Posted by
Billy on Monday, December 22, 2008 10:33:15 PM
Chuck Hagel had no interest in going out quietly. (pictured below)
Nebraska's retiring U.S. senator called the economic crisis "in some ways far worse" than the Great Depression of the 1930s.
He poked fun at Rush Limbaugh, needled the national press and challenged Republicans and Democrats alike to solve problems instead of engaging in partisan bickering.
He predicted a future in which the power of the Republican and Democratic Parties wanes and more politicians are willing to stand for or against a policy on its merits.
That sort of independence would befuddle "the wicked, terrible national media" that loves inflaming confrontations, Hagel joked, and confound talk show hosts like Limbaugh, whom Hagel sarcastically called "an entertainer."
"That's just about beating the hell out of the other guy and calling him names," he said. "Really beneficial."
(A thing which upset myself and I believe others from my home state of Nebraska is Hagel spoke out against the Iraq war so much but did not have better answers other than just quitting the job we were doing. Also by speaking up he was helping those we were fighting and hurting those in the arm forces. Hagel in the same article above said he has hopes for America because of time he has spent talking to schoolchildren - including his own. On that I agree with him. Still I am happy to see his time in office come to an end. Read all of the above story
Hagel gives wrap-up to supporters.)