"On immigration, Hagel's bill is best approach"

There is a good article in the Journal Star on the Senate immigration bill.

Sen. Chuck Hagel played a valuable and potentially historic role in helping his colleagues put together a comprehensive immigration reform bill that tackles all of the necessary issues.

His work on immigration reform has been constructive and responsible.

"On immigration, Hagel's bill is best approach" is a good editorial that's worth a read.

"Hagel Statement on the Administration Announcement that the U.S. will Engage in Talks with Iran"

A press release from Chuck Hagel's Senate site:

May 31st, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today regarding the announcement by Secretary of State Rice that the U.S. would engage Iran if Iran suspends its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activity:

“I applaud President Bush and Secretary Rice for the decision to engage Iran through multilateral talks if Iran suspends its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activity. This is an important development that should strengthen diplomatic efforts to address the Iranian nuclear threat.

“As I have said, our allies will support tough action against Iran only if they are confident that the United States is serious and committed to achieving a negotiated, diplomatic solution. Iran should return to the negotiating table. Ultimately, a lasting solution can only be achieved if the broader interests of the U.S., Iran, the region and world are addressed,” Hagel said.

The Washington Post has the details of the announcement by Bush and Rice.
Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Iran, President Bush

Multimedia

Some audio files of Chuck Hagel:

Comments on meeting with the Japanese Ambassador
Remarks on Memorial Day
Comments on Immigration Bill

From Chuck Hagel's official Senate website

Hagel in New Mexico

Chuck Hagel is in New Mexico today campaigning for a fellow Republican.

Senator Hagel travels to New Mexico to help Congresswoman Wilson (R-1st)

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Albuquerque, NM – Senator Hagel is the special guest at an afternoon fundraiser for Congresswoman Heather Wilson in Albuquerque, NM. Senator Hagel strongly supports Rep. Wilson's reelection campaign to the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Hagel will deliver a $2,000 check from Sandhills PAC to Rep. Wilson's campaign at the event.

From Sandhills

Press release from last week

This is a press release that Senator Hagel's office put on its website last week.
"Hagel Statement on OFHEO Report Critical of Fannie Mae $11 Billion Accounting Scandal"

May 23rd, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) issued the following statement today regarding the Office of Federal Housing Enterprises Oversight’s (OFHEO) report on Fannie Mae’s $11 billion accounting scandal. Last year, the Senate Banking Committee passed legislation introduced by Senators Hagel, Sununu (R-NH), and Dole (R-NC) to reform Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) like Fannie Mae.

“Fannie Mae has clearly violated its statutory housing mission. This report adds to the overwhelming amount of evidence that Fannie Mae is not appropriately regulated and it raises serious questions about its portfolio management and future liabilities for the American people. Fannie Mae’s agreement to limit the growth of its mortgage assets through its settlement reached with OFHEO is an important step toward protecting the American taxpayer. However, the failure to address the size and growth of Fannie Mae’s non-mission related assets represents serious potential liability for the American people and I will be asking OFHEO, Treasury and HUD what is being done to address this problem.

“Until Congress passes the GSE reform bill passed out of the Senate Banking Committee, we will be replaying these kinds of episodes. To protect the American taxpayer and investors, Congress must act this year,” Hagel said.

Thinking of Veterans on Memorial Day

Chuck Hagel has been supporting a movement to try to create a moment of remembrance for those who have served their country in times of war.

Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, a longtime friend of Ms. LaSpada's and the sponsor of the legislation to create the commission, said he was committed to its mission, but he laughs when he thinks about the logistics of actually pulling it off.

"You try and quiet down a country of 300 million," Mr. Hagel said. "We're a busy people in a busy nation in a busy world. I think it is entirely appropriate to designate a special time to slow down and stop and think for a moment about the people who sacrificed to make this a great country."

The article, Trying to Make People Think About Veterans, is worth a read.

So today, take 30 seconds for a moment of silence or a prayer to honor the veterans that have fought for our nation.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Memorial Day, Moment of Silence

New Political Quotations site

There is a great new political quotations site on the web, I highly recomment it: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations.

While there, you can check out their selection of Chuck Hagel quotations.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Quotations

More polls and Meet the Press

Here are two rather impressive 2008 Presidential Election polls; they are the most elaborate I have seen yet. Vote Hagel!

http://www.misterpoll.com/962795375.html
http://www.misterpoll.com/3970564767.html

Also, be sure to watch Senator Hagel on Meet the Press tomorrow.

Update:
You can catch Hagel on Meet the Press here.

"Senate Passes Hagel-Martinez Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation"

Press release from Chuck Hagel's Senate website:

May 25th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation (S. 2611), introduced by U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), today by a vote of 62 to 36. The bill to fix America’s broken immigration system will now go to a House-Senate Conference Committee to resolve differences between the two bills passed by both houses of Congress.

"In my ten years in the Senate, this is the most significant and far-reaching piece of legislation the Senate has passed. For years, we have ignored the hard decisions required to fix our porous borders and our broken immigration system. Our nation has paid a heavy price for our neglect. By passing this bill today, we have put our country on a responsible course to secure our borders, stop illegal immigration and implement a rational immigration reform policy that makes sense for our country.

"The President deserves great credit for his leadership on this issue. I am confident that the House-Senate Conference Committee will work through the differences in the two bills and produce a responsible bill that secures our borders and fixes our broken immigration system. The American people will demand it," Hagel said.

The Hagel-Martinez bill includes:

More than doubling the number of border patrol agents by adding 14,400 new agents to the current force, bringing the total to 25,983;

A 70% increase in immigration and customs enforcement officers, bringing the total to 9,500;

Quadrupling of border fencing, enhancement of electronic surveillance, and addition of 20 new detention facilities;

Requirements that aliens with work authorization show a biometric, machine-readable and tamper-resistant identification card;

Requirements that anyone seeking employment who claims to be a U.S. Citizen must show a machine-readable, tamper-resistant identification card that includes a digital photograph of the individual;

Establishing an employee electronic verification system to verify that newly hired employees are legal and increase maximum fines to employers for hiring illegal workers to $20,000 for each worker and impose up to three years of jail;

Providing for a workable temporary guest-worker program. Guest workers would need to be employed to apply for a permanent residency green card;

Requirements that any illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. five years or more would have to pay a $3,250 fine and back taxes, pass national security and criminal background checks, prove they have worked for at least 3 years, register for military service, demonstrate knowledge of English and American civics and work an additional six years;

Requirements that illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. between two and five years leave the U.S. and return through a port of entry in order to obtain a temporary work visa and meet the same requirements as those who have been in the country more than five years;

Requirements that illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. less than two years voluntarily return home or be deported;

Requirements that no one who has entered the country illegally be considered for citizenship before anyone who has played by the rules and gone through the system legally.

An entertaining blog post

I thought I needed to share this entertaining bit from a blog post at the New Nebraska Network.

Well, the Post makes no bones about who the hero of that story is. "Hagel stormed"! "Hagel thundered"! My God, I don't know if that's the Post casting it's ballot in the 2008 Republican primary or casting Hagel as the next Incredible Hulk (HAGEL SMASH!).

From "Chuck Hagel Takes Charge." The Washington Post article refered to is quite a good one and also worth a read.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Immigration, Incredible Hulk

"The Republican Democrats Should Fear the Most is Chuck Hagel"

An interesting look at the 2008 election in an interview with James W. Moore from The Kentucky Democrat.

DS: I know 2008 is a few years away but are any potential candidates that you see having a good chance to reach the White House?
JWM: On the Democratic side I think that the "New, Improved Al Gore" probably has the best shot. No one besides Rupert Murdoch seems quite ready for Hillary, and I think that John Kerry has lost a bit of his mojo (not that he ever had much, poor guy, although I generally like him). I see the three of them vying for the nomination along with some side-show characters, and I predict that Al will come out on top. He might even surprise us by offering Hillary the Veep spot. On the Republican side, my nominee for "The Republican Democrats Should Fear the Most" is Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. I don't always agree with Chuck, but he's not afraid to bash Bush or Karl Rove, and he's a class act. It's hard not to like Chuck Hagel.

This is not the first place that someone from the Democratic side has mentioned their concern over a possible run by Chuck Hagel in 2008.

Senator Hagel stumps in NC

Chuck Hagel is working hard to help Republicans get elected in the 2006 elections.

Senator Hagel travels to North Carolina to help Congressman Jones (R-3rd)

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Greenville, NC - Senator Hagel is the special guest at an evening fundraiser for Congressman Walter Jones in Greenville, NC. Senator Hagel strongly supports Rep. Jones' reelection campaign to the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Hagel will deliver a $2,000 check from Sandhills PAC to Rep. Jones' campaign at the event.

From the Sandhills PAC site.

What can I do to help (part 4)?

This is part 4 of our series on what people can do now to help put Chuck Hagel on the road to the White House. (See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3).

Another thing that people can do is drive the Internet Buzz surrounding Chuck Hagel. There are numerous ways to do this. Everyone can vote for Chuck Hagel in online polls. Also, everyone can comment on blogs, expressing their support for Senator Hagel.

If you have a website or blog, make a link to this site and others that support Chuck Hagel. If you have a blog, post a blog post about Chuck Hagel. There are 2008 sites that track how much attention each of the possible candidates are getting on the web and in blogs.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel

Two more press releases

There are two new press releases from Chuck Hagel's office. Take a look if you are interested.

1.) Opening Statement by U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel: Role of Hedge Funds in our Capital Markets
2.) Statement by U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel IN SUPPORT OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL VISITORS CENTER DEADLINE ENFORCEMENT ACT

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Hedge Funds, Vietnam Memorial

"Hagel Statement on President Bush’s Speech to the Nation on Immigration Reform"

Press release from Chuck Hagel's office:

May 15th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) issued the following statement tonight regarding President Bush’s address to the nation on
immigration reform:

“I support everything the President said tonight. His speech
covered all the critical issues that are part of this problem; bringing law
enforcement to our borders. I was especially pleased he used the Senate bill as
a model for comprehensive immigration reform. I thought the President spoke
clearly, directly and was very convincing. Now we must go forward and take the
next two weeks to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate.”

From his official Senate website.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Immigration reform, President Bush

Hagel Press Release

Here is a press release from Senator Hagel's office:

May 11th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today released the following joint statement regarding the unanimous consent agreement to bring comprehensive immigration reform legislation back to the Senate floor Monday:

"Under the unanimous consent agreement reached today, the Senate will resume the immigration debate next week. Senate Republicans are united in their commitment to an open and full debate on multiple amendments -- just as we have done on other bills of this magnitude like bankruptcy and class action reform.

"We are willing to put differences aside so we can get on with the important work to be done securing our borders and grappling with the 12 million illegal immigrants currently living in our country. We are also in agreement that efforts to curtail the debate prematurely will only derail this process. We call on Senate Democrats to allow an open debate and votes on this complex and challenging issue."

It can be found at his official Senate website here.

Hagel on ABC's This Week

Chuck Hagel was on ABC's This Week this morning and you can see the segment of the show. Check out the video. The topics are the upcoming confirmation hearings of Gen. Hayden and the NSA programs, as well as immigration reform and the possibility of using the National Guard to police the border.

What can I do to help (part 3)?

One more way that you can help Chuck Hagel on the road to the White House is to donate money. Two ways to do this are to donate to his PAC, Sandhills, and/or to his Senate campaign.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, 2008 Election

The odds

One blogger, The Jaker, has put out the odds for the 2008 Presidential race as he now sees it. Interestingly, Chuck Hagel had the 4th best odds out of the Republicans, at 10:1. That's pretty good for now.

Chuck Hagel 10:1. Could Hagel fill the void? He's railing against the party lately, which is potentially both good and bad. But if not him, then who else could challenge McCain? For now, Hagel stays at 10:1.

The site has a rundown of all of the odds and why each candidate is at what they are.
Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, 2008 Election, Odds

Hagel Speaks at Polish Embassy

The Hill had an interesting short piece about Senator Hagel yesterday.

Call me Sen. Hagelski

Looks like Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) is making a pitch for the Polish-American vote as he ponders running for president in 2008.

Hagel, whose state contains only 62,475 of the 8.97 million Americans of Polish descent recorded in the 2000 census, was the featured speaker at a Polish Embassy luncheon Friday to mark the 215th anniversary of the Polish Constitution, the world’s second oldest, behind the American Constitution.

Hagel said he is proud of his Polish heritage and noted that his grandmother emigrated to the United States from Poland with her parents and 13 siblings. “They were very busy in those days,” he quipped. Hagel’s grandmother’s name was Koukelewski; Hagel’s name is German.

To bolster his Polish ties, Hagel brought with him part of “the little Polish cabal in my office,” Banking Committee Staff Director Joe Cwiklinski (“Now, there’s a Polish name,” he said) and Rexon Ryu, counsel to the Foreign Relations Committee, whose name isn’t Polish but his mother is.

Hagel’s Polish ties could be a political asset in New York, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the five vote-rich states with the largest Polish-American population.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Polish

What can I do to help (part 2)?

Now for part two in our series on what you can do to help put Chuck Hagel on the road to the White House. (Part one is here.)

A key element is simply spreading the word. Chuck Hagel doesn't have the national name recognition that other potential candidates have. Talk to people about Chuck Hagel and discuss why he might make a good President.

Also, buy merchandise and get his name and the idea of him running for President into people's heads. At this point getting people to think about the possibility is key. Also, getting those people that are likely to volunteer on a campaign or donate money to think about Hagel for President is important, as they are more likely to be thinking about it earlier than your average person.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, 2008 Election

Senator Hagel speaks on Iran

Senator Hagel wrote a compelling piece for the Financial Times regarding Iran. The full text can be viewed on his web site or if you have a subscription at FT. It is one of the best pieces I have read on the complex and difficult subject of Iran.

"America’s strategic policy toward Iran must be comprehensive and include a wide-lens view of Iran and the entire Middle East. It is a strategic mistake to believe that the US can successfully pursue a policy that segments Iranian and US interests. Iraq, nuclear capabilities, terrorism, Israel and oil are all part of an Iranian puzzle game that cannot be played one piece at a time. A clear inventory of Middle East realities frame America’s options and policies."

American Footprints had a nice post regarding Chuck Hagel's piece on Iran. Foreign policy is one of Chuck Hagel's strengths and is a critical reason for why we should support him to be the next President.

Update:
The Washington Post has a nice article on Senator Hagel's call for diplomacy with Iran along with others.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Iran

National Teacher Day

Today is National Teacher Day. In the spirit of that, a post about it.

NEA's "Most Memorable Teachers" list (http://www.nea.org/teacherday) contains candid comments that provide a snapshot of the teachers who made an impact on more than 100 celebrities and notable public figures. Here is a glimpse of what some had to say about their most memorable teachers:

 "Ms. Herrod inspired me, she challenged me,
 she communicated with me and she taught me. 
 The essential ingredients for a memorable teacher."
    -- Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)

Source: NEA Press Release
Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, NEA

The Daily Kos discusses Chuck Hagel

The biggest liberal blog on the web, Daily Kos, has an interesting piece on Chuck Hagel. The comments I found to be particularly interesting, as they certainly show a range of feelings about Chuck Hagel.

Here are a few of the interesting comments that people have left on the post. Granted, many of them dislike Chuck Hagel as he is a conservative. What impressed me was how many respected him even though they disagreed with him on most issues.

"He's never tried to hide the fact that he's a conservative. His opposition to Bush is a matter of principles (some of which I agree with) and a critique from the right.

I think he'd make a formidable candidate, but I don't think he'd fool anyone into thinking he's a moderate.

For that, I have to give him some grudging respect."

Another:

"Republican Stealth Weapon

He is the one republican I think could win, if he could nominated. I don't think he can get nominated, just because of the type of statements listed above.

He appeals to me much more than McCain. On the surface, he appears to be a man of principle. Just what everybody is looking for."

Another:

"Hagel is in no way a liberal, of course (anyone who took that part of the post literally needs to check his snark-o-meter). But the thing about Hagel that pisses off the Republican establishment is that he's more devoted to conservative principles than he is to winning. His attitude is, if you sell out your country in favor of your party, who cares if you're winning?

Alas, I still wouldn't vote for him, because I am not a conservative, and I do not believe in conservative principles, but I like him because of his willingess to say "win at all costs" is not an acceptable way to govern."

Check out the post and add your own thoughts on Senator Chuck Hagel.
Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Daily Kos

What can I do to help (part 1)?

This is the first in a series of posts that discuss what everyone can do now to help make the road to the White House a possibility for Chuck Hagel.

One of the key things that must be done is networking. A grassroots movement must be built with people able to communicate. To further that, fill out the form on the right hand side of this page. Also, join one of the Chuck Hagel for President Yahoo groups (Hagel for President, Missouri for Hagel, South Carolina for Hagel), or make your own. If you have other ideas for how to build a network, please share them.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel

Senator Hagel Shows Fiscal Responsibility

One of the major issues facing our nation is our national debt and the budget deficits that the federal government has been running for the last few years. One of Chuck Hagel's priorities is fiscal responsibility. He has shown once again that he acts on that and isn't all talk like some others are.

May 4th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate voted to pass a $109 billion emergency spending bill today by a vote of 78 to 20. U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) voted against the bill because it far exceeded President Bush’s original request for $92.2 billion in emergency spending to pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. The Senate bill now includes billions of dollars in unrequested funding for projects that do not require emergency funding. President Bush has threatened to veto any emergency spending legislation that exceeds his request.

“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 he requested. I support him and will support his veto. Many of these projects are worthwhile but they should be funded through the normal appropriations process where there is accountability, not stuffed into an emergency bill. The American people deserve better than a U.S. Senate out of control with no fiscal discipline – further eroding the economic strength of this country, and continuing to pile up more and more debt for future generations,” Hagel said.

The House passed an emergency spending bill that cost $91.9 billion. Differences between the two bills will now be negotiated in a House-Senate Conference Committee.

The press release is from Senator Hagel's official site.
Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Deficit Spending

Hagel is an Anti-Pork Hero

Porkbusters has issued their latest report card on the Senate and Chuck Hagel is an Anti-Pork Hero.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Pork, Federal Spending

Another on-line poll

Vote for Chuck Hagel at the on-line poll at Krusty Konservative (the poll is on the left side of the page a little ways down).

Update:
If you haven't already, vote for Chuck Hagel at the GOP Bloggers 2008 Primary Straw Poll.

An amazing assortment

I found another site that sells Chuck Hagel for President merchandise, but I have not seen one with this variety before.

"Chuck Hagel for President shirts, t-shirts, stickers, greeting cards, posters, magnets, buttons, mugs, calendars, mouse pads, clocks, tile boxes, hats and more. Great gifts."

I think it was the Chuck Hagel for President thong that really got me, though.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, 2008 Election

Lung Cancer Resolution passed by the Senate

The Senate passed Chuck Hagel's Lung Cancer Resolution yesterday. The press release is below.

May 3rd, 2006 - WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Resolution 408, introduced by U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) calling on President Bush to declare lung cancer a national public health priority, passed the Senate last night by unanimous consent. The resolution calls on the President to increase funding for lung cancer research, develop early detection lung cancer screening programs and appoint an advisory committee to oversee and coordinate efforts to reduce lung cancer mortality rates.

"A coordinated, comprehensive effort by the federal government to reduce the lung cancer mortality rate is critical. It is estimated that over 900 Nebraskans will die of lung cancer in 2006. This resolution is a positive step in our efforts to detect and prevent this deadly disease," said Hagel. Nebraska will be the first in the nation to initiate a state-wide screening program for lung cancer.


The legislation lays out a multi-agency action blueprint for reducing lung cancer’s high mortality by at least 50 percent within the next 10 years. The legislation emphasizes the need for a carefully coordinated approach among the federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Department of Defense, in focusing on earlier detection and more effective treatments.

"By coming together and working as a team, we can make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans who have been affected by this disease," said Lung Cancer Alliance President Laurie Fenton.

Yahoo news also has the story.

"Laurie Fenton, president of the Lung Cancer Alliance, praised Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)"

April Poll Results from The Next Prez

The April polls from The Next Prez are closed and the results are in: Chuck Hagel came in 2nd among the Republicans!

Selection		Votes
John McCain	37%	94
Rudy Giuliani	13%	32
Chuck Hagel	23%	59
Condoleezza Rice	11%	28
Newt Gingrich	15%	39
252 votes total

New polls are up for May over at The Next Prez.