Chuck Hagel for President in 2008

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Photo - Senator Hagel in Iraq
2008-07-22 17:36:00
Senator Obama, General David Petraeus, and Senator Hagel in Iraq Photo from ABCnews
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Press Release - Hagel to join Obama on trip to Iraq and Afghanistan
2008-07-14 13:54:00
Yesterday Senator Hagel's office released this statement:Hagel and Reed Announce Plans to Join Obama for Bipartisan CODEL to Iraq and Afghanistan Later This SummerJuly 13th, 2008 - WASHINGTON, DC ? U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) today announced plans to join U.S. Senator Barack Obama in traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan later this summer to get a firsthand look at the security and political situation in these two important countries for American national security. The bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) plans to meet with top U.S. military commanders and civilians, and senior Iraqi and Afghan leaders. They will also thank our troops, civilians, and coalition partners for their heroic work in extremely difficult circumstances.In Iraq, the senators will examine whether the tactical buildup of U.S. troops has resulted in the progress necessary to resolve Iraq?s political differences, provide basic services to the Iraqi people, and create long-term stabil...
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Senator Hagel's speech at the Brookings Institution
2008-06-26 13:05:00
Today Senator Hagel delivered a speech to The Brookings Institution, an event described as "a discussion of U.S. foreign policy in the context of the 2008 presidential campaign. Senator Hagel examined the inventory of global challenges that the next president will inherit and the responsibilities of the presidential candidates to address these challenges."The speech was titled "Memo to the Candidates." You can read the full text here as a pdf.
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What do you think?
2008-06-09 17:11:00
Many people have been talking about possible roles for Chuck Hagel in the next administration. Some ideas include Chuck Hagel as either Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense in a McCain or in an Obama administration. The idea of an Obama/Hagel ticket has been widely discussed as well.What are your thoughts on these suggestions?

The Global Wire
2008-06-09 17:07:00
The Global Wire's first episode is an interview with Senator Chuck Hagel. Take a look.
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Press Release: "Senate Passes Webb-Hagel GI Bill "
2008-05-22 21:04:00
The following statement was released today by Senator Hagel's office:Senate Passes Webb-Hagel GI BillMay 22nd, 2008 - The United States Senate today passed, by an overwhelming margin of 75-22, the FY08 Emergency Supplemental bill that included the ?Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act? sponsored by Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Jim Webb (D-VA). The legislation modernizes educational benefits for members of our Armed Forces who have served since the attacks of September 11, 2001.?This bill is about giving the men and women of our military the same education benefits that all of America?s veterans have received since WWII. What this bill does is rotate forward the earned benefits into the 21st century so they are relevant to the realities of the cost of education today. We are fulfilling a commitment that we have all made to our veterans. By investing in education we are investing in America?s future and continuing to build a society worthy of the sacrifices of our vetera...
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"Whither Hagel"
2008-04-21 01:09:00
Robert Novak has a brief discussion of Senator Hagel in his piece from yesterday. Friends of Sen. Chuck Hagel, the Senate's sharpest critic of President Bush's Iraq policy, say there is no chance he will endorse a Democrat for president this year.That does not mean, however, that Hagel necessarily will back the Republican candidate, his friend John McCain. That could depend on whether McCain devises an Iraq exit strategy. Hagel and McCain, who occupy offices in the same second floor corridor of the Russell Senate Office Building, have been spotted conferring on two recent occasions.A footnote: Although the conservative Hagel is an unlikely running mate for either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, he conceivably could end up as secretary of defense for either Democrat.

Chuck Hagel on "Morning Joe" from April 1
2008-04-02 21:13:00
Senator Chuck Hagel was on ?Morning Joe? on MSNBC yesterday morning speaking about current events, his new book, and the Presidential election. Take a look.
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Senator Hagel on The Daily Show
2008-04-01 16:25:00
Chuck Hagel was the guest on one of my favorite shows last night, The Daily Show .
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America: Our Next Chapter
2008-03-24 19:25:00
Chuck Hagel has written a book, America : Our Next Chapter : Tough Questions, Straight Answers, that will be released tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25th. Be sure to check it out!

Drafting Hagel via Unity08?
2008-01-05 16:45:00
For some, the effort to draft Chuck Hagel to run for President has shifted over to Unit y 08. You can join the "Hagel 08" group at Unity08 if you are interested.

Hagel not running in 2008
2007-09-10 17:15:00
Chuck Hagel has announced today that he will not be seeking a third term in the Senate and that he will not be running for Presdient.Here is the text of Chuck Hagel's announcement today (the text from Sandhills PAC):Hagel Announces He Will Not Seek A Third Term In Senate OMAHA, NE ? United States Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) announced this morning that he will not seek a third term in the United States Senate and does not intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008 . Below is a text of Hagel?s remarks delivered at the Omaha Press Club: ?I will not seek a third term in the United States Senate, nor do I intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008. It has been my greatest honor and privilege to serve my country and represent my fellow Nebraskans in the U.S. Senate. My family and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and the trust placed in me by the people of Nebraska. It has enriched all of us. I have always tried to live up to the promise I m...
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Watch Monday's Announcement Live
2007-09-10 05:46:00
You can watch Chuck Hagel's Monday announcement live at www.ketv.com, an Omaha news station.
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Monday - Hagel to announce future plans
2007-09-08 04:12:00
The wait may soon be over. Here is the message from Chuck Hagel 's PAC website:Washington, D.C. ? U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) will hold a press conference on Monday , September 10th. The press conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Omaha Press Club. Hagel will announce a decision regarding his future.I and many others are hoping that Chuck Hagel will jump into the 2008 Presidential race on Monday, but we'll have to wait a few more days to find out.
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American Public Media: "Drafting a President"
2007-09-01 20:37:00
Weekend American has done a piece on "Drafting a President " and the Draft Hagel movement has a link of the page. With luck, our Draft Hagel movement can achieve the same result as the Draft Ike movement did fifty years ago.
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Veterans group praises Hagel on Iraq votes
2007-08-30 23:36:00
Southwest Nebraska News reports that there is a new radio ad praising Senator Hagel ("Hagel, other Republicans Commended in Radio Ads").Major General (Ret.) John Batiste, former 1st Infantry Division commander in Iraq , life-long Republican, and advisor to VoteVets.org, is featured in a new radio ad campaign being launched today, that praises three Republicans for standing up for the troops.Here is the text of the ad being run in Nebraska:"I first want to thank the great state of Nebraska for standing behind our great military. When I was in uniform, my duty was to get the job done, without commenting on the policy makers in Washington. Now I'm a civilian, and pleased to thank Senator Chuck Hagel for his moral courage and standing up for our troops and military families. We're caught in the middle of a brutal civil war in Iraq, without a focused national strategy. Senator Hagel is well-informed, challenging those politicians who are breaking our great Army and Marine corps. Right n...
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Senator Hagel reacts to the Gonzales Resignation
2007-08-29 17:54:00
KETV, an Omaha station, has Senator Hagel 's reaction to the Alberto Gonzales Resignation .In a written statement, Sen. Chuck Hagel said, "Attorney General Gonzales has taken the responsible and appropriate action in resigning. His resignation is the best thing for the country, Justice Department and the president."
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Hagel book to be released early next year
2007-08-28 23:47:00
In February it was released that Senator Hagel would be writing a book (check out the original post here). Amazon.com has a page for the book, including a title: "America: The Next Chapter: Tough Questions and Straight Answers." Check it out.
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David Broder - "Bloomberg And Hagel For 2008?"
2007-08-27 18:16:00
David S. Broder's column in yesterday's Washington Post, "Bloom berg And Hagel For 2008?", is certainly worth a read.Chuck Hagel, the senator from Nebraska, describes himself as a "tidal" politician, one who believes that larger forces in society shape careers more than the ambitions of individuals. "The only mistakes I've made," he told me last week, "were when I tried to go against the tide."...Next month, Hagel will make a threshold decision -- whether to run for a third term in the Senate. He gave me no definitive answer, but my guess is that he will say that 12 years of battling the institutional lethargy of Capitol Hill will be enough. Certainly he is under no illusions about how much he can achieve as one of 100 lawmakers....The imperative the public will impose on the next president, Hagel says, "is to lead the country and restore the sense of national purpose." But the early start on campaigning for the GOP and Democratic nominations, and the prospect that the battles on ...
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Lincoln Journal Star: "Hagel: Congress demands facts on Iraq"
2007-08-20 05:59:00
Don Walton had a piece in Friday's Lincoln Journal Star covering Hagel's latest on the Iraq war. Check out the full article for more.?We?re going to demand we get whatever information we require,? the Republican senator said during a Lincoln interview. ?We fully expect the leaders of our government will comply with their responsibility. We must have all the facts and details required to make intelligent decisions.?
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One and a half years
2007-08-18 00:32:00
Today is the one and a half year anniversary for this blog. Thanks for all the support!
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Fantasy Politics USA
2007-08-16 00:51:00
Head over to Fantasy Poli tics USA and check out their 2008 poll. Chuck Hagel is currently in 2nd place and if the readers of this blog sign up and vote I think we can push him to number one for the month.
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The latest on Hagel in New Hampsire
2007-08-10 23:58:00
The Concord Monitor ran a piece on Hagel this week. The nation's increasing frustration with the war has given Sen. Chuck Hagel - the loudest Republican critic of the war in the Senate - renewed hope in a possible presidential run. He told The New York Times recently that a few major fundraisers were urging him to run. He said: "There is no Republican presidential candidate with this point of view. There might be an opening for me on this." We checked in with state Sen. Bob Odell, a Lempster Republican who's been friends with Hagel for 30 years.... Odell said he thinks Hagel's position has increasing resonance. "I certainly think the public is open to a new voice, a new approach," he said.
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A post and a video from DWSUWF
2007-08-08 18:27:00
DWSUWF has a new post on Hagel that's worth a look: "Now is the time for one good man to come to the aid of his party." Here is an excerpt:Hagel's staff has not asked me, but I have some free advice for them. There are three themes/messages that a "Hagel for President" campaign should focus on and hammer over and over again."It's the war, stupid." - Hagel is the only credible anti-war Republican (except for Ron Paul - but the problem with Ron Paul is that he is Ron Paul).Hagel is The AntiBush - (See above)Hagel is a real conservative. - Unlike Bush, Cheney, or most of the current crop of Republican candidates. This video hits on the first two of the three. I know, I know - two themes in one video is one too many. That is why this video is too long at two minutes. Hey - this is strictly amateur hour - you get what you pay for.Check out the post and the video.
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New Format
2007-08-06 20:23:00
I've updated the format of this blog with the key addition of a complete list of labels on the left side of the page. Are you interested in learning more about a particular topic? Do you have a pet issue that you want to learn more about? Check out the labels on the left side of the page (just below the form and above the archives section).If you're new to this site the labels are a great place to start.
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Hagel and Infrastructure
2007-08-06 20:00:00
Senator Hagel made the news last week by calling for a new way to keep our infrastructure healthy, and it came just before the Minneapolis bridge collapse.Hardblogger has a piece on the plan (you can see video of Senators Hagel and Dodd on Hardball here) and here is an excerpt:Earlier on Wednesday ? a few hours before the 35W bridge in Minnesota collapsed -- Senators Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Chuck Hagel R-Neb.) introduced legislation to fix America?s road, bridges, water, and transit systems. According to the senators, the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2007 would help revitalize America?s infrastructure....?We have the capacity to do it,? said Sen. Hagel. ?We have the greatest economy, system, nation, people in the world. There is no challenge this country has ever failed at meeting.? (Rumors continue that Hagel may run for president as well).NPR has an interview with Chuck Hagel on the matter as well. You can listen to it here.
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More from Novak
2007-08-06 19:58:00
Robert Novak wrote this recently:HAGEL FOR PRESIDENT?Sen. Chuck Hagel, the Senate's toughest Republican critic of President Bush's war policy, has not ruled out a campaign for the GOP presidential nomination and will use the August recess of Congress to make up his mind.A major reason for the unexpectedly strong professions of support for Rep. Ron Paul's libertarian-conservative candidacy is that he is the only announced Republican presidential candidate opposed to the invasion of Iraq. Hagel as an anti-war candidate might attract a broader base of support than Paul. He has received many offers of financial support should he run.Hagel must decide what to do in 2008: to run for president, to run for Senate re-election, or to get out of politics. The betting in the Senate Republican cloakroom is that he will retire, but Hagel has given no signal of his intentions and tells friends that he has yet to make a decision.

Notes from Novak
2007-08-02 06:20:00
From Robert Novak 's piece today: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) is still considering the possibility of a presidential campaign as an anti-war candidate and soon will make his decision. He could make a splash in the primaries.
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Hagel to speak at Panetta Lecture Series
2007-07-30 04:28:00
It was announced that Chuck Hagel will be speaking next month in California .Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska, and Sen. Bob Graham, D-Florida, will be the final speakers at this year's Leon Panetta Lecture Series on Aug. 13.... This lecture can be viewed live on cable television in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, and north through the San Francisco Bay area, as well as east to the greater Sacramento area. C-SPAN is also invited to broadcast these lectures nationally.From The Herald
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New York Times - "Seeking a G.O.P. Opening on the War"
2007-07-26 04:55:00
The New York Times had a good piece last week that had some particularly interesting things to say. So with the Republican presidential field turned upside down, and a wide-open battle for the party?s nomination unfolding over the next six months, could there suddenly be room for a candidate who opposes the administration?s war policy? That?s what Senator Chuck Hagel is trying to conclude. Mr. Hagel, a Nebraska Republican, has long been among the loudest Iraq critics in his party, a position that he said was ?very, very lonely over the last four years.? His conservative voting record has been overshadowed, in the eyes of many faithful Republicans, by his forceful criticism of how Mr. Bush has handled the war. These days, Mr. Hagel is no longer feeling so alone. As he walked across the Capitol, one day after the latest chapter of the Senate war debate ended, he said he is receiving fresh encouragement to consider a presidential candidacy. He intends to study the landscape and disclo...
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