The Key Phrase

Now, I'll start off by saying I am a fan of Chuck Hagel, and wanted him to run for President.

Last night, Hagel was on the Rachel Maddow show, mainly to talk about U.S./Russian relations.



I had thought that Obama made a mistake by picking HRC as his Secretary of State instead of Hagel, but who seems more important right now? Supposedly, the Administration asked Hagel to be the Ambassador to at least three countries, not taking the hint after the first time, when he said he didn't want to move his family. Think they wanted him out of the country? I'm glad now that Hagel is not SOS because he can say what he wants when he wants without having to serve at the President's pleasure.

Everything Hagel says in the video makes sense, and there's more to his feelings for Cheney than just this clip, but there's one thing he says towards the end which makes you realize why someone tried to send him to Britain, China, or Japan - "I'm a Republican." Now, there are plenty of conservatives who will disagree with that statement, perpetually confusing the fact that a Republican and a Conservative are two different things sharing some things in common, and differing on others. Hagel is a Republican, though, as were Eisenhower and T Roosevelt. Country and people before party - always.

As Hagel goes along over the next three years leading foreign policy think tanks, investment banks, and teaching at universities, it will be interesting to see what the R party does if Obama falters. Will they change direction, embrace Hagel, and have a shot in 2012? Really, do they seem like they have the intellect for that? It's too bad because we need Chuck Hagel far more than we need a Conservative run Republican party.