[Sonny M]

Hagel may be motivated by jealousy, as you say, or he may have a sort of maverick or knight on a white horse complex -- a windmill tilter.

I'm betting a little bit on bitterness. Hagel was one of the top choices for the Vice President slot under Bush. In fact he even bought some of the domain names for a Bush/Hagel ticket. Rove liked him and wanted him, since Hagel had 3 solids, he was conservative, a vietnam veteran, and known for being very independent, but never the less solid. Dick Cheney even interviewed him (Cheney was head of the committee to pick the VP for Bush, him and his committee's conclusion was that he was the best guy).

Hagel was mad, Rove fought against Cheney being named tooth and nail, lost that battle and moved on. Hagel probably still holds a grudge over it.

[beckett]

I didn't know Hagel was one of those who made a pilgrimage to the Crawford. Interesting.

[Williams]

Anytime I see Hagel he is dissing Bush on this iisue. He did it before the war and he's still doing it. I think he's a jerk and I'm glad they didn't put him on the ticket. For one thing, he does not support the Bush foreign policy, which I and most Americans do support.