Hagel Resolution on Iran

Here is a press release from Senator Hagel's office: " Hagel Resolution Endorsing Administration Policy on Iran and Calling on Iran to Suspend Nuclear Enrichment Activities Passes Senate"

June 15th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Joseph Biden (D-DE) sponsored a resolution today endorsing the Bush Administration policy on Iran and calling on Iran to fully and verifiably suspend nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities. The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 99-0. Below is text from the resolution:

"Congress (1) endorses the policy of the United States, announced May 31, 2006, to achieve a successful diplomatic outcome, in coordination with leading members of the international community, with respect to the threat posed by the efforts of the Iranian regime to acquire a capability to produce nuclear weapons; (2) calls on Iran to suspend fully and verifiably its enrichment and reprocessing activities, cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and enter into negotiations, including with the United States, pursuant to the package presented to Iran by the High Representative of the European Union; and (3) urges the President and Secretary of State to keep Congress fully and currently informed about the progress of this vital diplomatic initiative."

From his official Senate Website

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Iran

Hagel and Committee Question Fannie May CEO

On Thursday Daniel H. Mudd, chief executive of Fannie May, was questioned by Hagel and the Senate Banking Committee.

"I think you failed, the entire board failed. . . . Now, can you sit there and tell this committee that you knew nothing about what was going on?" Hagel asked.

Read about it in the Washington Post.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Fannie May

4 months in

Today is the four month anniversary of the Chuck Hagel for President blog. Four months down, two years and five months to go.

Here are two posts that may be the best place to start:
What we can do now
Six Priorities

231st Birthday for the United States Army

The following is a statement by Chuck Hagel in the congressional record on the 231st birthday of the U.S. Army.

“Mr. President. I rise today to wish the United States Army happy birthday. It was 231 years ago today, June 14, 1775, that the Continental Army of the United States was formed.

Over the past 231 years, millions of men and women have served in the oldest branch of our armed forces. Their honor, courage, sacrifice and service are the foundation of America’s greatness.

The Army principles of “Duty, Honor, Country” is America. Every generation of Americans who have served in the United States Army – from the Continental Army to our fighting men and women serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan – have been shaped by these principles. The United States Army has shaped lives just as it has shaped our history. The United States Army has protected our democracy and helped make the world more secure, peaceful, and prosperous.

On this 231st birthday of the United States Army, we also recognize and thank the individuals who have sacrificed and served our country. They inspire us and will continue to serve as role models for future generations.

Happy Birthday to the United States Army. And, in the Army’s great rich tradition and as a proud Army veteran, I proclaim my annual Senate floor... HOOAH!”

From Southwest Nebraska News

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, U.S. Army

Chuck Hagel Biography to be Published

A book recounting the story of Chuck Hagel is due to be published in the near future.

Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward

By Charlyne Berens

“After reading Charlyne Berens’s very thorough study of Chuck Hagel, I am more than ever proud to call this fearless, outspoken, passionate, and principled man ‘friend.’ Choosing conscience over conformity, he represents the best of bipartisanship and patriotism.”—Bob Kerrey, President of The New School and former U.S. Senator

“Charlyne Berens’s terrific biography brings Chuck Hagel’s straight-shooting, courageous character to life. The Senator is one of a kind on Capitol Hill, and Berens’s book leaves the reader waiting to witness the next chapter in Hagel’s remarkable political career.”—John D. Podesta, President of the Center for American Progress and Chief of Staff to former President Bill Clinton

“In writing the first full-dress biography of Senator Chuck Hagel, Charlyne Berens has illuminated the experiences of a major contemporary public figure. Her honest and readable account of Hagel's personal life and career in politics is certain to be the definitive work on the subject.”—Ross K. Baker, Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University

In late August 2004 the Republicans were celebrating the nomination of incumbent George W. Bush for another term as president of the United States. In the midst of the festivities, Chuck Hagel, a senator from Nebraska, was telling reporters that the Republican Party had “come loose of its moorings.” This was a bold position for someone identified by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Boston Globe as a prospective 2008 presidential candidate, but it was not surprising coming from a Republican senator who had also recently remarked that the occupation of Iraq was poorly planned and that it had encouraged the spread of terror cells throughout the world. Who is Chuck Hagel, what is his story, and is he a genuine player on the national political stage? Charlyne Berens sets out to answer these questions in her close and careful look at one of the most interesting and independent figures on the current American political scene.

Having survived a tour of duty in Vietnam and having made a fortune as a pioneer in the cellular phone industry, Chuck Hagel seemingly came out of nowhere to beat a popular sitting governor in a race for the U.S. Senate in 1996. Berens charts Hagel’s quick rise to national recognition and influence and examines the background that has led Hagel to an outspoken internationalism that often puts him at odds with his own party and president. This complex, plain-spoken Nebraskan may be on his way to the White House. Charlyne Berens explains why and how.

It looks very interesting and we'll post again about it when it becomes available for purchase. Amazon.com says that it should be out this September, and you can preorder it from them now.

What we can do now

Here are a few things that people 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.

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 voter.

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.

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 (http://hagel2008.blogspot.com) 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.

If anyone else has ideas, please share them.

Good Hagel Quotations

BrainyQuote has some good quotes by Chuck Hagel. Here are a couple:

"Our foreign policy needs to support our energy, economic, defense and domestic policies. It all falls within the arch of national interest. There will be windows of opportunity, but they will open and close quickly."

"Any recommendations regarding climate policy must meet the demands of economic growth and development, especially in the developing world."

"Alliances and international organizations should be understood as opportunities for leadership and a means to expand our influence, not as constraints on our power."

Go and check out the whole batch.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Quotes, Quotations

Video of speech

You can get the video and the full transcript of Senator Hagel's speech on foreign policy at the October 2003 conference here. Senator Hagel's strength in foreign policy, diplomacy, and the security of our nation is one of his strongest assests as a Presidential candidate.

"Defining a Foreign Policy for the 21st Century"

There is a good speech that Senator Hagel gave back in October 2003 that nicely articulates some of his view on the world and foreign policy. Some of the references are a bit dated, but the challenges remain the same.

The risks that the world faces today are great, but so are the opportunities. America must not fear change. America must shape change, and lead with our world partners to a higher ground of peace and prosperity. Ours is a dynamic nation. Challenge and response are sources of strength. America will be the indispensable leader during this historic period of world transition, if it is wise enough to work with and through our friends and allies that have contributed to our vital interests since World War II. The courage and sacrifices of our armed forces in removing brutal regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq are testimony to both our strength and our values. Our economy remains strong. And our message of freedom and democracy has universal appeal.

America's strength also comes from a power that is not so easily quantified - a deep faith and spirituality that animates our nation. This orientation is absent in many countries and societies. The American character is much defined by how we believe in each other.

An American foreign policy for the 21st century will be worthy of America if it is wise enough to: accept that we enhance our standing in the world not just through our power, but through our purpose; understand that great power has its limits, and that we must share the heavy responsibilities of world leadership with our allies; appreciate that together we can shape the interconnected realities of the world into workable and positive policies that benefit all peoples; listen to our friends and understand their interests; and balance our policies and actions with both a present and future perspective.

Read the whole speech at Project Vote Smart.

Hagel in Denver

Hagel to Keynote Lincoln Club of Colorado’s Lincoln Day Dinner and be Special Guest at Rick O’Donnell for Congress Reception in Denver

June 2, 2006

Denver, CO – Senator Hagel will be the keynote speaker at the Lincoln Club of Colorado’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Denver, CO. The dinner is the Club’s annual event to help raise money for Republican candidates in Colorado.

In addition, before the dinner, Hagel will appear at a fundraising reception for Rick O’Donnell. O’Donnell is running for the open Congressional seat in the 7th District of Colorado. Senator Hagel will present O’Donnell with a $2,000 contribution from Sandhills PAC.

From Sandhills PAC

May Poll Results

Here are the results of the May poll of Republican contenders at The Next Prez.

Selection
George Allen	23 votes
Sam Brownback	12 votes
John Cox	25 votes
Bill Frist	17 votes
Newt Gingrich	25 votes
Rudy Giuliani	92 votes
Chuck Hagel	63 votes
Mike Huckabee	18 votes
John McCain	135 votes
Mitt Romney	53 votes
Michael Smith	39 votes

Chuck Hagel once again comes in at 3rd place, a good showing trailing only McCain and Giuliani.
Also, be sure to vote for Chuck Hagel in this month's poll at The Next Prez as well.

Open-Source Politics - The Internet and the 2008 Election

There is an intriguing article on how the Internet will play a role in the 2008 Presidential election, A New Open-Source Politics that is well worth a read.

Will 2008 bring the first Internet president? Last time, Howard Dean and later John Kerry showed that the whole idea of "early money" is now obsolete in presidential politics. The Internet lets candidates who catch fire raise millions in small donations practically overnight. That's why all the talk of Hillary Clinton's "war chest" making her the front runner for 2008 is the most hackneyed punditry around. Money from wealthy donors remains the essential ingredient in most state and local campaigns, but "free media" shapes the outcome of presidential races, and the Internet is the freest media of all.

...

Open-source politics has its hazards, starting with the fact that most people over 35 will need some help with the concept. But just as Linux lets tech-savvy users avoid Microsoft and design their own operating systems, so "netroots" political organizers may succeed in redesigning our current nominating system. But there probably won't be much that's organized about it. By definition, the Internet strips big shots of their control of the process, which is a good thing. Politics is at its most invigorating when it's cacophonous and chaotic.

Our mission here is to utilize the internet to help put Chuck Hagel in the White House in 2008. The political discussion on the internet is incredible and its influence will only continue to grow as we get closer to the 2008 election.