Posted on 08/17/2004 1:12:44 PM PDT by areafiftyone
WAIT, DID I MISS THE END OF THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL RACE? After months of dropping coy hints, US Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) confirmed to a newspaper in his homestate that he will explore a 2008 run for President. "I will consider a race for the Presidency ... If I decide to run for the Presidency -- or seek re-election [in 2008] -- it will be for the right reasons, and the reasons are that I think I can make a contribution and help effect change in our country and have some influence over the direction of this country," he told the Lincoln Journal Star. At next week's GOP convention, Hagel plans to meet with the influential Iowa and New Hampshire delegations. Hagel -- a 57-year-old GOP centrist, wealthy former businessman, and Vietnam War veteran -- is John McCain's closest ally in the US Senate. Like McCain, Hagel has cultivated a reputation for being an outspoken political maverick. Even though Hagel is actively supporting President Bush's re-election -- and is the state co-chair for Bush -- it is not an unqualified endorsement.
Earlier this year, Hagel called on the Bush campaign to pull a TV ad that attacked Kerry as "weak on defense." Hagel defended Kerry's voting record on military issues, and Kerry's Vietnam service record. This week, Hagel was again critical of the Iraq War. "I don't think we planned well [for the Iraq War]. I don't think we prepared well. I don't think we understood what we were getting into ... [But] when it comes to the role of government and the entirety of the record, I am far closer to Bush than to Kerry," he explained.
I know who I will not be voting for in 2008.... Hagel.
Country-club, 20-20 hindsight hack alert.
Someone call Mark Levin on this. He'll go nuts.
hagel.......another RINO
Me neither!
Let this pompous little turd run all he wants. He won't get anywhere.
But that begs a bigger question. Who in the GOP would be a good candidate?
Great tagline, btw.
Who does he think would vote for him? It certainly wouldn't be republicans, after all, we've seen how disloyal he is.
Will Biden be his vice president?
That is what worries me. I don't see anyone right now who would make a good candidate. I do prefer one but most Freepers don't like him.
...and a gerbil is more sought after than a pack of smokes in maximum security.
Thank you. :-)
This is a joke, right?
Santorum perhaps?
the best candidate would be Rudy Giuliani, with Condi Rice as VP. but the base will likely not allow it, which is why right now, Hillary is likely to be president in 2008.
Hagel is soooo full of himself....unbelievable bag of gas.
Can't stand this guy.
Owens from Colorado, Romney from Mass.
Jebb Bush will rip him a new one.
Tomcrado perhaps?
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