The Draft Hagel movement issues press release

PRESS RELEASE - For immediate release

DRAFT HAGEL '08 MOVEMENT SAYS RUN, CHUCK, RUN!

Historical Opportunity Is at Hand for Nebraska U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel

Citing draft movements that have succeeded in encouraging politicians to run for office, including the first President of this nation, George Washington, and the thirty-fourth President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, backers of a "Draft Hagel '08" movement say that momentum is building for a Chuck Hagel candidacy.

"The party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan needs to come together again for a candidate who can take the Democrats' chief issue against the GOP away from them--the war in Iraq," said the group’s Chairman. "Nobody has asked more intelligent and searching questions about this war than Chuck Hagel, and this, combined with his Vietnam combat experience, gives him standing with a broad cross-section of the American voting public."

The group states, "At this time in our country's history, we need a leader who will guide our nation into the 21st century. We need a leader who understands that America is a nation of millions, not a few; that our foreign policy determines our standing in the world; and that our democracy depends on discussion, debate, and accountability. We admire Senator Hagel's service to his country and greatly appreciate that he speaks for its people. For these reasons, we strongly encourage Senator Chuck Hagel to run for President in 2008!"

Hagel has a natural appeal to the Republican Party's conservative base. A U.S. Senator from the nation's heartland, Hagel has top conservative rankings for his support on traditional values and fiscal responsibility. His supporters say that the two-term Senator is the one candidate who can bridge the divide between the social and economic conservatives in the modern Republican Party. Also, his pragmatic approach to politics makes him a conservative with crossover appeal, with support from many independents and Democrats. Senator Hagel has always practiced civility in politics, something that the electorate has increasingly called for following the 2006 election.

While serving in the Senate, Chuck Hagel has become one of the most prominent voices on foreign policy in the nation. He has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since entering office in 1997. Senator Hagel has a long history of leadership and experience in business, as well. In his business career prior to entering politics, Chuck Hagel was the President and CEO of multiple companies, providing him with critical executive experience.

"More people are beginning to realize that the best candidate the Republican Party has to offer is not yet in this race," said the movement’s Chairman. "But we hope to change that by not only urging Senator Hagel to get in this contest but also by educating the American people about this extraordinary leader, who has proven he will stand up for the will of the American people.”

To show your support, sign the petition to encourage Senator Hagel to run for President in 2008 by visiting the “Draft Hagel ‘08” website at http://www.drafthagel08.com/.

For more information, contact:

Jeremy Mullen

General Inquiries: press@drafthagel08.com

END
http://www.drafthagel08.com/pdfdocs/PR_02-28-07.pdf

"Hagel Statement on Announcement that the U.S., Iran and Syria will Attend Talks in Baghdad"

Chuck Hagel has been urging the President and his administration to engage Iraq's neighbors (particularly Iran and Syria) for three years now. The Iraq Study Group Report released at the end of last year said the same thing. It looks like the President has listened. Here is the press release from Chuck Hagel's Senate website:

Hagel Statement on Announcement that the U.S., Iran and Syria will Attend Talks in Baghdad

February 27th, 2007 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Iraqi Foreign Minister announced today that Iran and Syria will join U.S. and British envoys at a meeting in Baghdad next month to seek ways to stabilize Iraq. U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has repeatedly called for regional talks to address the situation in Iraq. Hagel released the following statement today in reaction to the announcement:

“This is an important diplomatic initiative taken by the Iraqi government. We will not achieve peace and stability in Iraq without a regional framework that includes Iran and Syria. This conference can be an important first step towards creating that framework,” Hagel said.

USA Today article

There's was an article in the USA Today a couple of days ago about Chuck Hagel.

"If I decide to get into this, I would run not just to make a statement," Hagel, 60, said in an interview last week.

Bottom line, if he's in, he's in to win.

Could the waiting game pay off?

Jake Thompson and Tim Elfrink have a piece in the Omaha World-Herald that makes an interesting argument: "Putting off getting into the '08 race could pay off for Hagel."

While Chuck Hagel has been contemplating whether to seek the presidency, 18 other politicians started running.

Two opted out of the race.

Two launched campaign efforts, then quit.

Still, Hagel ponders.
...
Political analysts say the delay could hurt - or help.
...
Hagel's views on the Iraq war - he supports beginning to withdraw U.S. forces this year - puts him in line with 66 percent of Americans who, polls show, oppose the war. That could be potent fuel for a campaign, Reed said.

"He'll have a lone voice on a hot issue, and that'll be the strategy," Reed said.

Hagel has waited so long now, he's reaching a point where it might make sense to hold off, perhaps until fall, said Chuck Todd, editor of the Hotline, an electronic newsletter that tracks American politics.

That would let the other candidates spend their money, knock one another around and, perhaps, wear out their welcome, Todd suggested.

"If he waits, he becomes the new flavor."
...
Hagel seems to be genuinely wrestling with the decision.

Those who have spoken with him say a big concern is the potential impact a presidential campaign would have on his wife, Lilibet, and their two teenage children.
...
He's working through other issues, too, such as weighing his ability to raise enough money for a campaign. He says he has been encouraged by what he's heard so far.

He said he won't run unless he's confident he could win, but it's even more important to him that he feels passionately about the race.

"You have to believe in something strongly enough to commit yourself to it," he said.

Could waiting pay off at this point? Vilsack just dropped out of the race due to money issues. Romney already seems to be losing his luster among the conservatives he is so actively courting. Would jumping in this early help Hagel? I know some in the draft Hagel movement have been getting impatient in waiting for him to announce his intentions, but there are opportunities and challenges for both a sooner or a later announcement.

What do you think?

Rolla Daily News On-line Poll

Head over to The Rolla Daily News website and vote for Hagel in their on-line poll.

"Hagel Speech on U.S.-Iran Relations at the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Conference on World Affairs"

Senator Hagel gave a speech on Iran yesterday that is well worth a read. Reading this speech reminded me why I do this blog: we need Chuck Hagel, with his wisdom and insight in foreign policy, in the White House. Here are some excerpts:

Forces and events in the Middle East cannot be neatly categorized. The swirl of Middle East history creates layers upon layers of complexity. There is little transparency in the Middle East. That is a reality that is inescapable and cannot be assumed away. To ignore this reality is to risk being trapped by false choices....false choices such as the question, “which is worse – Iran with nuclear weapons or war with Iran?”
...
On Afghanistan, the United States and Iran found common interests – defeating the Taliban and Islamic radicals, stabilizing Afghanistan, stopping the opium production and flow of opium coming into Iran. From these common interests emerged common actions working toward a common purpose. It was in the interests of Iran to work with the U.S. in Afghanistan. It was not a matter of helping America or strengthening America’s presence in Central Asia. It was a clear-eyed and self-serving action for Iran.
...
Two-thirds of Iran’s population is under the age of 30. Iran is undergoing a generational shift that will shape Iran’s outlook...and its opinions of the United States...for decades to come. Iran’s young people use the internet in large numbers, wear American jeans, listen to American music and are positive about America and the West. We do not want to lose this pro-American generation by turning them away from us. They are the hope of Iran. They bristle under the heavy yoke of the Ayatollahs’ strident limitations of personal freedom.
...
it was President Reagan who, in 1986, almost reached an agreement with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to abolish nuclear weapons. President Reagan understood the need for America to engage...to understand our friends and our adversaries...to explore our options...to identify common interests. President Reagan understood that great powers engage because they are secure in their beliefs and purpose but humble and wise in their policies and actions.
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We are living today at an historic transformational time in history. The great challenges of the 21st century will require U.S. leadership that is trusted and respected, not feared nor resented. America cannot project only military power. Inspirational leadership and confidence in America's purpose, not imposed power, will be essential for world peace. If we fail, we will lose the next generation in Iran and around the world. This would result in a far more dangerous world than any we have ever known.

The full text is available on his Senate website.

Concord Monitor Article

There's an article by Meg Heckman out today in the Concord Monitor about Chuck Hagel in 2008. It looks at a possible Hagel campaign from a New Hampshire point of view. Take a look.

State Sen. Bob Odell averages a phone call a day from someone curious about his old friend Chuck Hagel. Maybe they saw him on the Sunday morning talk shows, decrying President Bush's latest plan for Iraq, or perhaps they like his ideas about reducing the federal deficit.

Whatever spurs them to call, their question is usually the same: Is Hagel running for president?

Yeah, we wonder about that here too.

Oh, yeah. Did I mention that this blog gets a mention in the article?

Is he going to run?

We're still waiting to know whether or not Chuck Hagel will run for President (hence our efforts to convince him to run). It looks like we'll be waiting at least a few more days, according to this short article out today in the OWH.

"Chuck Hagel's Future: All Options on the Table"

There is a good piece ("Chuck Hagel's Future: All Options on the Table") at The Washington Note by Steven C. Clemons that's worth a read. Check it out. One of the topics that is addressed is some "informed gossip" about Chuck Hagel's thinking about 2008.

Video of Hagel on Meet the Press

You can see the video of Senator Hagel on Meet the Press from this morning on MSNBC's site.

One year anniversary

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of this blog.

The grassroots effort has expanded dramatically in the last year, with blogs and groups joining the effort and the Draft Hagel 08 site coming on-line most recently. Thanks to everyone that has gotten involved and to everyone that has visited this site since it began a year ago.

Book deal reported

Chuck Hagel has agreed to write a book. The Beatrice Daily Sun has the story:

Sen. Chuck Hagel, a possible 2008 presidential candidate, will pen a book this year about the United States' future, his spokesman said Friday.

The Nebraska Republican has reached an agreement on a book deal with Ecco, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.

Hagel, 60, expects to sign a contract soon, spokesman Mike Buttry said. The Vietnam veteran will write the book this year, and it is planned for publication next winter, Buttry said, which could put it on bookshelves in the heart of the 2008 presidential primary season.

The book deal has nothing to do with Hagel's possible presidential campaign, Buttry said. Hagel has said he will decide early this year whether or not to run. He has not yet reached a decision, Buttry said Friday.