Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said he smelled election-year politics. "The administration would be well served here to come forward now, be honest about this, because the continuity and the confidence in this policy is going to be required to sustain it," Hagel said. "And that means be honest with the Congress, be honest with the American people. "Every ground squirrel in this country knows that it's going to be $50 billion to $75 billion in additional money required to sustain us in Iraq for this year." White House budget director Joshua Bolten said earlier this year that the administration will eventually need more money beyond the $87 billion Congress authorized for this year. But Bolten said the administration would not request it this year, meaning such a multibillion-dollar appeal will come after the November election. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=5&u=/ap/20040421/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq
I think Hagel is desperate to replace John McCain as the media's favorite nominal republican. The other day he testified in favor of reinstituting the draft. Is that about the single dumbest thing a Republican could say in an election year, particularly this year? He knows the only way to get the air time the networks give McCain is to criticize and backstab the President at every opportunity.