Chuck Hagel Tests the Presidential Waters

California Literary Review ^ | January 3, 2007 | Charlyne Berens

[teddyballgame]

Hey Chuck could you hold this anvil while you "test the waters".

[Jaysun]

I'd run, too...but my wife won't let me.

Don't let that hold you back. I rolled over in bed the other night and said, "Well, I guess I just become leader of the free world." And she said, "Why don't you try cleaning up your garage first."

But hey, there's plenty of time to work on them. Just point out what a nice place you'll be moving to.

[Night Hides Not]

That's why I am encouraging other libertarians to support his candidacy, because he will also appeal to traditional (non-neo) conservatives.

ML, is it your opinion that FreeRepublic is dominated by neo-cons?

My experience on FreeRepublic (8+ years) tells me that FreeRepublic is dominated by true conservatives, not the Bill Kristal/neo-con types.

Doesn't matter, though. Hagel might be able to raise some money, but he'll never garner any votes in the South, to include Texas.

If Hagel got every Libertarian vote, he'd still finish fourth in a three horse race.

[Night Hides Not]

And she said, "Why don't you try cleaning up your garage first."

Damn! You must be my long-lost brother in law!!!

My wife has six sisters...

[mombonn]

Hagel, Hillary, what's the difference? They're both despicable.

[JSDude1]

they are not "extreme social conservatives". It isn't "extreme" to role back tyranous Judical decisions or the protection of innocent human life which is at the heart of their "social conservatism". (With all due respect.)

Hagle may be a fine man (I don't know), neither is he my senator, but he seems like a compromiser to me, not a true RR Conservative, maybe I am wrong, but I just think there are "BETTER People" out there..(somewhere I hope Conservative "X").!

[PresidentFelon]

Hagel is a lying, self-serving, backstabbing scumbag who thinks the McCain model, attacking other conservatives to gain the fawning adoration of the liberal press and get extra air-time, will carry him to higher office. I wouldn't piss on him if he were on fire, and I certainly would never vote for the little weasel. I will never vote for any "conservative" that trashes other conservatives just to get invited on TV by the likes of Stephanopoulas or Russert.

F*#K Ch*#k Hagel....I could not hate the slimy traitor more.


PF

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Hey, I thought he was a RAT!

[KC_Conspirator]

A Beltway Republican told me that he thought Hagel had a chance to win the GOP presidential nomination. I could control myself and instantly laughed in his face.

[AdvisorB]

RAT or not, his supporters are ready to take the plunge....

[Arizona Carolyn]

Where do some of these men get their ego from. I wouldn't vote for Hagel, period! If anything, he's angling for the far left votes.

[ElPatriota]

..Hagel is a lying, self-serving, backstabbing scumbag who thinks the McCain model, attacking other conservatives to gain the fawning adoration of the liberal press and get extra air-time, will carry him to higher office. I wouldn't piss on him if he were on fire, and I certainly would never vote for the little weasel. I will never vote for any "conservative" that trashes other conservatives just to get invited on TV by the likes of Stephanopoulas or Russert....

Gosshhh... If I could have said like that!... [sigh]. You said it beautifully!... WHY... WHAT MAKES this A** think he should even consider being a president?... (when MacaCain is there?)

I guess all these politicians have not recognized the advent of the Internet... and how the web allows - the people - to communicate and exchange views... but especially NOT TO FORGET as quickly as we used to Yes we would forget since we were basically isolated and then the MSM would do the rest... But no more!

Is it any wonder why weasels McCain, social-lefty Gulliani and questionable-character Romney, are not gaining any traction really?... even with all the exposure the MSM has already given them?

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

Don't confuse the Libertarian Party (big-L) with the ideology of libertarianism (small-l). I'm a member of the Republican Party, but a believer in libertarian philosophies.

[Night Hides Not]

Yes we would forget since we were basically isolated and then the MSM would do the rest... But no more!

Take the combined viewership of the Sunday morning news shows, and I'll bet it adds up to less than 10 million, or less than 3% of our population.

IOW, outside of the Beltway/NY/SF/LA, nobody watches.

Still, Pubbies will sell their souls to be on Meet the Press. Hagel and McCain are the worst of that bunch.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

ML, is it your opinion that FreeRepublic is dominated by neo-cons?

There's a heavy presence, but no, I would not say that they dominate. I do frequently feel like the board is dominated by anti-free market, anti-free trade, anti-immigration Pat Buchanan/Tom Tancredo (and now Duncan Hunter) fans. I want the GOP to nominate a candidate who's both pro-business and not a neo-con, as well as somebody who will cut both taxes and spending, and Hagel seems to be the best fit for that candidate.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

they are not "extreme social conservatives". It isn't "extreme" to role back tyranous Judical decisions or the protection of innocent human life which is at the heart of their "social conservatism". (With all due respect.)

I support rolling back many of those court decisions, including Roe v. Wade. What I find extreme are things like the Federal Marriage Amendment which transfers power from the states to the federal government, and intervenes in the personal lives of citizens. I also find much of the rhetoric used arguing for such laws to be extreme ("Defending marriage is the ultimate homeland security", etc).

Also, for the record, I speak only for myself. I disagree with Senator Hagel on several issues, but I am open to the idea of compromise, a concept which people of all ideologies seem to have forgotten about.

[Hat-Trick]

I don't know about embarassed, but definitely disgusted with Hagel. I wanted to puke after hearing him introduce Kofi for Kofi's farewell address.

I'm not so sure how many of us Nebraskans realize that Hagel is an open-borders globalist, who would prefer to piss away our constitution and sovereignty on the alter of the UN and it's OWO agenda.

[Hat-Trick]

alter=altar

my bad....

[Jaysun]

Damn! You must be my long-lost brother in law!!!

My wife has six sisters...

Six? Wow. I'm sure you got the pick of the litter. Mine has two brothers and several personalities, depending on the time of the month.

[JSDude1]

Well, MNLibertarian (Can I call you that it's much shorter than your true handle? ;)), the reason why conservatives such as myself support measures like the FMA, and don't see it as extreme is because the courts (Such as in Massachusetts or NJ) have, or are on the road to Federalize "force upon the states" such issues as "gay marriage"-which they will somehow..find a 'right' to in the US federal Constitution. It is the courts who are granting gays "special rights" through marriage/unions that conservatives oppose, none of these decisions have been done ''voluntarily'' throuhg the legislature, (or even popular mandate) ala a State Constiutional Amend/Referendum.

Contrarily, homosexuals should be respected, but their behavior NOT SO MUCH, and neither does the federal government have any purpose in granting them "special rights" ala marriage/unions through courts no less..

(I am of the opionion that when the issue of "gay marriage" comes before the courts:That they just say "hey we don't have any authority to rule on if gays have any extra "right" to marry someone of the same sexual orientation or not, because it is not specifically granted in any STATE Constituion, less the FEDERAL Const. !!