What's Up, Chuck?

The retirement of Chuck Hagel could be a leading indicator of just how dramatically things have turned in Iraq.

Along with Richard Lugar, Hagel is one of the guys the media love to refer to as "widely respected", or "statesmanlike". Any Republican who betrays his own party and president can count on much love from the press.

Geez, a couple months ago he was running for president, now he wants to spend more time with his family? Something's up, and I suspect it is the dreaded facts on the ground.

When will they learn? If you want to kill the king, you have to kill the king.

It's really striking how that stumblebum Bush just keeps winning. And it's amazing how a little accountability can change behavior.

It may just turn out that losing Congress was the best thing Republicans could have hoped for.
The Democrats are not going to enact any of the crackpot netroots policies, because, well, they're crackpot, and the elected Dems know they'll get blamed for the inevitable fallout. The surge will be allowed to run its course, which is about until April. Voters will recognize that Al Qaeda has been dealt a crushing defeat in Iraq. Enough stability will be attained to begin troop drawdowns. Led by Sarkozy, the Europeans will realize, that they have to get serious about Iran and that they are better off aligned with the U.S. than relying on the tender mercies of Vladimir Putin. Wireless wiretapping will continue.

Look for John McCain to start making a surge of his own.