"The whole world needs you at a moment in time when this George W.'s idiocy is running wild! I am speaking as a Staunch Conservative Christian Republican!" Posted By H. D. Schmidt, Loma Linda, Ca. : September 8, 2007 2:27 pm

It was the staunch Conservative Christian Republicans who got us into the mess we're in now. They poured money and volunteered hours to elect Bush once. They observed his incompetence for four years, blindly supporting him and suggesting that those who questioned him were traitors. Then they poured more money and time into re-electing him.

Now they are saying what they said in 2000 and 2004: "We need to elect a TRUE conservative to get us out of this mess."

The lesson I have learned is that Conservatives can't govern because they have sold out lock, stock, and barrel to corporate interests. They don't do what they say they will do and they don't say what they really intend to do. You can't trust them.

I have also learned that the best Christians are in the pews. The Christian leadership is corrupt and is undeserving of the support of the mostly fine people they have misled. Christian congregations have been hornswaggled into supporting politicians and policies that will result in lower incomes and reduced freedom for their own membership. By falsely promising their members family values and a return to Norman Rockwell America in return for their votes, Christian leaders have sold out for power, fame, and money.

Good Riddance.

to Ray, Rochester —

Interesting and typical GOP comment – anyone in your party who thinks for himself, questions the leadership of doesn't follow blindly along, truck to tail, isn't a "true Republican." True-blue Republicans are those who drink the kool-aide and watch Faux News. Keeps them calm and in line.

Mr. Hagel is a credit to himself and what he tried to do. Those who did not serve in Vietnam are all for the war … easy to fight a war using someone else's children … those who have served in wartime, especially Vietnam know the true price being paid.

Chuck Hagel was a diamond amongst the paste that is the republican party. I disagreed with much of his politics but always respected his honesty and integrity, much as I did Mccian before he went hind end to the ceiling last round to secure his chance at president in this round. Thanks Chuck

Hagel is the only republican I have ever voted for. My father was having problems with his company paying for an injury, and he was VERY helpful getting it resolved. He will be missed.

I am sorry and disappointed to hear this. I now know why i never got a reply on if he would run for president as an independent. I would have voted and put a sign up for him in my yard. Well i guess I will go with John Edwards. Sir I believe you are clean, don't dirty yourself by working in Washington DC

They surely can't be retiring because they are too old because look at our awesome senator Robert C. Byrd…I guarantee that he will be in there until he croaks. His mind is pretty good and I don't think it is going anywhere. Something FISHY is going on in Washington.

well, this is good news. Saves me from having to send money to that Right Wingers opponant in the republican primary. He's far right on every issue except for the one that I happen to be more conservitive on. Good news indeed.

Hagel should retire.. as a republican, and run as an independent.

I'd hate to see him leave. Though I do consider myself 'democratic', hes one of the more respectable persons in congress, regardless of political status.

*He* is someone I'd vote, president wise.

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Washington needs more level-headed conservatives who moderates and liberals can work with, as opposed to the radicals, zealots, and closeted homophobes who currently run things for the GOP.
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You mean, homophobic *homosexuals," the ultimate in petty self-loathing and hypocrisy. That's what makes this so sweet.

Who cares what sexual proclivities Americans have, as long as the acts are legal. But when they're hating hypocrites, like Larry Craig and Reagan cabinet member and McCarthy lawyer Roy Cohn, an incident like this is very uplifting and happy.

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Good riddance. This clown was a Republican in name only. We should trade him for Lieberman…a better man and smarter senator.
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HA-ha-ha-ha-ha. Good one.
Lieberman is one of the most pitiful cowards in Senate history. The man who "stood up to Hollywood!" but was too much of a coward to stand up to a Republican, is welcomed by the Repubs. You can have the lightweight. He's not a Dem anymore anyway.
S.O.B. should apologize to Americans for that Judas-kiss he got from our Worst. President. Ever. The history books will be most unkind, if they mention him at all, to weenie Joe and his spineless character.

I always thought that Gore chose the Worst. VP. Ever. to run with him in Lieberman.

Thank you, Ray, It's haters like you, unable to see the misery the Bushies have created, that will bring about a huge Democratic victory and health care crafted by the Clintons.

With Hagel gone, there's no chance the Repubs will do anything but lose seats in the Senate.

You keep supporting the Darth Vader far right. In fact, form a new party, and don't lie this time.
Name it, the Fascist Party, in honor of its Hitler-like non-support of human rights and basic decency, and its cowardly, preemptive strike against a country that threatened ours not one wee bit.

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I think he is following his conscious and leaving the senate. He knows you can not win elections if you are decent person, and he been doing exactly that.
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I don't agree. Hagel would easily win reelection, with his courageous stance against our Worst. President. Ever.

I think Hagel is sick to his stomach of the current GOP, but can't turn Democrat either.

He's retiring because he's embarrassed to be associated with today's anti-science, religiously-deluded, preemptive war starting morons that run the GOP right now.

Barry Goldwater is spinning in his grave. A real conservative, not a fascist like today's "conservative," I remember fondly his quote just before his death, when the far right was trying to get automatic weapons legalized for "hunting":

Barry: Anyone who needs more than one bullet to kill a deer shouldn't be out there anyway.

A pragmatic conservative. What's happened to that breed?

"Washington needs more level-headed conservatives who moderates and liberals can work with" ~ Moderates are nothing more than opportunists who hedge their bets to seem more appealing when they're up for re-election and liberals see fit to call anyone who disagress with them intolerant or fascists. Why would level-headed conservatives see an advantage with working with either group?

This hit me hard enough to bring out tears. It's like losing a close friend.

Fare thee well, Senator Hagel, fare thee well.

Did he say why he was leaving? I hope it is not another "to spend time with the family" thing.

Is the Republican Party Bushwhacked so badly that the incumbent senators don't see another victory at the polls?

The only Republican in the Senate who spoke the truth; a true American. Too bad!

I'm a liberal Democrat, born and raised in Nebraska. I think it's unfortunate that Hagel has decided to leave the Senate. Washington needs more level-headed conservatives who moderates and liberals can work with, as opposed to the radicals, zealots, and closeted homophobes who currently run things for the GOP.

Good riddance. This clown was a Republican in name only. We should trade him for Lieberman…a better man and smarter senator.

While I usually disagreed with Senator Hagel, I never doubted his integrity. He showed also showed courage during recent years as he questioned the Administration's actions in Iraq. He has been a Republican that this Democrat could respect.

Hagel was one of the few Republican senators I really liked. It seems that a few of the good ones are leaving: Hagel, Warner…

Senator Hagel was a soldier under fire in Vietnaum and was a soldier under friendly fire in the Repulican Party for pointing out the obvious – that the Iraq war was un-wise, took our eye off of Osama (thanks for the video!), and the peace has been corruptly bungled. He was a hero in Vietnaum (where Bush feared to go!) and he was a bigger hero here for standing up to the Cheney / Bush goon squad. We will miss you Senator Hagel!

Wow. The Democrats are potentially looking at a 55+ seat majority in the Senate, now. Bring on Bob Kerrey!

The legacy of President Bush: The Clintons get to create universal health care, afterall.

I've heard the same names and the same voices in the house and senate year after year after year, while each year I become more convinced that these voices don't care about me or other Americans.

How these people can call themselves "public servants" is beyond my grasp. It doesn't really matter which party they represent because both seem to kiss the butts of the highest bidder. It's been a long time coming, yet for any tiny piece of the entrenched majority in Washington to get out and go home, I am grateful.

Thank-you Mr. Hagel, for at least having the decency to leave. Which lobbying group do you plan to work with following your retirement?

Great!! Bring on Tom Osborn

I wish Senator Hagel the very best. He is one of the few Republicans in congress that is willing to state his convictions regardless of his alienating Mr. Bush and his henchmen.

There are not that many Republicans in congress that are willing to openly state how they really feel.

Senator Hagel, please, for God's sake and the USA stay on! You are one of the few left there that truly knows what is going on! The whole world needs you at a moment in time when this George W.'s idiocy is running wild! I am speaking as a Staunch Conservative Christian Republican!

I hope his successor can stand up the the Shrub from Texas and oppose the Iraq war and the surge. If they can't take the heat, get a job selling shoes, as Hagel advised.

He was a man among the scum that has become the republican party.

I respect and admire the man the way he spoke out against this Administration. I am glad that he decided to leave on his own decision because now the Democratic headcount in the Senate has an addiional good chance of increasing.

I think he is following his conscious and leaving the senate. He knows you can not win elections if you are decent person, and he been doing exactly that. I hope he makes difference (ending the war) before he leaves. Thanks Chuck.

At this rate the GOP will ahave to order more lifeboats.

Their ship is sinking faster than expected.

I'm sorry to hear that but I can understand. Chuck Hagel is the only GOP person who I felt that I could trust since Bush came into office.