Hagel: Palin is the ‘thinnest-résumé candidate for Vice-President in the history of America.’»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/27/hagel-palin-qualified/

Hagel: Palin is the ‘thinnest-résumé candidate for Vice-President in the history of America.’»


Earlier this month, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) criticized Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, telling the Omaha World-Herald that “it’s a stretch to, in any way, to say that she’s got the experience to be president of the United States.” In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Hagel went even further, saying that he doesn’t believe Palin is “qualified to be President of the United States“:

Hagel may be the only senior Republican elected official who has publicly criticized McCain’s choice of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. “I don’t believe she’s qualified to be President of the United States,” Hagel told me. “The first judgment a potential President makes is who their running mate is—and I don’t think John made a very good selection.” He scoffed at McCain’s attempts to portray her as an experienced politician. “To try to make the excuse that she looks out her window and sees Russia—and that she’s commander of the Alaska National Guard.” He added, “There is no question that this candidate is arguably the thinnest-résumé candidate for Vice-President in the history of America.”

Last week when former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) on NBC’s Meet The Press, he also question’s Palin’s qualifications for office. “I don’t believe she’s ready to be president of the United States,” said Powell.

Update: Yglesias notes that "McCain’s decision that he wanted to take neocon policy and start applying it to great powers like Russia" may have been the "last straw" for Hagel, in terms of supporting him.

[ecstatic]

1. For me, it's not so much her resume that is troubling

It's her demeanor, character, judgment (or lack thereof), lack of curiosity, lack of general knowledge, lack of critical thinking skills--and she lies even when the truth is already out.

[Avalux]

13. Agreed. Her anti-intellectualism and incuriousness is scary as hell.

She believes what she believes, has no desire to learn anything new or listen to other points of view.

Belief is not a substitute for knowledge.

[my2sense]

2. Hopefully more

republicans will come to their senses and speak out about Palin's lack of qualifications. I'm quite surprised we are not hearing more about her ethics violations and how that alone should disqualify her after all the shenanigans we've endured during the Bush Administration.

[Chloroplast]

4. If I were Palin, I'd rather take my licks leading up to the GE.

If she and McCain lose (and it's shaping up to that conclusion) the GOP will destroy the both of them. The true Conservatives want their Party back and McCain and Palin are dead weight; you'll see their biggest cheerleaders whip the knives out post-election.

[bushisanidiot]

3. B-b-b-b-but she has "executive experience" after working less than

2 years as governor of a state who's population is less than that of Tulsa, OK.

[Two Sheds]

5. Has Hagel publicly endorsed Obama?

It would make a great "last week of the race" story.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. No, but his wife made a public statement endorsing Obama! I believe there is a clip

of it on our Politial Video board.

:)

[mmonk]

7. His wife has.

He is probably buying his time. The GOP plays dirty with its defectors.

[Inuca]

12. I don't think he wants to endorse officially

but I think it is safe to assume that his wife's endorsement had his OK (He has said that he is very proud of it). Also, he keeps making statements like the one in the New Yorker, or the quote below from a speech on Friday

Today’s youth, he said, will have to address this “great confluence of issues” in light of the United States’ reputation abroad, which has weakened in recent years. He added that the next president will be tasked with restoring Americans’ confidence in the government.

“One of the greatest challenges of our next president is to reintroduce America to the world, and I think Obama and Biden have the power to do that,” Hagel said of the Democratic presidential ticket of Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and Joe Biden (D-Del.). “They both understand that we have lost so much standing in the world today. They want us to lead, and they want us to be strong. They don’t want an America that dictates.”

He cited “character” and “judgment” as requisites for any political candidate, and presented the choice of a running mate as a key indicator of the latter.

“Who do you pick as your running mate? I think Obama passed that test. I don’t think John McCain did,” Hagel said.

http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/56496

He is obviously beyond pissed (and disappointed) with the Palin pick.

[Inuca]

8. Link to the New Yorker interview

I just started reading it in between bouts of work, so I cannot comment on it.

[babylonsister]

9. Here's the link...

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/03/081103fa_fact_bruck?printable=true

[Inuca]

10. Oops!

I meant to post the link myself, but... as I said, switching screens at work :blush:

[babylonsister]

11. I know you did; no problem.

:hi:

[trashcanistanista]

14. Put your money where your mouth

is Chuck, endorse Obama!

[TheDonkey]

17. Seriously, time to trot out the Hagel endorsement

[frickaline]

15. k&r

[Jennicut]

16. Anyone think Hagel might serve in Obama's cabinet if he wins (hopefully)?

If Obama asks I think he would. His best friend in the Senate is Biden so who knows?

[TwilightGardener]

18. McStupid really, really let him down with that Palin pick--I would guess

Chuckster has been scratching his head, wondering exactly when it was that his old friend went totally senile or crazy, or subservient to RW religious nuts. Princess Caribou was what drove Powell over the edge, too. McStupid screwed the pooch big time, totally damaged his reputation among his friends and colleagues for the rest of his career.