Presidential Nominee Chuck Hagel Declares Iraq a Major Policy Fiasco

Republican Chuck Hagel, one of the loudest Iraq critics in his party, may find himself running as an independent if he feels that he would be unable to take his party’s nomination for president. As the Senate war debate continues, Hagel’s conservative voting record has been overshadowed by his forceful criticism of how Mr. Bush has handled the war, causing him to state, “it has been very, very lonely over the last four years.”

These days, however, with no republican running with his point of view, Senator Hagel is seeing a turn around with significant Republican fundraisers encouraging him in his run for presidency. However, he is still keeping a low profile as he decides if he wants to seek re-election to his senate seat, run for president, or completely step away from public office and return to the private sector. He has stated, however, that he believes that,

 “People have enough regard for him to know that he is not a flake, that he is a serious leader,” adding that, “Whether you agree with me or not – or whether you think I’d have a chance or not, that’s a different thing. But I don’t think anyone would doubt my sincerity to do a good job and do it right.”

On his Iraq position he states that at a town meeting in Nebraska, that drew a crowd of over 300 he received “an overwhelming response.” He qualifies the statement by stating, “That doesn’t mean, of course, that the hate mail to his Senate office has entirely stopped. (It hasn’t.)” The positive response, however, did provide him with reason to continue to ponder his decision on running for the White House. Further proof of his solid performance was called to national attention when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called Senator Hagel a “solid, thoughtful, conservative Republican, whose voice is invaluable to the nation, and who is an indispensable member of the Republican team.” McConnell then went on in an article published by the Lincoln Star Journal, on May 18, 2007, to say “Hagel’s Iraq warnings were right”

During the July 24 CNN/YouTube Democratic Debate, Joseph Biden and John Edwards were asked who they would choose as a running mate if the list were limited to either a Republican member of Congress or a Republican governor. In both instances Senator Chuck Hagel’s name was mentioned which gives one pause to wonder if he would not be the one person who could transcend partisan lines and unite the country.   

In general, it appears that Hagel, like former president Eisenhower will realistically emphasize cooperativeness on the international level and fiscal austerity at home. Along with that Hagel could possibly forge a bipartisan consensus to tackle critical issues including extricating the U.S. from Bush’s Iraq fiasco, dealing with immigration reform, and developing a health care reform that will benefit those without insurance. If these issues are also important to you visit www.drafthage108.com where there is an ongoing sweepstakes to get Senator Hagel to enter the presidential race.[tags]Chuck Hagel, Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican, Conservative, Iraq War, Immigration reform, Nebraska Senator, Lincoln Star Journal, McConnell, Eisenhower, presidential candidate, 2008 candidates, Republican, Edwards,[/tags]