Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska plans to announce his retirement from the Senate on Monday. Senator John Warner of Virginia said on August 31 that he would resign his post. It is a great shame to see good and honorable legislators like these two leave the Senate.
This blogger is no fan of Republicans in general, just see my previous posts, but I do make exceptions. I am generally not such a partisan that I cannot countenance any views that come from the opposing party’s members. I think there are many of us in America who feel this way. It is, after all, rational.
The Founders railed against factions. Albert Einstein refused to be identified with any political party of the basis of his abhorrence of conformity. More Americans should follow these examples.
Although I think it is a good thing to support the Democrats when the Republicans have been, as a whole, profligate in their control of the executive and legislative branches, I don’t think we should be rigid in our thinking. We should follow good people and good policy. Anything else leads to corruption as the entrenched party consolidates its power. Why blindly follow any party?
Both Hagel and Warner were independent voices crying out in the wilderness of the GOP’s machine. While others walked in lockstep with the president, Hagel and Warner criticized the Iraq war and proposed solutions to the quagmire. Both senators were veterans and had credibility on defense issues. Any Republican replacement is likely to fall short of this standard.
John Kerrey, former Nebraska governor, senator, and presidential candidate, now president of New York’s New School University, is exploring the possibility of running for the seat vacated by Hagel. He should run.
He did a superb job as U.S. Senator and would have made a brilliant president. As a former Nebraskan, I remember the chills running up and down my spine as he sang “Waltzing Mathilda” after being elected to the Senate. A cheesy moment in politics, for certain, but the impromptu ballad was heartfelt and bittersweet. We knew we had an unusual politician on our hands.
So long, Hegel and Warner, too bad there aren’t more like you.
