Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) is the latest Republican leader to break ranks with the Bush Administration, calling the administration's Iraq policy "disconnected from reality."
Hagel, in an interview in the June 27 issue of U.S. News & World Report, said he's angered by the 1,700 U.S. soldiers dead and nearly 13,000 wounded in Iraq. But he's also aggravated by the Bush Administration's never-ending propaganda campaign — telling Americans to ignore their television sets and agree with their sunny assessments of the war.
"Things aren't getting better; they're getting worse. The White House is completely disconnected from reality," Hagel told the magazine. "It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we're losing in Iraq. ... More and more of my colleagues up here are concerned."
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That makes 10 Republican Senators who have spoken out — dare I say, taken "leadership positions" — against the Bush Administration in less than a month. It's a list that covers topics such as whether to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, protecting U.S. consumers from the administration's drug industry pals, and preventing Bush lackey Bill Frist (R-TN) from being able to employ the "nuclear option," upending the Senate's rules on filibusters.
The list of 10, if you are scoring at home, is now:
-- John McCain of Arizona
-- Mel Martinez of Florida
-- Charles Grassley of Iowa
-- Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine
-- Mike DeWine of Ohio
-- Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island
-- Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
-- John Warner of Virginia
Critics of criticism — that rare brand of conservative who believes in free speech only when it's tied to some sort of loyalty oath — would identify the New England Senators as "liberal Republicans" (gasp), and DeWine, Graham, Hagel and McCain as possible 2008 presidential candidates (harrumph).
Let's not be naive. While politicians want to keep one eye on their constituent's best interests, they're keeping the other eye, both ears, their nose, mouth, arms, legs and tushy on their viability as elected officials.
The "you're with us or you're un-American" attitude of the Bush administration works better when Bush's popularity is soaring. It's not right now. And on issues like the rising cost — financial and human — of Iraq, and our treatment of detainees at Gitmo, Bush's popularity has fallen to very uncomfortable levels. Abandon the ship levels.
Article comments
1 - Nancy
Hmph. Trust rats to abandon a sinking ship w/waning credibility. Couldn't happen to a nicer administration. However, as to whether Al Qaeda is responsible for 9/11, some are beginning to think maybe it's an inside job; there's sure a lot of evidence to that effect.
2 - David R. Mark
What do you mean "inside job"?
3 - Scott
Mel Martinez spoke out against Bush? I did not know that. And here I am thinking he'd be nothing but a tow-the-party line guy.
4 - Z.Z. Bachman
Nancy - I also would like to know the referal to "inside job" and what is being intimated. Unless I was hallucinating on the day the video tapes were released on Al Jazeera showing Osama and others in Al Qaeda taking credit and praising Allah that their plan ( attack on the WTC ) went far better than they ever expected even in their wildest dreams. Was that the inside job you were refering to? Sure it was not Sadaam and Iraq, but to think is was "inside job" I think you should be more specific and have some facts to back up your point of view.
5 - Danny
That's nothing but conspiracy-mongering.
6 - Dave Nalle
The loonies on the Morgan Reynolds thread think it's an inside job, but that's because they're all reading infowars.com 24/7 and drinking paint thinner while they sniff glue.
As for this actual post, I beleive that if you actually look at the real statements from most of the 10 Senators named - mostly fine folks that they are - they have expressed concerns about the war but for the most part still support the administration and the general concept of the war in Iraq and the war on terror.
Dave
7 - Patriot
I’ll go with Chuck Hagel’s calling the administration's Iraq policy "disconnected from reality."
So who is drinking paint thinner while they sniff glue?
8 - gonzo marx
better than huffing paint thinner and eating paste...
single malt for me, thanks...
Excelsior!
9 - david r. mark
I wasn't suggesting that all 10 Senators are opposing Bush on Iraq. I offered a variety of topics.
Hagel and McCain on Iraq (and Graham, to a lesser extent).
Grassley on the FDA being less pro-industry and more pro-consumer.
Martinez on whether Gitmo should be closed.
And of course, the seven Republicans who brokered the end to the filibusters, denying Frist (obo Bush) the "nuclear option."
10 - Dave Nalle
So, what you're saying is that like any Senators they have their pet issues and represent a diversity of opinion which is characteristic of the Republican Party. I certainly can't argue with that.
Dave
11 - David R. Mark
The problem is, "diversity of opinion" has not been the case during the Bush years. If this were the norm, it wouldn't be newsworthy.
You can't possibly argue that Frist (obo Bush) wasn't fuming about the 14 senators (7 Republicans) who essentially over-ruled him on using the nuclear option.
And you can't possibly argue that Bush, et al, are happy over McCain and Hagel making strong statements -- essentially saying that the Bush team's sunny statements about Iraq are wrong.
12 - Dave Nalle
Bush and Frist may not be happy about it, but the fact is that diversity has been a hallmark of the Republican party for years. If there are some who wanted to make the party more monolithic, then they have received a harsh dose of reality from McCain and Co., and well-deservedly.
Dave
13 - Nancy
What? Missed that, sorry...I was drinking paint thinner and sniffing Elmer's....
14 - David R. Mark
I think it's more wishful thinking than reality that the Republican Party has been diversified. There are some issues that have seen diversity, most notably abortion rights, but, especially under Bush, the GOP has generally spoken with one voice.
Jon Stewart has at times done a great job -- and getting laughs along the way -- of showing times when an issue comes up and a stampede of Republicans go on the "news" talk shows (TV and radio) and use the same wording as Scott McClellan. You just don't see anything like that from the Democrats.