tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post116456214666673671..comments2023-07-20T09:04:19.367-05:00Comments on Chuck Hagel for President in 2008: "Leaving Iraq, Honorably"Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836878883695363300noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-1164648088239385402006-11-27T11:21:00.000-06:002006-11-27T11:21:00.000-06:00I don't mean to create a running argument here, bu...I don't mean to create a running argument here, but my point is Hagel will have to be big and bold on every issue to have even a longshot at the nomination. The most important quality of any Republican in the primary is loyalty. Since we waved bye-bye to that one long ago, Hagel needs to capture the imagination of primary voters to look beyond his betrayal of the President.<BR/><BR/>Ronald Reagan did not give voters a "hint" of "voodoo economics" in his campaign to deny George HW Bush his rightful turn as the nominee in 1980. Steve Forbes did not leapfrog Lamar Alexander to challenge the loyal Bob Dole (and make the cover of Time Magazine tearing up a 1040) by being sensible. The fact is every Republican candidate will, to some degree, agree and echo Hagel's op-ed in the months to come. There is very little there for anyone to take issue with.<BR/><BR/>Each of these other candidates leave quite a bit of room to be outflanked on tax reform, spending, Social Security and Medicare, immigration, jobs, trade, and yes, national security. McCain and Giuliani can afford to hit singles on these issues and win. Hagel needs home runs just to get in the game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-1164645343382058892006-11-27T10:35:00.000-06:002006-11-27T10:35:00.000-06:00There will be plenty of time for Senator Hagel to ...There will be plenty of time for Senator Hagel to provide a vision for the GOP as a candidate for President. What the piece does, however, is distinguish him as a possible candidate from the GOP pack, almost in the same way the RFK distinguished himself in 1968. <BR/><BR/>Also in the ope-ed are hints toward a greater vision for the Middle East, focused around the nexus of national security and economics. <BR/><BR/>It serves its purpose. <BR/><BR/>Let's see how quick it takes the chickenhawks to attack him personally.fprhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04712559348039503306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-1164644040693535592006-11-27T10:14:00.000-06:002006-11-27T10:14:00.000-06:00While I agree with the Senator 110% and would supp...While I agree with the Senator 110% and would support his candidacy over any other Republican, I can't help but feel the op-ed was a wasted opportunity to make a conservative case against the Bush Doctrine. The piece could have been a clarion call for a return of Goldwater/Reagan realism. It was, instead, either poorly written and reasoned, or the product of approval by committee, resulting in a rather bland and disjointed argument that lacks any noteworhty quality other than "a Republican against the war." Senator Hagel has been there, done that. It's time to move on, not bore us with a Nixonian "peace with honor" argument.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22609525.post-1164636258369203292006-11-27T08:04:00.000-06:002006-11-27T08:04:00.000-06:00It seems that the op-ed is being heard. Check out ...It seems that the op-ed is being heard. Check out CNN's comment at<BR/>http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/26/hagel.iraq/index.html<BR/>Cheers<BR/>DahliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com