Friday, January 26, 2007

Peggy Noonan in the WSJ: "He's Got Guts"

Take a look at Peggy Noonan's opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, "He's Got Guts: In Praise of Chuck Hagel." Here's an excerpt:
But Mr. Hagel said the most serious thing that has been said in Congress in a long time. This is what we're here for. This is why we're here, to decide, to think it through and take a stand, and if we can't do that, why don't we just leave and give someone else a chance?

Mr. Hagel has shown courage for a long time. He voted for the war resolution in 2002 but soon after began to question how it was being waged. This was before everyone did. He also stood against the war when that was a lonely place to be. Senate Democrats sat back and watched: If the war worked, they'd change the subject; and if it didn't, they'd hang it on President Bush. Republicans did their version of inaction; they supported the president until he was unpopular, and then peeled off. This is almost not to be criticized. It's what politicians do. But it's not what Mr. Hagel did. He had guts.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

'Courageous Chuck'--here's a link to the great and world-changing legislation this senator has either sponsored or co-sponsored:
http://tinyurl.com/2oqa7b

Our Senate is busy at...nothing. Senators make for lousy chief executives, because they don't lead, they only deliberate.

Charlie said...

Take a look at Chuck Hagel's resume. He's been a chief executive (and a VERY successful one) of a company and the USO, which he helped to turn around. He has executive experience.

Anonymous said...

He's also been anti-war long before it became safe to do so. I think that shows character and courage. Neither party has much of that right now.

I applaud him for his common sense. The current incumbent turned me into a Democrat. I would be thrilled to have a Republican I can vote for again.