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."

[RJS1950]

Yeah, I wondered about that too. I heard him make the statement on the local Omaha news and it made no sense at all. The POS knows that he’s toast among most repubs here, but the idiots proposing to run for his seat are a spineless bunch for the most part. They don’t want to run unless he says he is not going to run. Guess I should resign myself to having two rat party senators from Nebraska because either he’ll run and lose or they’ll run a jellyfish when he finally decides at the last minute and the jellyfish will go under. The bright point is that either way he will be gone. At least with the rat party you know what you are getting — a traitor and crook, with RINOs you never know.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

If they put Hagel on top of the ticket it might be trouble. but if Bloomly is on top then the Dems are in trouble.

Fortunately the point of having Bloomberg on the ticket is that he would be putting up the bucks for the campaign out of his own pocket - and presumably would expect top billing.

I don't think you get that rich by being dumb enough to pony up a major fraction of a gigabuck for a longshot chance at a notoriously impotent office.