Hagel To Write Book

OMAHA, Neb. - Sen. Chuck Hagel, a possible 2008 presidential candidate, will pen a book this year about the United States' future, his spokesman said Friday. The Nebraska Republican has reached an agreement on a book deal with Ecco, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.Hagel, 60, expects to sign a contract soon, spokesman Mike Buttry said. The Vietnam veteran will write the book this year, and it is planned for publication next winter, Buttry said, which could put it on bookshelves in the heart of the 2008 presidential primary season.The book deal has nothing to do with Hagel's possible presidential campaign, Buttry said. Hagel has said he will decide early this year whether or not to run. He has not yet reached a decision, Buttry said Friday. (Taken from the Beatrice Daily Sun.)

Hagel Co-Sponsors Bill to Cap Military Health Care Costs

The Southwest Nebraska News is reporting that Senator Hagel is Co-Sponsoring a bill to place caps on the health care costs which the Pentagon is set to nearly triple in its new proposed budget. Senator Hagel stated, “America’s career military service members make tremendous sacrifices in service to our country. We cannot burden our military retirees and their families with dramatic increases in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. It is wrong to increase healthcare fees on the men and women who have already contributed greatly to our nation before addressing current inefficiencies in the TRICARE system.” Check it out.

10 Questions from Katie Courtic

Check out the transcript from Katie Couric's 10 Questions with Senator Hagel.

DRAFTHAGEL08.COM

GET THE MESSAGE OUT! GO TO DRAFTHAGEL08.COM AND REGISTER. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.

Will a Former Mississippi Resident Become First Lady?

Here is an nice article in the Clarion Ledger about Mrs. Hagel. Check it out.

7 GOP Senators Back War Debate

Here is a Washington Post article discussing the issue of the votes in the Senate on debate as well as the letter sent to the Senate leadership by the seven GOP Senators. An interesting note in this article is that Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff states "There's no doubt in my mind that the dialogue here in Washington strengthens our democracy. Period," He added that potential enemies may take some comfort from the rancor but said they "don't have a clue how democracy works." Check it out.

Hagel: Debate This War

Senator Hagel, along with several other Republican Senators have stated that these war resolutions should be debated, or else they are threatening to shut down the Senate. Check it out.

Confused?

Has anybody truly figured what happened in the Senate this week? What were Republicans and Democrats truly arguing about? Anyways, there is now some clarification on the subject. The Washington Note has obtained an article written by several Senators, including Hagel, discussing their anger with the entire situation. Click here to read.

Understand that their are three opposing forces in this issue. The White House is trying to pull every parliamentary procedural trick known to man to keep this resolution from passing. Senators Lott and McConnell will do whatever it takes to assist. The Democrats can't see the forest for the trees and are afraid to put up a fight, instead trying to close the debate as quickly as possible because they want to appear to be the ones who are leading the fight against the President. With more debate, everyone will realize that this is a Republican/Bipartisan assault on the White House plan, not Democrats fighting Republicans. The bottom line is this, when these issues are fought the way they are being fought, the American people lose.

Hagel and Webb: Two Profiles in Courage

Here is an article that is a few days old, but it is one that is a must read.

Hagel and McCain Spar of Iraq Policy

Brian Knowlton at the New York Times worte an interesting article about Hagel and McCain's differing points of view on Iraq. It also highlights the rhetoric between the two men. This is a good read to check out.

Senator Hagel, not an Anti-War Candidate

Over the weekend, Senator Hagel denounced any notion that he is an anti-war candidate. Check out the story at the International Herald Tribune.

Senator Hagel to Receive Honorary Degree

Senator Hagel is going to receive an honorary degree from the College of William and Mary on February 10, 2007 at the annual Charter Day Ceremony where he will be the keynote speaker. For more information, click here.

The AP is Running With The Story

The AP is now running with the story coming out of WOWT in Omaha where Senator Hagel earlier Thursday predicted Senate passage of the non-binding resolution disclaiming the President's troop surge in Iraq. Check it out.

Hagel Predicts Resolution Passage

WOWT, an NBC affiliate in Omaha is reporting tonight that Senator Hagel predicts that the new Iraq resolution negotiated from the Warner resolution and the Hagel-Biden resolution will pass in the Senate in its new form. Check it out.

Passage of this bill will show more than just the Senate's disapproval of the President's "New plan" for Iraq. Passage will raise the status of Chuck Hagel as the man the started this movement to create debate and scrutinize this decisive issue. In addition, it should highlight Hagel's ability to not only work on a bipartisan basis, but also to work with differing opinions within his own party to come to a consensus, something that I predict is going to become more and more difficult.

Resolution Moves Forward

A little smile creeps across my face as I think back to the past week when numerous pundits were stating that this resolution was dead on arrival. It seems now that there may just be enough votes to override a filibuster. Check out the official statement from Senator Hagel's Office.



February 1st, 2007 - Hagel Cosponsors Bipartisan Resolution Putting Senate on Record Opposing Additional U.S. Troops to Iraq


WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) released the following statement today regarding his support for the revised Warner Resolution:

“After extensive hearings, negotiations, and debate, the Senate has taken an important step toward sending a clear bipartisan message against adding 21,500 new U.S. troops to Iraq. I have appreciated working with Senators Warner and Levin to meld our two different Congressional Resolutions into one bipartisan resolution. We approached Senator Warner several times to try and resolve the differences. Last night, we came together to produce this resolution. We have agreed to a responsible and constructive resolution that reflects America’s interests in Iraq and the Middle East.

“Next week’s debate will be important to the American people and put the Senate on record as to America’s future course in Iraq. War is the most important and serious issue Congress and the American people will ever deal with.”

"The Man Who Hijacked the Straight-Talk Express."

Steve Kornacki over at the New York Observer has written a new editorial expounding on many previous articles labeling Hagel as the new McCain. I pasted the sketch of Hagel from that web page here so everyone could take a look.

"Chuck Hagel: On Being Right"

Jeremy Jacquot of the Synapse, the student newspaper of the UC San Francisco, wrote an editorial about Hagel being a truly Republican Senator. Interestingly enough, it seems that Mr. Jacquot and I are on the same page, as their is an uncanny resemblance between some of my points in my previous blog and the points made in his editorial. Check it out.