You know people are losing their minds when they write things like this:
The inclusion of Hagel on the official portion of the trip is guaranteed to further fuel speculation that Obama might pick a Republican as a running mate on a presidential ticket aimed at winning over independents. Hagel, who privately discusses foreign policy matters with both Obama and Republican presumptive presidential nominee John McCain, has publicly left the door open to a possible bipartisan ticket.
As someone who likes the thought of a bipartisan ticket, I really do think there has to be overlap on more than two issues between the candidates — and Iraq and immigration just aren’t enough to make this work. Chuck Hagel stands directly opposite Barack Obama on a whole lot of issues.
Olympia Snowe, OTOH….