Say it ain't so, Chuck...

[Updated 10:56pm 2/7/2007] Y'know, back in the day, I used to have a modicum of respect for John McCain -- back when he truly seemed to be an independent-minded "maverick," until he started flip-flopping in support of right-wing religious hate-mongers and started echoing Bush's moronic rhetoric and incompetent war plans.

Well, I'm sorry to say that it's time for another edition of Republican Heartbreaker with today's contestant, Senator Chuck Hagel.

Here's Mr. Hagel in January 2007, arguing in favor of a Congressional debate on the Iraq war:

This is a very real, responsible addressing of the most divisive issue in this country since Vietnam. Yes, sure, it’s tough. Absolutely. And I think all 100 senators ought to be on the line on this.

What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected?

If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes. This is a tough business. But is it any tougher, us having to take a tough vote, express ourselves and have the courage to step up on what we’re asking our young men and women to do?

And here's Mr. Hagel in February 2007, when Senate Republicans were filibustering said debate (and the Democrats were trying to push it forward):

[Updated 10:56pm 2/7/2007] Senate Republicans Olympia Snowe, John Warner, Chuck Hagel, Susan Collins, Norm Coleman, Gordon Smith, and George Voinovich are now complaining that they didn't get a chance to debate on the non-binding resolution -- after they voted against cloture.

Sorry, guys and gals, but from where I'm sitting, that's just a lame-assed attempt to retroactively justify your cowardice. There's nothing remotely honorable about helping to derail the debate and then complaining that there wasn't a debate...