Hagel as Republican 2008 candidate?

[Sparkly]

Hi Nebraskans! I'm not from your state, but figured you'd know more about Hagel than the rest of us. Is he a viable candidate for president? Does he have skeletons in his closet? Is he insufficiently wacky to be accepted by the neo-cons in that party anyway?

I'm just wondering how difficult he'd be to defeat if he ran. Any comments? Thanks in advance. :hi:

[saltpoint]

1. Can I add a question, too?

Has Senator Hagel made any trips to New Hampshire recently? That would be a strong hint to his intentions for 08.

[MasonJar]

2. Is Hagel the one who owned the voting machines?

[Koyaanisqatsi]

3. Yes he is....(nt)

[Koyaanisqatsi]

4. Well, this is the first I've heard of it....

I have not heard anything about Chuck Hagel being interested in running for President. I'm not from Nebraska originally, but have been here 10 years so I was here when his machines won him the Senate seat in....was it 1996?

Anyway, if he does run, I just don't think he would be a very strong candidate. But his voting record on progessive issues is only a 6% so who knows what could happen between now and 2008. I hope some other more knowledgable Nebraskans have a firmer handle on this issue.

Dang...I hope he doesn't run....well...I think.

[Sparkly]

5. Check out this article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50063-2004Nov14.html

As part of his preparations, Hagel will introduce two pieces of legislation in the Senate early next year that will advertise his readiness to deal with big issues. One will be his plan to create private Social Security accounts while preserving traditional benefits for those already on Social Security or about to be. The other will be a bill to control greenhouse gas emissions, an alternative to the Kyoto Treaty that the United States has refused to join. Hagel is flying to London next month to discuss his ideas on global warming with Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The big question, Hagel says when asked in public about the presidency, is "what the Republican Party may be looking for in 2008." He says his party has "lost its moorings," and he wants to help redefine its mission. That would be part of his run for the presidency.

By implication, Hagel is talking about running the way John McCain did in 2000, as an outsider who may not start with the support of many GOP grandees, and whose main hope is to win so many votes in Republican primaries that he cannot be resisted. Of course McCain (whom Hagel strongly supported in 2000) may be a contender next time himself.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

6. eee gad. (nt)

[TheFarseer]

7. I'm a bit late on this thread but here's my take

Hagel may be to 2008 what John McCain was to 2000. He's a maverick from a small state. He will have trouble in the primary. He has not been towing the party line as much as other repugs and he has spoken out against how the war is being executed. But if he gets some momentum between now and 2007-8 you never know. Personaly, I think we could do worse for a president. I have a feeling he's bought and paid for but so many are on the right side. I think he has alot of pluses as a candidate and if he gets the nomination, he's more likely to carry the election than not. I don't think he has any positions that are death in an election and I don't know of any skeletons in his closet.

[car54whereareyou]

8. I really wouldn't consider him a Nebraskan

He just came back here to run for political office. He has an inside track in the msm and most Sundays you can find him on at least one channel. He's intelligent and articulate and if he wins the Republican nomination, I think he could be difficult to beat. He's shown alot of courage in speaking out about the war in Iraq.

[DeaconBlues]

9. Its important to remember that although he's voiced some criticisms

about how the war has been carried out, he has never been against the war. He voted to give Bush the clerance to start the war, and, to my knowledge, he has never stated that he had any problems with his decision.