Breaking- Hagel Delays Decision on Presidential Campaign
From Hagel's statement:
"I am here today to announce that my family and I will make a decision on my political future later this year.
In making this announcement, I believe there will still be political options open to me at a later date. But that will depend on the people of Nebraska and this country. I cannot control that and I do not worry about it. I will continue to participate in events across this country, raising money for my Political Action Committee to assist Republican candidates, and raising funds for a Senate re-election campaign."
We at the Caucus Cooler would like to hear your thoughts on Hagel's non-decision decision.
"I am here today to announce that my family and I will make a decision on my political future later this year.
In making this announcement, I believe there will still be political options open to me at a later date. But that will depend on the people of Nebraska and this country. I cannot control that and I do not worry about it. I will continue to participate in events across this country, raising money for my Political Action Committee to assist Republican candidates, and raising funds for a Senate re-election campaign."
We at the Caucus Cooler would like to hear your thoughts on Hagel's non-decision decision.
posted by Caucus Cooler at 3/12/2007
38 Comments:
Frankly I am surprised. Hagel is not one to beat around the bush so this non-announcement makes me wonder. I hope that he does decide to get in, but the longer he puts off an official announcement the less chance he has. Honestly, I think after today he will run for re-election to the Senate or retire.
Hagel has the knowledge, common-sense, and down-to-earthness that would be refreshing in this campaign. Too bad he is not running. C'mon Fred Thompson, your my last hope.
Way to stick your neck out, Chuck!
Fred Thompson and Chuck Hagel have very little in common. Fred Thompson is a hawk. Chuck Hagel wishes to cut and run. Fred is a great entry into the mix and demonstrates once again how deep the republican bench is.
From Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace:
WALLACE: What would you do now in Iraq?
THOMPSON: I would do essentially what the president's doing. I know it's not popular right now, but I think we have to look down the road and consider the consequences of where we are.
We're the leader of the free world whether we like it or not. People are looking to us to test our resolve and see what we're willing to do in resolving the situation that we have there. People think that if we hadn't gone down there, things would have been lovely.
If Saddam Hussein was still around today with his sons looking at Iran developing a nuclear capability, he undoubtedly would have reconstituted his nuclear capability. Things would be worse than what they are today.
We've got to rectify the mistakes that we've made. We went in there too light, wrong rules of engagement, wrong strategy, placed too much emphasis on just holding things in place while we built up the Iraqi army, took longer than we figured.
Wars are full of mistakes. You rectify things. I think we're doing that now. We're coming in with good people. We're coming in with a lot of different people. I know General Petraeus from when he was in Tennessee at Fort Campbell. He believes in the plan. He's convinced me that they can do the job.
Why would we not take any chance, even though there's certainly no guarantees, to not be run out of that place? I mean, we've got to take that opportunity and give it a chance to work.
I don't like Thompson. Go CHUCK!!!
By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 26, 2007; Page A01
His Republican colleagues regard him warily. The White House barely speaks to him. He is reviled by his party's conservative base.
To Sen. Chuck Hagel, Iraq is "the most divisive issue in this country since Vietnam."
Both parties have their Iraq war contrarians. For the Democrats, it is Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, whose steadfast support for President Bush nearly cost him his seat last year and forced him to run as an independent.
The Republican version is Hagel, a career maverick from Nebraska and..
the ONLY GOP senator to call for an end to the war.
Whatever. Put him in the category with F. Dalton Thompson and Newt: guys with egos big enough to think that somehow they can bend the process to their will. Apparently, we Americans won't be able to help ourselves and eventually will beg them all to join the race.
They should all grow a set and get in.
You don't get to be President if you aren't willing to set everything aside and make a real play for it. At the very least, I respect Rudy for finally figuring that out.
Hagel should drop out now.
Hagel is by far my first choice for President in 2008. He and Newt are both looking at the process as well as the result. It is not healthy for our nation to be this focused (as a whole, not just political junkies like us) on the Presidential election still nearly two years away.
Thompson will soon be in 2nd place for the 2008 horse race....
the horse race of Thompsons in the race.
HAHAHAHA!!! That's funny....
SANDERS 2008
I think the timing of the Hagel non-announcement today has a lot to do with the buzz around Fred Thompson created from Sunday's appearance on FOX. They planned this press conference last week and then, over the weekend, we get the Thompson interview and the media is focused on that. The timing just wasn't right for Hagel so his staff probably decided to make a non-announcement today to save the surprise for later.
Just my two cents.
Any word on Frank Stallone's numbers? I hear he has a 25 point lead on second place.
His idea of naming Steve Alford his Secretary for 80's haircuts is really playing well in Iowa.
He did raise slight concern when he mentioned naming Co-Sectretaries of State - agents Scully and Mulder.
WAR blogs that give people the opportunity to write anything!
Interestingly, Hagel launched a new official campaign website today:
http://www.hagel08.com/
those who laugh last, laugh best.
Nice website. President Hagel would be a nice alternative to the big three on both sides.
He's thinking of new ways to sell out the troops.
Hagel is as big a sellout as McCain. They guy filters everything through the Vietnam lens. He is as bad as Kerry.
More interesting choices by McCain. I can only presume that our colleagues at the Iowa McCain tent are scratching their heads, as am I.
"Leading The News
McCain won’t go clubbing
By Elana Schor
March 13, 2007
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is skipping his fourth conservative gathering in two months, declining an invitation to speak at the Club for Growth’s winter meeting despite his fellow 2008 hopefuls’ commitments to appear.
McCain raised eyebrows in Republican circles and among his own supporters last month by turning down a chance to address the Conservative Political Action Conference, which bills itself as the nation’s largest conservative conference. McCain was also a no-show at the Heritage Foundation’s members’ retreat this year and at the National Review Institute’s conservative summit.
The fiscal hawks at the Club for Growth, led by former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), will hear from several of McCain’s rivals in Florida later this month, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.).
Never before have I seen a candidate who comes across as an asshole no matter what he is doing. Does Hagel go out of his way to be irritating?
And the McCainuses wonder why conservatives consider them to be sell outs.
Here's the explanation for McCain not attending the Club for Growth event. I guess they don't think he's in sync with their views. That hurts with Fiscal Conservatives I'd think.
Posted at 9:35am on Mar. 13, 2007
So Perhaps We Can't Really Blame Sen. McCain For Bailing On Club For Growth
By Erick
Club for Growth President Pat Toomey has a hard hitting op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today about Senator McCain. Of course I agree with Pat, but I really can't blame McCain for not wanting to be a Daniel going into the lions' den.
In concluding his piece, Pat writes
While Sen. McCain's economic record is clearly mixed, a careful study demonstrates that even his pro-growth positions tend to be tainted by a heavy anti-growth undercurrent. This evidence, and the virulence of his rhetoric, suggest that American taxpayers cannot expect consistently pro-growth economic policies from a McCain administration.
The whole piece outlines McCain's big government ways and BCRA predilections.
Now, here's where I want to chime in. McCain has dedicated his last few years to regulating political speech. Were he to become President, you'd think he would want to appoint judges who would uphold his legacy of campaign finance reform. It seems to me that a judge who would find room in the Bill of Rights to regulate political speech as Mr. McCain has advocated would more likely than not also have a propensity to find abortion rights in the Bill of Rights.
In John McCain's zeal to uphold his legacy of restricting the first amendment, I believe we'd get some truly horrible judicial nominees -- ones who are willing to uphold Roe v. Wade and other bad ruling, just so Sen. McCain could protect his campaign finance reform legacy.
It's disappointing to see krusty bashing Hagel. Come on krusty, I thought you were better than that!!!
Now we know why McCain is not attending the club for growth event. Ouchy ouch!
Reprinted from NewsMax.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:26 a.m. EDT
Club for Growth: McCain Record 'Profoundly Disturbing'
Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain’s overall record on taxes is "profoundly disturbing and anti-growth,” according to the influential Club for Growth.
The 40,000-member organization, which is committed to lowering taxes, issued a "white paper” on the Arizona Republican’s record on taxes, spending and other issues in anticipation of its annual Winter Economic Conference, which begins on March 29 in Palm Beach, Fla.
The bottom line on McCain, according to the Club for Growth document, is that his "outspoken pursuit of anti-growth and anti-free-market policies in the realms of taxes, regulation, and campaign finance reveals a philosophical ambivalence, if not hostility, about limited government and personal freedom . . .
"The evidence of his record and the virulence of his rhetoric suggest that American taxpayers cannot expect consistently strong economic policies from a McCain administration.”
The Club takes McCain to task for opposing President Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 on the grounds that they would benefit "the most fortunate among us” at the expense of the middle class.
The Club stated: "McCain’s eager embrace of grossly inaccurate class-warfare demagoguery demonstrated, at best, a painful ignorance of pro-growth economic principles.”
The organization does offer praise for McCain’s "zealous effort” against wasteful spending, for his support of free trade in the Senate, and for his record on school choice.
However, the Club reserves harsh words for McCain’s record on political speech:
"Nowhere is Senator McCain's record on pro-growth issues more appalling than on the important issue of protecting political speech. Senator McCain was the driving force behind the ultimate passage of the McCain-Feingold Act, a bill that imposed grossly unconstitutional restrictions on citizen participation in the political process."
To Romney's credit, he has stated publicly his intention to repeal McCain-Feingold.
http://newsbusters.org/node/11383
Good for Bay Buchanan.
I hear Hagel jumped in the race because of his personal hatred of Frank Stallone. It appears Hagel got his nose out of joint when Frank Stallone refused to autograph of pair of parachute pants for him.
Frank Stallone would have done so had it not been for the fact that Chuck Hagel had been screwing Anne Coulter since Anne was only 17 years old.
Wow - sounds like some of McCain's competitors are shifting into overdrive trying to get some traction on his skipping the Club For Growth.
Nice try all but how about we look at the REAL reason he can't attend:
Time’s Real Clear Politics Blog: McCain To Be In Iraq During Club For Growth Event
by John Mcintyre
The McCain campaign informs RCP that Senator McCain will be overseas in a "war theater" at the time of the Club for Growth conference at the end of this month. This has been a long-standing trip and thus a conflict with the March 31st and April 1st speaking slots for McCain at the event.
This helps explain what on the surface looked like a bizarre political move by the McCain campaign to just "skip" the anti-tax, supply-side group's winter conference. The contrast of McCain's rivals being in Palm Beach while Senator McCain is with the troops in Iraq should mitigate the political fallout from his absence.
However, the speed with which his opponents on the Internet jumped on his absence coupled with Club for Growth President Pat Toomey's less than enthusiastic column in today's Wall Street Journal only highlight McCain's troubles with large blocs of the conservative electorate.
Looks like McCain continues to be the only one willing to lead the fight for success in Iraq.
Sorry haters - looks like it wasn't a philosophical difference at all.
How about you guys try and give McCain hell because he missed an important conservative event while in the Hanoi Hilton...
I think the reason for McCain skipping the event could only be one thing - FRANK STALLONE.
Frank Stallone threatened McCain not to go. Stallone said he would reveal McCain's: 4 broken hips, 3 bypass surgeries, nose job, nut removal surgery, Hair Club For Men membership, Strawberry Shortcake collection, and love for the word "injun".
Frank Stallone does not play games.
Boy, Krusy's site sure took a dump. It was turning into a joke anyway.
Enough of this Frank Stallone crap - surely you must be a Romney guy slamming on my boy McCain.
Well, Romney is losing his ass!!!
1:16,
Thank you for your admiration. Frank Stallone appreciates more than you know. Your kind words help energize him as he campaigns all over this great state - telling stories about the 1980s, wearing parachute pants, and recalling the tv show Fame.
You'll be hearing alot more from Frank Stallone.
"To Romney's credit, he has stated publicly his intention to repeal McCain-Feingold."
So, he was "for it before he was against it"?
1:39,
No he hasn't! NO HE HAS NOT!
Stallone did.
Uh oh - A McCain guy is trashing what he calls a "Romney guy." Too bad they were looking over their shoulder so much that they lost site of what was in front of them:
A new poll suggests former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani holds a wide lead over his fellow Republicans for the 2008 U.S. presidential nomination.
The poll, conducted by Opinion Research Corp., found Giuliani is the candidate favored by 34 percent of likely Republican voters, with his nearest rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, lagging with the support of only 18 percent, CNN reported Tuesday.
-- 18 percent?? Seriously?? Look for more desperate measures from Camp McCain.
Many plot twists remain before us in this Presidential race.
While Rudy looks strong now, and God knows he is a formidible candidate so this might be for real, let none of us forget that on New Years Day '06 we were looking at a 45 state landslide against Howard Dean.
All of the "Big 3" could win the nomination, and several of the other guys as well. Newt isn't in, and I think he might run to the top fast if he gets in. Maybe we ought to promote our candidates and leave the trashing to the Democrats.
C'mon-let's change our culture of cannibalism!!!
Why didn't at least the cooler mention where mccain was going to be before the uproar? No one heard anything about McCain being in Iraq, but we sure heard alot about his missing his FOURTH conservative event. Now, he looks defensive rather than leaderlike.
Are the press people asleep at the switch? The column to which you refer in real clear politics was dated 3-13 - AFTER the news about his absence. When did the trip get scheduled? I'd guess on 3-13.
His frequently noted quotes about his disdain for right wingers is reinforced by missing his FOURTH opportunity to speak to a huge group of them.
It seems to be a stategy to get libs to like him better because he doesn't "pander" to (speak in front of) conservatives. It makes no other sense.
It's reminding us all why we didn't like him in the first place. McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Feingold and Kerry-McCain.
here's the part the mccain supporter neglected to include in his reference to the real clear politics article: Note that it was first reported YESTERDAY.
As RCP was first to report yesterday: Sen. John McCain will not attend the Club for Growth meeting this month because of a prior committment in Iraq.
10:48,
McCain did not want to go because he fell down and broke his hip!
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