"Chuck Hagel and the Return of the Old Right"

It's been a long time since Barry Goldwater lost to Lyndon Johnson, but it hasn't been that long since his ideals were lost to the post-9/11 hypnotic blur that we as a nation have endured. While many throughout the country have harbored concerns in a debate about whether or not it is acceptable to sacrifice certain civil liberties in war time, I don't remember too many Republicans standing up to debate the idea of whether or not it is acceptable to sacrifice our core principles for the agenda of a few. Yet, we have, and the result has been the failures that we as a nation have been witness to.

Whether it be smaller, leaner, more limited government sacrificed to the notion of needing more bureaucracy to protect the homeland, forgetting that even the most imperialist of Republican Presidents warned to "Speak softly and carry a big stick," or pushing ourselves closer to isolation because our leaders are afraid to spar with half-wits on the radio who tell us that immigration is bad and free trade is to blame for a myriad of economic problems, we have been blinded by uncertainty resulting from leadership that has been placed in power not for their potential for greatness, but because they lacked the undesirable qualities that their predecessor possessed.

Finally, the idea that the "Republican party has come loose from its moorings" is starting resonate. I won't complain that those words have been spoken for well over two years and fallen on deaf ears, I am just happy that my fellow Republicans are starting to filter out the noise and truly listen for that pure note in the static. People are staring to remember what it was like when Democrats were the party of "Tax and spend." They are starting to remember what it was like to conquer an "Evil empire" without firing a shot. They are starting to remember what it was like to have leadership that stood behind the mantra, "The buck stops here." They are remembering these principles and looking for someone to once again embolden them.

So, enough of my banter that is far too rich in methodical bog and check out this article from Antiwar.com which articulates my points on a much clearer level. Enjoy.

"The Case For Chuck Hagel"

The Washington Post's Chris Cazilla has written an editorial laying out his case for Chuck Hagel as the Republican Presidential nominee in 2008. I understand that tomorrow he has an editorial that will be published titled, "The Case Against Chuck Hagel." Check out today's article, then check back here tomorrow for a link the second half.

National Journal's 2008 Presidential Rankings

The National Journal realeased its latest vision of who is "It" in the Republican presidential race. Our man Senator Hagel has jumped from #7 to #5, leapfrogging former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Again, this continues to be good news as the Hagel movement gains momentum without an official announcement. Check out the full story here.

Here's what the National Journal had to say about their new #5.

5. Chuck Hagel Nebraska senator Last Ranking: 7
He was anti-war before it was cool. He's flirting with an independent bid. He's getting lots of TV exposure. He's got the American people on his side. He's... a Republican. Who was the last real anti-war candidate to try and make it through a GOP primary? Romney. George Romney.

"Hagel's Internet Movement: A Success That Hasn't Occured Yet."

Ari Melber at the Huffington Post posted an article about Hagel's Grassroots movement. He specifically mentions our friends at hagel2008.blogspot.com and attention that has been being generated for Hagel because of the various blogs and groups. Check it out.


It is interesting that the Hagel Grassroots movement is getting a lot of attention. I venture to guess that it is a demand driven. While there is no offical Chuck Hagel Exploratory Web Site, yet alone an official announcement, there seems to be a lot of people wanting to find out as much about the Senator as possible. Hopefully blogs like this Florida For Hagel and Hagel2008 can continue to generate interest.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!
Please, take a moment to sign up on this page, the Hagel2008 page, and most importantly, the Sandhills PAC site. Then go recruit some of your friends to come view the sites and encourage them to sign up. Money will become a critical issue in the continuance of the Hagel for President movement, but that can be mitigated by bringing more and more people into the fold from the bottom up. So spread the word!!!

"Profile in Courage: U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel"

Heres another editorial about the Senator from the HuntingtonNews.net. Check it out.

New Poll In From Iowa

Thanks for Charlie over at Hagel2008.blogspot.com for pointing this out.

In a poll published by Strategic Vision, there is good news for the Hagelites. Senator Hagel is polling 5th (only 1 point behind Mitt Romney) and he hasn't even declared yet. (As you will note, I speak in a optimistic tone that the Senator will run)

However, I believe that the more important poll statistic is that 77% of those polled do not see President Bush as a Republican Conservative in the mode of Ronald Reagan. This is enormous. It truly shows that the Republican base is recognizing the variance between what has historically been the Republican platform and what it has morphed into over the last few years. If this mood in the electorate continues to hold up, this bodes well for Senator Hagel and the opportunity that he will have to connect with a Republican base that is weary and looking for someone with a fresh voice on its traditional principles.

Below are the results of a three-day poll in
the state of Iowa. Results are based on telephone interviews with
600 likely Republican cacus goers and 600 likely Democratic cacus
goers, aged 18+, and conducted January 19-21, 2007. The margin
of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

1. If the 2008 Republican presidential caucus were held today between, Sam Brownback, Jim Gilmore, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Chuck Hagel, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, George Pataki, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Tommy Thompson for whom would you vote? (Republicans Only; Names Rotated)

Rudy Giuliani 25%
John McCain 21%
Newt Gingrich 13%
Mitt Romney 8%
Chuck Hagel 7%
Tommy Thompson 2%
Tom Tancredo 2%
Sam Brownback 2%
Mike Huckabee 1%
George Pataki 1%
Jim Gilmore 1%
Duncan Hunter 1%
Undecided 16%

2. Do you see President George W. Bush as a conservative Republican in the mode of Ronald Reagan? (Republicans Only)

Yes 11%
No 77%
Undecided 12%

"Senator Chuck Hagel's Comments Should be a Wakeup Call to Congress"

Kevin Zeese at OpedNews.Com writes a nice article giving some history about Hagel. Most of the stuff he states is stuff that the die hard Hagelites already know. But, he gives some personal analysis on what it would mean to the general election if Hagel were to run and get the Republican nomination. Check it out.

"Chuck Hagel is Hot - John McCain is Not"

James Pinkerton at Newsday has a nice article about Hagel that you might want to check out. He makes the comparison that John McCain is becoming the new Bob Dole and Chuck Hagel is the new John McCain. Maybe "McCain Lite" will finally be left behind by the media. Check it out.

"A Reluctant Rebel's Yell"

Check out this article about Hagel in this week's Newsweek.

"Events Have Borne out Sen. Hagel's Skepticism."

The following is an editorial from the North Platte Telegraph in Nebraska, a newspaper which has made its displeasure with Senator Hagel known for his stance against the President. Take a read.



01/23/2007

NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH EDITORIAL

We often say we want our politicians to stand for more than just getting re-elected. We profess to want lawmakers who will take a well-reasoned, ethical stance, and then stand by it regardless of the political winds of the day, and what might be most expedient.

You don’t see many politicians who actually do that, however. In the rarified, presidential launching pad of the U.S. Senate, it’s common to, in the words of one failed candidate, “vote for the bill before I voted against the bill.”

By that standard, regardless of whether you agree with him or not, you’ve got to give credit to Nebraska’s U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel.

It is not uncommon to hear grousing about Hagel from Republicans, due to his ongoing disagreement with President George W. Bush over the way the war in Iraq has been conducted. We’ve done a little complaining about Hagel’s apparent lack of party loyalty on this very page. (He quickly fired back a personal note, citing his conservative voting record, and defending his independence.)

As the violence continues to escalate in Iraq, however, and as support for the war continues to drop, and as the president asks his critics if they have any better ideas about how to pursue the war, Hagel’s consistent questioning of the war has established a level of credibility on the issue that is enjoyed by few other politicians. As the president “changes course” in Iraq, it is obvious that Hagel was right all along in his dogged skepticism.

Asked last Sunday on the CBS program “Face the Nation” if Vice President Dick Cheney is correct that opposing the war gives aid to our enemies, Hagel replied that it is preposterous to think that the war should not be debated in Congress. He added he appreciated those who questioned the Vietnam war back in 1968, when he was serving in the Mekong Delta. Asked if he would ever leave his party, he told host Bob Schieffer that he had no plans to do so, but added that the Republican Party he voted for in 1968 was far different than the Republican Party today.

While in the past Hagel’s skepticism had the appearance of a prospective presidential candidate stomping out turf, at the expense of his own party’s president, events have borne him out, and today it is only fair to give Hagel his due. Today, he looks like a senator who is determined to avoid the mistakes he witnessed first hand in a previous war.

However you feel about Chuck Hagel, only the most ardent partisans will deny him credit for having spoken up when it was not popular to do so, and having stuck by his guns when it would have been far easier to have remained quiet.

If you like a politician who is his own man and stands up for what he thinks regardless of the consequences, we’ve certainly got that in Chuck Hagel. A state could do far worse in this day and age.

It is starting to become very REAL.

Welcome to an unofficial "Florida for Hagel 2008" blog that is designed to create interest in the State of Florida for a Chuck Hagel Presidential candidacy. While Senator Hagel has yet to announce if he is planning to run for the White House, it is my intention here to help create support that will influence the Senator to run.