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HAGEL HOUND: Senator Hagel, AWOL
Pardon the Hound for the presumption that when two units of the Nebraska National Guard, the 1-167th Cav and the 134th Infantry, returned from 15 months of service to freedom, Nebraska’s most famous war veteran Chuck Hagel would be on hand, thanking our troops for service to their great nation. Brothers in arms, one would think.
After all, as we say out west — that’s in Western Nebraska, Chuck — one couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting a politician. Governor Heineman came; Mayor Beutler of Lincoln; Congressmen Fortenberry; shoot, even Adrian Smith from the 3rd District showed up to thank the troops. Ben Nelson and his great hair gave them their due. Word has it that sweet old Virginia Smith herself was looking down with approval from her Capitol Hill office in the sky.
So what about the guy who made sure to be seen with Mike Bloomberg in a Manhattan hot spot? The guy who has a reserved parking spot outside Meet the Press? What did Chuck — “our troops deserve better leadership than this”– do?
He phoned it in. Hagel sent a staffer and had him read a prepared statement.
Yawn.
Way to go Chuck. You really inspired us with that effort. A regular Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill wrapped in one. You are just the guy to be the next Commander in Chief. Commander in Chief of France, maybe.
Oh wait, pardonnez-moi. Forgive the Hound: he almost forgot. Even France has a leader who isn’t AWOL in the war on terror. Too bad this Rascal can’t say the same of the Senior Senator from this Red State.