An UNOFFICIAL blog that was at the center of a grassroots movement to encourage support for a Hagel candidacy in 2008.
On 9/10/2007 Senator Hagel announced: "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."
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.
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.
For some, the effort to draft Chuck Hagel to run for President has shifted over to Unity08. You can join the "Hagel 08" group at Unity08 if you are interested.
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 made to the people of Nebraska the day I announced my intention to seek this Senate seat. On March 30, 1995 I said, “I intend to be a Senator all Nebraskans can be proud of.” I hope I’ve done that, and made some contributions to our state and country along the way. History will sort that out.
I am proud of my Senate record and deeply grateful to all those who helped get me there and keep me there, and those who have worked so hard for the people of Nebraska—my staff. I would like to particularly thank Mike McCarthy, Ken Stinson and Lou Ann Linehan. I owe a great deal to these three individuals.
I would have been unable to do my job without the love, wise perspective and constant encouragement of my wife Lilibet, my daughter Allyn and my son Ziller. My appreciation for their support is immeasurable. I would also like to thank my brothers, Tom and Mike, for their constant support and occasional brotherly constructive evaluations.
I said after I was elected in 1996 that 12 years in the Senate would probably be enough. It is. I have always believed that democracies work best when there is a constant cycle of new energy and ideas, and fresh leadership.
I will leave the Senate with the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and love of my country that I started with. I leave maybe a little wiser, surely a little more experienced and with a very respectable amount of humility.
Public service has always been a big part of my life, and I hope to have another opportunity to serve my country in some new capacity down the road.
This afternoon, my family and I will return to Washington, and I will go back to work. I look forward to working as hard in the remaining 16 months of my Senate term for the people of Nebraska as I have over the last 11 years.
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.
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.
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 now our soldiers and marines are killing and dying in Iraq, despite the fact that the Iraqis are no closer to reconciliation, and the current government is ineffective. Policy-makers need people like Senator Hagel, standing up for our troops, their families, and our national security."
There have been many veterans that have expressed their support for Senator Hagel and the trend will no doubt continue. You can listen to the ad here, or at VoteVets.org.
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."
, that will be released tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25th. Be sure to check it out!
