Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska on Wednesday became the nation’s most prominent Republican officeholder to publicly question whether Sarah Palin has the experience to serve as president.

“She doesn’t have any foreign policy credentials,” Hagel said in an interview. “You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don’t know what you can say. You can’t say anything.”

Now THAT is “straight talk”. Spoken like a true maverick and an open and honest politician. Why didn’t McCain choose Hagel? Hagel supported him when he ran in 2000. Most Republicans are ignited by Palin, but in the end, when the smoke clears, the choice may have only sparked a bit of a flash in the pan. So far she’s been a brilliant choice by McCain who seems to have successfully united the conservative base that shunned him.

I think the GOP has really been hurt by siding so completely with George W. Bush and all of his “Constitution-be-damned” policies.