Hagel Says He Would Consider Presidential Run as an Independent

[sabra]

Source: Bloomberg

May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said he would consider entering the 2008 presidential campaign as an independent.

An independent bid ``is possible,'' Hagel, 60, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt,'' scheduled to air today. ``I don't ever foreclose any options.'' He will decide in the next few months whether to run for a third Senate term, pursue the presidency or leave politics altogether, he said.

On Iraq, Hagel was one of two Senate Republicans who voted for legislation -- vetoed by President George W. Bush earlier this week -- to withdraw U.S. troops from the Middle Eastern country. Hagel laid out certain conditions for him to be able to support a compromise to end the debate.

He said he would ``seriously'' consider a Democratic proposal to fund the war temporarily. It further must require that troops sent to Iraq are fully trained and equipped and have sufficient time between deployments, he said.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aWPuH8ejxG_E&refer=us

[DemKR]

1. Run, Chuck, Run

Let's let the right-wingers have a Ralph Nader for once.

[tblue]

6. Yeah, they always send money to Nader. Let this be their monkey wrench. I do think Hegel has guts

because most Republics in Washington are nothing if not obedient slaves to their Neocon masters.

[DURHAM D]

2. Why? The only position that he does not agree with

all of the other white men on the stage last night is the Iraq war. He is a Repub through and through - votes with the Bushies 90% of the time. Who is he kidding.

That said - I hope he does run and pulls Repub votes from those white men.

[AX10]

4. I hope he doesn't take Bloomberg as VP and pulls...

Democratic votes too.

[depakid]

12. I don't think people recognize that this could be a serious threat

Depending on who the nominees are. We're a little jaded on DU, but I can tell you that most people I talk to IRL are not enthusiastic about the current slate on either side at this point....

[TwilightGardener]

14. Let's not forget, too--which news agency is running this story?

Billionaire Bloomberg's--Bloomberg has dinner with Hagel, and it gets reported in...Bloomberg. He's got control of a segment of the press, AND $$$--could be real trouble.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. A "Democrat" who ran, rightfully, as a Republican.

Dems will piss on his VP-ship.

[acmavm]

10. You are soooo right. Ever wonder why other Dems don't understand

this? I do.

[tblue37]

15. The problem is that there are a lot of weak-minded, ill-informed Dems

who start chanting "So-and-So for president" every time they hear that "So-and-So" said even one thing that they agree with. In fact, when Hagel first started coming out strong in public against the Iraq War and sometimes voting with the Dems on it, those foolish people began their "Hagel for president" chants right here on DU!

If Hagel runs, a lot of Dems will vote for him because they won't bother to be informed about his record. If he runs as an anti Iraq War candidate, he will draw far more Dem and Independent votes than Republicans. Republicans vote Republican or stay home. They don't vote for Dems or for former Republicans that "betrayed" their party. Or they vote for "Republicans" like Lieberman. What happened with long-time Dem-in-name-only Lieberman is that Republicans were directed from the top to cross over to vote for him to make sure a real Dem couldn't get elected, since they knew the Repub in name couldn't. But if Hagel runs a third-party candidacy, Repub votes will go to the Repub candidate, and Dem and Independent votes will be pulled toward Hagel.

Republicans take their marching orders from the top. The directive will come down from Rove, et al. Then the fundy ministers and party leaders at the precinct level will tell them to vote for the Repub candidate and to let the Dems and Independents vote for Hagel. That's how they were told to vote for Lieberman. They were told that was the Party strategy to keep Lamont out of the Senate.

If Hagel runs we lose. Either he or the Republican in name wins. Either way, the winner would be someone who believes 99% in the opposite of what we progressives believe. It would also mean more anti-choice Supreme Court Justices.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Agree--well-said and true. Although I think SOME disaffected R's would vote for him.

He's still ultraconservative, and always has been, unlike the front-running "moderate" 3 or 4 in the GOP lineup now. But he could be a real draw away from Dems.

[orwell]

3. At least the guy has the guts...

...to go against Il Dunce.

Could we see Hagel/Bloomberg on an I ticket?

[Zensea]

5. Bloomberg is not going to run

--- as vice-president in my opinion.

If he runs at all, it will be for president.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Not sure which one would be at the top of the ticket--

check out this thread on GDP:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3247785&mesg_id=3247785

Sounds like someone's courtin' someone. They'll have to let their giant egos duke it out.

[stilpist]

8. Does he get to supply the voting machines again?

That's how he got to the Senate.

[TwilightGardener]

9. I'm pretty sure being an attractive, combat-vet Republican candidate in 1996

in NEBRASKA got him into the Senate, LOL!

[stilpist]

17. I don't laugh about Republics and their voting machines.

They're doing too much damage to my country.

[sellitman]

11. Chuck Nader-Hagel ....I love that idea!!!!!!!!

Where can I send $$$$$ ?

[TwilightGardener]

13. If Hagel is backed by Bloomberg or runs with him, I don't think

he'll need your stinkin' money!

[sellitman]

19. Weinerdoggie

That post was intended to be tongue in cheek.

My hard earned "stinking" cash will go to whoever is most Liberal in the Primary and then to WHOEVER the Democrats choose.

I meant to draw an analogies to Nader and the folk who "voted their conscience"

[TwilightGardener]

21. Mine was tongue in cheek too! Just didn't phrase it right, I guess--

or should've used an emoticon, like ;-). I figured no one here would seriously announce sending money to an enemy camp (I hope!).

[tblue37]

16. Please see my post #15 above. (eom)

[sellitman]

18. Hagel would draw far more Repugs

Just like Perot did.

[bdamomma]

22. oh, boy, this is not good news, if Hagel runs, he will get alot

of backing, don't you guys think so? Now all we need is Gore to run, now that would be interesting.

[youngdem]

24. Meet the New McCain.

As McCain has lost his mind and run the Straight Talk Express into the ditch, Hagel is angling for the spot of credible, precocious party maverick.

Good for him. Or something. And I'm sure owning the voting machines in some states would help (ES&S).


He's a social Luddite.

# Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
# Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
# Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
# Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
# Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
# Voted YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
# Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
0% NARAL rating, meaning 100% anti-choice.
# Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
# Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
# Voted NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program. (May 1999)
# Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
# Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
# Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
# Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
# Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
# Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
# Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
# Voted NO on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
# Voted NO on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
# Voted YES on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
# Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
# Voted YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
# Voted NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
# Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
# Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
# Voted NO on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
# Voted NO on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
# Voted YES on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
# Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
# Voted YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
# Voted NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
# Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
# Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
# Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
# Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
# Voted NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
# Voted NO on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
# Voted YES on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
# Voted NO on funding for National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
# Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
# Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
# Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)
# Voted YES on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000. (May 2006)
# Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
# Voted NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
# Voted NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
# Voted YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
# Voted NO on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
# Voted NO on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
# Voted YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
# Voted NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
# Voted NO on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
# Voted YES on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
# Voted YES on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
# Voted YES on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
# Voted YES on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`. (Jun 2006)
# Voted YES on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
# Voted NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
# Voted NO on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
# Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
# Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
# Voted NO on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
# Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)


http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm

What a nice guy.

[TwilightGardener]

25. LOL! Do you also have the results of his most recent colonoscopy?

Just kiddin--thanks for the info and spread it around.

[youngdem]

26. Indeed I do have his colonoscopy results....He is FULL of shit.

Good mornin to ya.

[mmonk]

27. About time a conservative ran in a three way race.

Tired of it just being Nader on the left.