I attended a talk/book signing by Senator Chuck Hagel today at the New America Foundation today, and as usual, found Hagel to be thoughtful and engaging. Yes he is a Republican and yes, he did originally vote for the authorization for the Iraq invasion, but he is now trying to figure out the best way for the U.S. to both leave Iraq and improve its standing in the world. He admits that Congress has abdicated its responsibilities over the past 5 or 6 years, and he believes one of the biggest consequences of the actions of both Congress and the Administration is that Americans do not trust their government anymore.
When asked his advice for the next President, he first said that if the new President does not start unwinding our involvement in Iraq, then he or she will not be able to govern
On CNN's "Late Edition" today Wolf Blitzer interviewed outspoken critic of the Iraq war, Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. Blitzer asked Hagel about critics of the war who say that the president is ignoring reality and living in a dream world. Hegel replied, “Well, I think this is another episode of Alice in Wonderland..."read more | digg story
There is a good editorial in favor of a Hagel Presidency at First Call. The piece, "Diamonds Don't Always Lie at the Surface: For a Chuck Hagel Presidency," is by Al Moran. Here are some excerpts:Hagel’s conservative credentials are extremely sound: he has consistently voted against abortion, downplayed the need for even more money to be put into public education programs without organizing the tremendous amount that’s already there, supported reforming Social Security so the nest egg doesn’t dry up in the very-near future, etc....Hagel has responded with the statement that he swore an oath of office to the Constitution, and not one to a party or particular ideology. I greatly admire and respect this; Hagel seems to be a voice of reason in a conservative base that is increasingly straying from its intellectual and traditional roots. He simply wants to question an administration that has erred. We have been involved in Iraq for quite some time now. The administration’s propos
Chuck Hagel speaks at his news conference in Omaha, Nebraska on March 12, 2007. Talking about his political future. Photo by: REUTERSYesterday Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska) postponed his announcement on whether or not he would be running for president in 2008 or not. Hagel said at this point in time he had more of a responsibility to end the war in Iraq "In making this announcement, I believe there will still be political options open to me at a later date, I cannot control that, and I do not worry about it," Hagel said.He will have to make a decision on whether or not to run for a third term in the U.S. Senate, retire from the Senate, or if he is going to run for president. He believes that he still has time to be able to run for president later and he will continue to raise money for his Senate campaign committee and his political action committee. Chuck Hagel did not rule out a possible run as an Independent yesterday either, saying, “We are experiencing a political reorientation
This evening we have a guest post by Mary Wittler.-------------------------------------------------------Chuck Hagel Yesterday, the local news was making a big todo about the Chuck Hagel announcement coming on Monday from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. And rightly so. I remember the last time one of Nebraska's own made a run for the top job. Bob Kerrey created a lot buzz and a pretty big stir when he threw his hat in the ring for a relatively short run. I don't expect that to be the case this time around. This one's gonna be interesting. I can attest to that because I've been watching Senator Hagel from the farmhouse for quite a while now. A brief history as I recall. Before Chuck Hagel came into the picture, his senate seat was held by Democratic Senator James Exon. James Exon was a much beloved and highly regarded Nebraska politician having won five consecutive state elections and never having lost. He was a popular two term governor before taking on the Senate. He retire
Esquire Magazine has a profile of Chuck Hagel for their upcoming April issue. Be sure to check out the full article."Chuck Hagel's historic moment, and what it means for a declining presidency." The article give an excellent look into the person of Chuck Hagel, giving an excellent background on his family, experience in Vietnam, and how he came to where he is now. There's also some nice photos in the piece as well.
There is a wide assortment of Chuck Hagel 2008 merchandise out there from various places on the web. Buy and display proudly to support Chuck Hagel!Chuck Hagel 2008 Merch -Hats, shirts, buttons, etc.Chuck Hagel shirts, bags, stickers, and buttonsAn amazing assortment of Chuck Hagel for President itemsVote for Chuck T-ShirtBumper StickerChuck Button, 10 pack, 100 packHagel Button, 10 pack, 100 packSix different bumper sticker styles, scroll down to find themSix different mug styles, scroll down to find themTwelve different t-shirt styles, scroll down to find themNote: None of these are sold through this site, these links all take you to external sites.Also don't forget about Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward, the biography about Senator Hagel. There is a link to it at Amazon.com on the right side of this page. Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Election 2008, Merchandise
There is a great post titled "Libertarian swing vote backs Chuck Hagel for President" over at Divided We Stand United We Fall that is worth a read. Here is an excerpt from it:The animus against Chuck Hagel in the ragged right of the Republican party is real and significant. I don't get it. Look at his record, and you see a bona fide fiscal conservative, a social conservative, a successful entrepreneur, a limited government Republican in the Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater tradition and a decorated Vietnam war combat veteran. He is tough on crime, strong on defense, pro-gun with an "A" rating from the NRA, supports low taxes and limited spending, was rated a "Taxpayers Friend" by the NTU, is pro-business with an 87% rating from the US Chamber of Commerce, and even secured a 0% rating from NARAL indicating a perfect pro-life voting record....This is my question for conservatives and the"Republicans blogging for the minority" that are particpating in this poll: On exactly what issue
This was too funny (and interesting) to not share. Bayh2008 Coast-to-Coast is a blog similar to this one supporting Democrat Evan Bayh's likely 2008 Presidential run. Here's what they had to say about Senator Hagel.The only Republican I fear is big bad Chuck Hagel.The Chucker could give us trouble.I would never vote for a Republican....But the Chucker has BALLS that CLANG just ike Mario Cuomo had/has.This is not the first time I've heard Democratic/liberal bloggers express their concern over Chuck Hagel getting the nomination, as he is one they do not want to face in the November 2008 election.
Electoral Vote.com has a list of possible 2008 candidates and brief notes about each of them. Here is what they noted about Senator Chuck Hagel (emphasis added): Like John McCain, Chuck Hagel is a decorated Vietnam veteran. Since Hagel is less well known than McCain, he is staking out a different piece of territory: he says the war has failed and we ought to start thinking about getting out. He has been far more critical of George Bush than any Democrat, even John Murtha. If the war is still the dominant issue in 2008, he can say "I warned you years ago" and have a lot of credibility. Also unlike McCain, he is not cozying up to the right-wing preachers, which may hurt him in the primaries but will help him in the general election. On domestic issues, he is slightly more conservative than McCain, though. He positively radiates integrity and gravitas and at 60, he looks like a president.I'm not quite sure I agree with all of it, but it does raise a few interesting p
Today I have a question for you, particularly for our returning visitors. Why do you want Chuck Hagel to be our next President? If you have a couple of minutes write out why you think Chuck Hagel should be elected in 2008 and email it to me.I'll post the best answers (or all of them) over the next couple of weeks (assuming anyone is up to the challenge). My goal is to allow for more guest contributions and this seems like a perfect place to start.
Here are three Yahoo!Groups that are dedicated to making Chuck Hagel the next U.S. President.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HagelForPresident/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOforHagel/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SCforHagel/
Chuck Hagel is a committed fiscal conservative and is dedicated to balancing the budget. Collected here are a few examples of his fiscal conservative credentials and votes.Some of Hagel's comments on the deficit are available here. Chuck Hagel was given an A by the National Taxpayer's Union. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gives Senator Hagel high marks on this voting record. The American Land Rights Association gave Senator Hagel a 100% rating for 2000-2003. One of Senator Hagel's priorities is entitlement reform, chich you can read about here.Chuck Hagel was rated as an anti-pork hero by Pork Busters.You can read about another vote where Senator Hagel showed fiscal responsibility from this year. Here is an excerpt from the press release about that vote:"At some point, we've got to come forward with some courage and discipline to stop this massive hemorrhaging of federal spending. The President is right to say he will veto this bill , which spends over $14 billion more than
Chuck Hagel gave us another example of why he should lead our nation. He puts governing before politics. That is the hallmark of a statesman. The following were his remarks from the Senate floor during the debate on the recent Iraq resolutions. "Congress fails in its duty when we do not probe, when we fail,we do not ask tough questions, and we fail when we do not debate the gate issues of our day.There is no issue more important than war. The war in Iraq is the defining issue on which this Congress and the administration will be judged.The American people want to see serious debate about serious issues from serious leaders. They deserve more than a political debate. This debate should transcend cynical attempts to turn public frustration with the war in Iraq into an electoral advantage.It should be taken more seriously than to simply retreat into focus-group tested buzz words and phrases like "cut and run," catchy political slogans that debase the seriousness of war.War's not a p
A book recounting the story of Chuck Hagel is due to be published in the near future.Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward By Charlyne Berens "After reading Charlyne Berens's very thorough study of Chuck Hagel, I am more than ever proud to call this fearless, outspoken, passionate, and principled man "friend.' Choosing conscience over conformity, he represents the best of bipartisanship and patriotism"—Bob Kerrey, President of The New School and former U.S. Senator "Charlyne Berens's terrific biography brings Chuck Hagel's straight-shooting, courageous character to life. The Senator is one of a kind on Capitol Hill, and Berens's book leaves the reader waiting to witness the next chapter in Hagel's remarkable political career"—John D. Podesta, President of the Center for American Progress and Chief of Staff to former President Bill Clinton "In writing the first full-dress biography of Senator Chuck Hagel, Charlyne Berens has illuminated the experi
The Washington Post had an article yesterday about the recent biography, Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward (you can buy it from the amazon link at the right side of the page). The article, "For Hagel, Standing Up Brought a Fall From Favor," by Eric Pianin blends a review of the book with a look at Hagel's current position in politics, including an element of the popular notion that has emerged in the last week that Hagel is the new McCain.Berens offers a wide range of opinions and speculation on the subject from political scholars and operatives, but by the conclusion of the book, the questions of whether Hagel will run or could mount an effective campaign are left hanging.The article and the book touch on the theme of this week, that Chuck Hagel is clearly in the right place within the Republican party.For all the frustration Hagel expresses about the Republican Party, he is philosophically in tune with many of its traditional stances. He is an ardent free-trader, favors as little governm
Writing in the Washington Post, David Ignatius says that "what would make a [Chuck] Hagel candidacy interesting is that he can claim to have been right about Iraq and other key issues earlier than almost any national politician, Republican or Democratic." The Nebraska Republican Senator "says he will make a formal decision in the next two months on whether to run," according to Ignatius. "The very fact that Hagel is mulling a campaign reminds us that American politics turned a corner" after the midterms, Ignatius concludes. I think you'd have to concede that it's not the most conspicuous evidence of American politics turning a corner - that award probably goes to, you know, the Democratic Congressional majorities and stuff like that.Ignatius suggests that now might be Hagel's moment - but when you open an article about someone by insisting that they should, finally, start to be taken seriously, you've still got a long journey ahead of you.
"Our foreign policy needs to support our energy, economic, defense and domestic policies. It all falls within the arch of national interest. There will be windows of opportunity, but they will open and close quickly"-Chuck Hagel
Here is what Chuck Hagel said about the death of former President Gerald Ford"The death of Gerald Ford is a sad moment for all Nebraskans and all Americans. History will remember President Ford for holding our nation together during a time of trauma and division. He earned the trust and the confidence of the American people through the force of his will and his common decency."(from CNN.com)Technorati tags: Gerald Ford
Thanks to Lee for the heads up.Sen. Hagel will be interviewed on the Charlie RoseShow Thursday night, Jan. 11. He is likely to takethis opportunity to stake out his position on Bush'sIraq plans. Check your local PBS listings forbroadcast time in your area.The Charlie Rose Show on-lineTechnorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Charlie Rose Show
Jonathan Alter, writing recently in Newsweek, makes a plausible case that those of us who have discounted Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as a credible presidential candidate are missing the Senator's obvious strengths. Hagel "has among the highest support levels for President George W. Bush's conservative agenda in the Senate" having "championed the president's 2001 tax cut, which many Republicans believe is the litmus test of today's GOP." It is only on Iraq that Hagel differs sharply from the White House - by taking a position that would seem to be more electorally successful than the administration's. Hagel's low name recognition nationally remains a major obstacle to him, but with both he and Sam Brownback coming out against the troop surge, the extent to which differing opinions on the war in Iraq will play out in the Republican contest now becomes deeply interesting. Alter's side-by-side comparison of Hagel and John McCain certainly highlights Hagel's potenti
From the Bellevue Leader: U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel will visit Bellevue University's main campus Monday at 1:15 p.m.Hagel will spend approximately one hour on campus, during which time he will speak and take questions from students and the public at the Hitchcock Humanities Center's Criss Auditorium, 1000 Galvin Road S.The session will be an open format, with attendees free to ask questions on any topics they choose.
Check out Wil Hylton's interview of Chuck Hagel in March's GQ Magazine. Here is his introduction to the interview:Chuck Hagel came home from Vietnam in 1968 with shrapnel in his chest, scars on his face, and an unyielding certainty that the freedom of men is theirs alone to win. As an infantryman, he had not bombed from above or commanded from behind; he had stood knee-deep in the muck, face-to-face with the enemy, firing on men and watching them die. It's a hard memory to leave behind. Even after four decades and a lifetime of change—a fortune earned in the investment-banking business; a decade as a senator from Nebraska; and a position as one of the GOP's conservative torchbearers with a shot at the White House—Hagel has put everything on the line to oppose the war in Iraq, refusing to send a "surge" of new troops into battle, or to forget the lessons he brought home from the killing fields long ago.The interview focuses on the war in Iraq, but touches on ot
Today's Washington Post:"with McCain appearing increasingly isolated on the issue as public opinion has turned overwhelmingly against the war, Hagel is acting like a politician who believes his stock is climbing. In other words, he is considering a White House run."Here is some advice...save your money
There is a good piece ("Chuck Hagel's Future: All Options on the Table") at The Washington Note by Steven C. Clemons that's worth a read. Check it out. One of the topics that is addressed is some "informed gossip" about Chuck Hagel's thinking about 2008.
