Hagel Eyes Bloomberg As Possible '08 Running Mate [Says Party Has Been 'Hijacked'........]

WCBSTV ^

[Sub-Driver]

Hagel Eyes Bloomberg As Possible '08 Running Mate Republcian Sen. Hagel Says Party Has Been 'Hijacked'

(CBS) WASHINGTON The Republican Party has been "hijacked" and led away from its core values, Chuck Hagel, the Republican Senator from Nebraska, said Sunday on Face The Nation.

Hagel, who is still considering his options for the 2008 race, left open the possibility of becoming an independent and sharing a ticket with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"I am not happy with the Republican Party today," Hagel said. "It's been hijacked by a group of single-minded almost isolationists, insulationists, power-projectors."

Hagel said he will not decide if he is going to run for president until late this summer. He did not say if he would run as a Republican or as an independent. Asked by Bob Schieffer if independent candidates would be good for the political system, Hagel said they would be.

"What America will be looking at and wanting and demanding is honest, competent, accountable leadership," he said. "We need some new, fresh, independent ideas to lead this country forward."

After dining with former New York's mayor, who is also said to be considering a run for president as an independent, Hagel said people might want to consider the two on a ticket.

"We didn't make any deals, but I think Mayor Bloomberg is the kind of individual who should seriously think about this," Hagel said. "He is the mayor of one of the greatest cities on earth. He makes that city work. That's what America wants."

[MozarkDawg]

It's a sign Hagel might be going the John Anderson independent route, though he has a very different personality and appeal from Anderson's.

Which will end up the same as Pat Buchanan's indy run, made a big show of departing from the GOP ... only to be the GOP talking-head on all these political shows. If Hagel does leave the party to run, my bet is he does the Bob-Smith-Two-Step even sooner than Bob did it.

[okie01]

As for the Republicans, well Rudy or McCain would probaly cause mass defections among Republicans for a host of reasons. You said it yourself, you have "no desire to vote for Giuliani or McCain".. Well, what if that is that choice you have to make? Would you vote for either one of them or sit it out?

I won't argue that Hagel/Bloomberg wouldn't be attractive to some Democrats and independents.

I just see no reason for a Republican to be attracted. Giuliani's too liberal for you? McCain's too much of a maverick for you? Then, why on earth would you vote for Hagel and Bloomberg?

As much as I don't want to vote for Giuliani or McCain (especially McCain), I'd vote for either if they were the nominee -- vs any Democrat or the execrable Hagel/Bloomberg.

Sure, it's "the lesser of two (or three) evils". But do you honestly believe we should help elect the greater of two (or three) evils?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Idiot.

Been reading his own press releases, instead of recycling them in the toilet, for too long.

[Robert A Cook PE]

At this point, I would not suggest that Hagel/Bloomberg would win outright, but they could easily end up determining who does. I think they would capture 15% to 20% of the vote easily if we have Hillary vs. Rudy

Which gives Mrs Clinton the victory - just as he (Hagel) intends.

Without Perot - TWICE!! - Clinton could not have gotten enough EC votes.

[Jabba the Nutt]

An isolationist, power projetor? You don't know what an isolationist, power projector is? What a dummie! That's the searchlight that sends out the bat signal.

[mewzilla]

Related link, with some informative links on Bloombug...

Fmr. Bloomberg Adviser: '08 Run '80% Probable' if Parties Nominate Extremists (Romney an extremist?)

[HardStarboard]

>>>Hagel using “isolationist” as an epithet is pure comedy.)<<<

Hagel opening his mouth would be pure comedy....if it wasn't anti-U.S.A. and anti-U.S.Military.

[Norman Arbuthnot]

I just see no reason for a Republican to be attracted. Giuliani's too liberal for you? McCain's too much of a maverick for you? Then, why on earth would you vote for Hagel and Bloomberg?

I can't say that I would vote for Hagel/Bloomberg over Rudy, but I know that there are a significant number of Republicans who would not vote for Rudy under any circumstances and I understand where they are coming from. Most of them would probably not vote or even vote for a fourth party candidate.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

[okie01]

...but I know that there are a significant number of Republicans who would not vote for Rudy under any circumstances and I understand where they are coming from.

As do I. But I believe they'd be better off employing their energy promoting another candidate than having a conniption about Rudy.

Indeed, we'd all be better off...

[Mariebl]

Hijacked by isolationists, insulationists, power-projectors. Can’t quite picture what an isolationist power-projector would be.

I wondered that myself!

[TYVets]

Bloomberg / Giuliani

or

Giuliani / Bloomberg

It ain't going to happen!

[ClaireSolt]

Bloomberg, bless his heart, took over after Giulani and got right to work in the post 911 NY. He ommediately instituted draconian taxes on cigarettes, banned smoking in bars, and outlawed cell phones in theaters. When asked about the 600,000 illegals in NYC, he said the economy would collapse without them.

[Sonny M]

If you are correct then he uses language quite idiosyncratically People will not understand him and it will be a serious hindrance to his candicacy. This makes Bush seem like the great communicator.

I don't think he is going to run.

That said, I've noticed over the years that he refers to opponents of free trade as isolationists as well as anyone who disagrees with him on any kind of foreign treaty, I've seen him do it on TV a few times, though I can also say, I have never seen the man smile for any reason.

Seems like a pretty miserable guy.

[Pablo64]

Chuck Hagel is an embarassment to all of us in Nebraska. He might get himself elected King of the RINO's, but he will never be president of the United States.

He needs to just go ahead and have the 'nads to make it official and switch to the Dumbocrat party.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Bloomberg/Hagel????

Kucinich is gonna be heartbroken.

[neverdem]

Without Perot - TWICE!! - Clinton could not have gotten enough EC votes.

It depends on the issues as to whether third parties hurt the pubbies. We had relative peace in the 1990s, absent the Balkans and Middle East terrorism. Foreign policy wasn't much of a big deal.

John Anderson didn't hurt Reagon in 1980. George Wallace helped Nixon in 1968, IIRC. With Bloomberg on the top or bottom of a Unity08 ticket, gun control will be an issue. That helps the pubbies.

[justbeautiful]

Bloomberg actually polls more than zero. He gets 6-9% in some polls already.

[CPT Clay]

I’d say the senator has been hijacked.

[boop]

Isn’t Hagel the “isolationist”? He’s the one calling for withdrawal of the US from the Middle East. His statement is incomprehensible.

[kcvl]

"I am not happy with the Republican Party today," Hagel said. "It's been hijacked by a group of single-minded almost isolationists, insulationists, power-projectors."

Just because RINOs weren't able to hijack the party he is going to whine along with Christy Whitman. Good riddance.