Althouse: Is Obama "trying to deflect attention from his own poor surge judgment"...

July 14, 2008

Is Obama "trying to deflect attention from his own poor surge judgment"...

"... by bringing along as a lightning rod someone whose judgment was even worse than his?"

Mickey Kaus on Obama's decision to bring Chuck Hagel with him to Iraq.

18 comments:

Roger J. said...: My guess: Hagel (viet nam vet) is perceived by some as a "maverick" republican. Increases BOs cred with the indy crowd. (PS: Didn't Hagel keep us on pins and needles eagerly awaiting his decision to run for president on the repub ticket? I was SO disappointed); 7/14/08, 10:52 AM
Simon said...: I think it's an attempt to look bipartisan. If it is what Mickey says, it doesn't work; no one cares what Hagel thinks about Iraq, but they do care about what Obama thinks.; 7/14/08, 10:56 AM
The Drill SGT said...: I've always thought of Hagel as a Peter Principle Poster boy.

As I understand it, he promised to only stay in office two terms, 12 years ago.

He can't run for dog catcher in his own state.

He is not respected, unlike Lieberman, by members of either party.

I don't see him as a K street lobbyist, so his only future is as a token in the Obama cabinet.; 7/14/08, 11:07 AM
Roger J. said...: Drill: we junior officers used to joke that General Westmoreland was the best looking average officer to become CSA; to some extent, that anology applies to Hagel.; 7/14/08, 11:09 AM
vbspurs said...: Chuck Hagel is considered a "friendly to the cause" Republican.

Astonishingly for some, he's been rumoured to be shortlisted for Barack's VP list (he acknowledged he would accept, as late as June 2008).

Ironically, he'll be encountering another Republican who was in the same position in 2004. John Kerry wanted John McCain to be his running mate that election...

(That pretty much sums up my doubts about McCain right there)

I suppose this is a sop to Hagel, because I cannot imagine him choosing Hagel as his running mate.

Cheers,
Victoria; 7/14/08, 11:10 AM
Bissage said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/14/08, 11:11 AM
Bissage said...: Mr. Obama could prove he’s ripe for the Presidency if he goes to Iraq and finds the weapons of mass destruction.

Here’s some satellite reconnaissance to help him on his way.

(Fans of “Arrested Development” should find that one a side-splitter.); 7/14/08, 11:18 AM
Simon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/14/08, 11:23 AM
Simon said...: The Drill SGT said...
"As I understand it, [Hegel] promised to only stay in office two terms, 12 years ago."

Um... And? He promised to stay in office two terms, twelve years ago, and he is not seeking election this year, at the expiry of his second term.; 7/14/08, 11:24 AM
The Drill SGT said...: my point Simon is that he's out of a job in 6 months and doesn't have a lot of other things lined up IMHO except joining Obama in some capacity.; 7/14/08, 11:45 AM
sonicfrog said...: As good a campaign that Obama ran during the primaries (he did defeat the anointed ones, after all), so far his national campaign has been inversely equally as bad.

...What did I just say???; 7/14/08, 12:02 PM
John Stodder said...: As good a campaign that Obama ran during the primaries (he did defeat the anointed ones, after all), so far his national campaign has been inversely equally as bad.

McCain's has been worser.

I remember not too many months ago thinking it was the most wonderful thing in the world that we would get to choose between two acceptable candidates, each with something to recommend them.

I haven't felt that way lately.; 7/14/08, 12:13 PM
The Exalted said...: why read mickey kaus? he's wrong on everything; 7/14/08, 12:39 PM
blake said...: why read mickey kaus? he's wrong on everything

Boost your self-esteem?; 7/14/08, 3:52 PM
paul a'barge said...: Chuck Hagel?

Oh dear. Why is Obama trying to make it impossible for me to vote for him?

I figured I'd vote for the guy to punish the Republican Party but every day Obama seems to want to make that impossible.

Oh well. Every day it seems that McCain insists on doing something that makes me think it doesn't make any difference whom I vote for.; 7/14/08, 5:11 PM
sonicfrog said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/14/08, 5:50 PM
sonicfrog said...: I marvel at the success of McCain. How in the blue blazes did a guy who was almost reduced to a non-entity in November end up winning the GOP nomination? He had no money. The base, if not completely hating him, convulsively mistrusts him (perhaps not without reason). He didn't do anything spectacular really. Yet he wins the nom. There is nothing memorable about his comeback except for the comeback.

So far, there is nothing memorable about his national campaign either. This race really is turning into a big snoozer. Maybe after the dramatic Democratic brou-ha-ha, this was destine to be a let-down.

PS. Hey Simon. Long time no talk to.; 7/14/08, 5:51 PM
Paul said...: "I remember not too many months ago thinking it was the most wonderful thing in the world that we would get to choose between two acceptable candidates, each with something to recommend them."

Not me. From the very beginning I saw BHO as a complete non entity... unformed, adolescent, and terminally narcissistic. And I was right.

McCain on the hand has terrible instincts. You have to admire his heroism, but he takes the wrong side on so many issues, and he just can't seem to ever properly exploit opportunities in this campaign.

His boast that he was right about the surge all along isn't even true, really. The greatest long term success story of the Iraq war was the Anbar awakening and the subsequent rejection and discrediting of AQ by Sunni Muslims which was predicated on AQ actually gaining control of the region and proving so insufferable that reaching out to the American enemy proved to be the preferable option.

This scenario would never have played out had we gone in hard and heavy from the get go like McCain wanted.; 7/15/08, 6:25 AM