva to about him.
Denounce other Republicans.
Posted by: Bruce | December 1, 2007 5:13 PM
Bruce never read a Silva story he couldn't complain about. What a crybaby!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | December 1, 2007 10:37 PM
Chuck Hagel is kool!!!
When your corprate tool x-girlfriends parents from Nebraska don't like him, then you know he a smart guy. A bunch of penny pinching bunch o weirdos back in Nebraska. Avoid it like the plague, unless of course you want to be one of the 26% deadend kids.
Warren Buffet has the right idea by supporting Obama.
Posted by: Bill Hick's ghost | December 2, 2007 6:12 AM
Hagel is an idiot and is not running for re-election because the folks in his own state think he is arrogant and incompetent, and he would have been clobbered in the primary.
Glad he is going.
Posted by: John D | December 1, 2007 2:36 PM
Chuck Hagel is a fine American and served his country as a combat veteran, something you would know nothing about.
I know many people from the Omaha and Hastings area who think very highly of him. Not Kool-Aid swizzling Zombies like yourself John. Republicans with a brain. Ones who freely admit that they made a HUGE MISTAKE when they voted in that Neanderthal Bush.
Food for thought Bruce and John. Read on. Think. It ain't illegal yet!
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
Posted by: An Inconvenient Truth | December 2, 2007 9:14 AM
I live in Nebraska, I voted for Chuck Hagel from the start and I would have voted for him again if he had chosen to run. I suspect he chose not to run for the senate because he's still thinking about the big game. I feel a draft Hagel movement coming if Rudy inevitably emerges as the Republican front-runner.
Posted by: Kat | December 5, 2007 5:39 AM
I don't know where the Hagel "RINO" comments come from- has wasteful spending overseas become the party line? The only people who really support the War in Iraq would have cried about Clinton's ventures in Bosnia and Kosovo and Iraq, but apparently the party line is more important than principle.
For anyone else out there that believes in consistent principle and the constitution, support Ron Paul for president. Hagel would make a great VP for him, even if Hagel is a CFR member. Much better than some of the oft-mentioned alternatives, namely Jeff Flake or Mark Sanford.
Posted by: Eric Franz | December 14, 2007 12:39 AM