Focus Group Think from Oz

Who says the Iraq "war" isn't about political football and staying in power? The honest Republicans will tell you that the politicos are making this war into a rhetroical carnival whose emptiness and lack of authenticity betray all pretensions to self-righteous . ...

Via Think Progress, Sen. Chuck Hagel ripped away the curtain of Oz for a few seconds on the Senate floor:

The American people want to see serious debate about serious issues from serious leaders. They deserve more than a political debate. This debate should transcend cynical attempts to turn public frustration with the war in Iraq into an electoral advantage. It should be taken more seriously than to simply retreat into focus-group tested buzz words and phrases like “cut and run,” catchy political slogans that debase the seriousness of war. War’s not a partisan issue, Mr. President. It should not be held hostage to political agendas. War should not be drug down into the political muck. America deserves better. Our men and women fighting and dying deserve better.