tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400990172517802222023-06-20T22:03:39.624-07:00Chuck Hagel 2008Independent News and CommentaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-19898551619531206572007-03-12T09:08:00.000-07:002007-03-12T09:16:09.541-07:00Hagel Not Running for Now - Statement<span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chcuk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hagel</span> has this morning said that he will make a decision on his political future later this year. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hagel</span> was widely expected to announce if he would seek the Presidency, or continue as a Senator from Nebraska.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">However, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hagel</span> is leaving his options open, saying that he believes that there "...will still be political options open to me at a later date."</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hagel's</span> statement:</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">America stands at an historic crossroads in its history. It is against this backdrop that I find myself at my own crossroads on my political future.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Burdened by two wars, faced with dangerous new threats and global uncertainty, beset by serious long-term domestic problems and divided by raw political partisanship-America now reaches for a national consensus of purpose.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">America's response to the challenges and opportunities that confront us today will define our future. Finding solutions to these challenges and capitalizing on these opportunities will not wait until the next election.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">I have worked hard over the last ten years on foreign policy and national security issues, climate change and energy, education, entitlement reform, especially Social Security reform, health care, veterans benefits, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">GSE</span> reform, and immigration reform.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">This year will be an important year for these critical issues- and I intend to offer new initiatives on each of them. I want to give these and other subjects my full attention over the next few months. I believe it is in the interests of my Nebraska constituents and this country that I continue to work full time on these challenges.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">America is facing its most divisive and difficult issue since Vietnam-the war in Iraq, an issue that I have been deeply involved in. I want to keep my focus on helping find a responsible way out of this tragedy, and not divert my energy, efforts and judgment with competing political considerations.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">I am here today to announce that my family and I will make a decision on my political future later this year.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">In conclusion, I would first like to commend my colleagues who are currently seeking their Party's presidential nomination. I admire each of them for their willingness to put themselves on the line and pursue their strong beliefs and ideals.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">I believe the political currents in America are more unpredictable today than at any time in modern history. We are experiencing a political re-orientation, a redefining and moving toward a new political center of gravity. This movement is bigger than both parties.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">The need to solve problems and meet challenges is overtaking the ideological debates of the last three decades-as it should. America is demanding honest, competent and accountable governance.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">A global political readjustment is also in play today...and will respond to America's leadership. What is at stake for the future of America is larger than just American politics. Politics is simply the mechanism democracies use to affect responsible change. The world is not static, it is dynamic.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">At the beginning of my remarks I said that America is reaching for a national consensus of purpose. We will find it because Americans expect it and will demand it. I do not believe America's greatness is lost to the 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> Century. There are chapters of America's greatness yet to be written. I intend to continue being part of America's story.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-71895044528090818912007-03-08T23:57:00.000-08:002007-03-12T09:19:00.966-07:00Hagel To Announce Monday?<span style="color:#000066;">Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hagel</span></span> is expected to announce his decision next Monday on whether he will seek the Republican nomination for President.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hagel</span></span> will be giving a press conference at 10am at the University of Nebraska.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hagel</span></span> has been a staunch critic of the Bush <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Administration</span> over the failures in Iraq. However, on all other issues, he has been one of the strongest supporters of the Administration.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">With all the other major candidates from the GOP being staunch supporters of the war, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hagel</span> might emerge as a good choice for candidate's looking for a distinct difference from the current administration in regard to foreign policy.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-78667636527498552212007-02-18T05:48:00.000-08:002007-02-18T05:51:14.241-08:00Chuck Hagel on Meet the Press<span style="color:#000066;">Senator Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hagel</span> will today again take part in an Iraq discussion on Meet the Press with Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Russert</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hagel</span> was one of 7 GOP Senators yesterday to vote with the Democrats on the Iraq Resolution in the Senate.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Also on the show will be White House Press Secretary, Tony Snow.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><em><span style="color:#000066;">"A showdown this weekend on Iraq in both the House and Senate. We'll get exclusive reaction from White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and then speak with two Senators opposed to the president's troop surge - Republican Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hagel</span> of the Foreign Relations Committee and Democrat Jack Reed of the Armed Services Committee."</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-65072596305936509572007-02-04T20:57:00.000-08:002007-02-07T07:19:15.174-08:00Hagel on This Week<span style="color:#000066;">Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> appeared this morning on ABC This Week to discuss the Iraq war debate in the Senate, but unfortunately for all of us, his colleague John McCain appeared on the same program but separately. Perhaps we were hoping for too much.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Have a look at the program </span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2848237"><span style="color:#660000;">here.</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-84468008611545765122007-02-03T12:10:00.000-08:002007-02-03T12:18:56.936-08:00Hagel on ABC 'This Week' with McCain<span style="color:#000099;">Well, this is certainly going to be some match up. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> and John McCain will be appearing on ABC's This Week with George <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Stephanopoulos</span> tomorrow in what is sure to be a fiery event.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> has been extremely active on news programs in recent weeks, and is actively considering a bid for the Republican nomination. He will announce his decision within the next 2 weeks.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">His passionate argument against the escalation to the Iraq war has been one of the highlights of the Senate Foreign Relations <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Committee's</span> hearings into Iraq. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">McCain has been such a strong advocate for more troops to be sent to Iraq, that the recent announcement by President Bush has been called the "McCain Doctrine" by some opponents and pundits.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">So expect the sparks to fly tomorrow. When <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> gets fired up, he really gets fired up.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Could this be the first real debate between two possible Republican nominees?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-63084881815998861532007-01-29T23:59:00.001-08:002007-01-30T23:56:59.792-08:00Speculation Mounting on Hagel Run<span style="color:#000099;">Speculation has been mounting on a Presidential bid by outspoken critic of the Iraq war, Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span>. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> has been prominent recently during the Iraq hearings by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposing the escalation plan by President Bush.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Over the last few weeks, the list of Republican candidates has grown substantially, with social conservative Sam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Brownback</span> and Mike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Huckabee</span> throwing their hats into the ring. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> has said that he will be making an announcement soon - and we would expect that if he is running, to do something very shortly. He has been doing the media rounds on Fox News, Meet the Press, and last week on NBC Today.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Can <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> secure enough support in the GOP to gain the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nomination</span>? He has certainly been on the outer with the White House and leading Republicans. But, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">frontunner</span> candidates McCain, Giuliani and Romney have tied themselves closely to the President's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">strategy</span> in Iraq. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">If the GOP consider that a Hawkish candidate wont have a chance in the 2008 election, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> may be a viable option for them. He is, after all, conservative.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Newsweek in their next issue have a feature story on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> and his chances of winning the nomination, its worth a</span> <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16841355/site/newsweek/page/4/"><span style="color:#660000;">read.</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-11523768092422023112007-01-25T06:36:00.000-08:002007-01-25T06:44:06.442-08:00Hagel Leading Republican Voice Against War<span style="color:#000066;">The Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday passed a non binding resolution to oppose the decision to send more troops to Iraq.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> was co-sponsor of the resolution. He said last night, that on November 7 last year the people made it clear that they wanted a change of direction on Iraq. This is an issue that people need to stand up on Hagel said.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">The resolution will go before the full Senate next week, which <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> says needs to happen - that people need to be on the record on this.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> made it clear that the President cant govern on this issue without the support of the American people.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-9203310984360506882007-01-24T07:14:00.000-08:002007-01-24T09:55:26.631-08:00Iraq Policy Pingpong - Hagel<span style="color:#000066;">At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this morning, Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> called the Iraq Strategy by President Bush, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">pingpong</span> game with American lives.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> said that "..we better be damn sure we know what we’re doing, all of us, before we put 22,000 more Americans into that grinder".</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">The Senate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Committee</span> will endorse legislation that will go before the full Senate next week, that the escalation of America's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">involvement</span> in Iraq is not in the National interest.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">The vote before the Senate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">will</span> be close - however it does have the support of more than just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span>. Declared Republican <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">candidate</span> for the Presidential nomination, Sam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Brownback</span> will also support the legislation against the surge in Iraq.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-48266438211034788952007-01-22T18:24:00.001-08:002007-01-24T09:46:06.649-08:00Hagel May Run - GOP Must Change<span style="color:#000066;">Chuck Hagel, appearing on Face the Nation yesterday has said that the Republican Party must change. Hagel said that the Party needs to get back to what it once stood for, and it is not the same party today as the one he first voted for on top of a tank in the Mekong Delta 1968.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Hagel has said that he is not a candidate at the moment, he "may be", but he will be making a decision very soon. And although he is primarily seen at the moment as an opponent of the Iraq war, his candidacy would not be primarily about this issue. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Although he considers Iraq as the centrepiece, there are other issues he would run on like fiscal responsibility, less government and personal responsibility.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">He continues to speak out against the escalation plan, saying that "it is wrong to put American troops in the middle of a sectarian civil war".</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Hagel said that there were kids dying every day and they deserve to have a policy worthy of their sacrifice.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-19250934250538082542007-01-14T10:15:00.000-08:002007-01-14T10:51:39.192-08:00Hagel on Meet the Press<span style="color:#000066;">Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span></span> appeared on </span><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/"><span style="color:#660000;">Meet the Press</span></a><span style="color:#000066;"> with Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Russert</span></span> this morning to discuss President's Bush's plan to escalate US involvement in Iraq.<br /><br />Also appearing this morning were Senators Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Dodd</span></span>, Joe Lieberman and Jon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Kyl</span></span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span></span> joined <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Dodd</span></span> on the opposing side of the President's plan.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> said nobody in congress wants a collapse of Iraq, but the issue is whether escalation of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">military</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">involvement</span>, is appropriate. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Citing the Baker-Hamilton Commission, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> said the emphasis should be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">focused</span> on political solution in Iraq.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> said that putting Americans in the middle of a tribal <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">sectarian</span> civil war is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">asking</span> for trouble.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Regional powers like Iran and Syria must be included in a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">political</span> settlement, as well as the support of the international community , <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> said.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-5290257222271406542007-01-12T09:53:00.001-08:002007-01-12T10:48:42.497-08:00Hagel Slams Bush Iraq Plan<span style="color:#000066;">Senator Chuck Hagel has described the new President Bush plan on the Iraq War as the "...most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam..." and says that he does not agree with the escalation of US troops.</span><br /><p><span style="color:#000066;">He said that it is wrong to put American troops in the middle of a civil war, and that the US would not win a war of attrition in the Middle East.<br /><br />Hagel made his comments yesterday to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee which is holding hearings on the Iraq War.<br /><br />In a highly charged day in which Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appeared before the Committee, Hagel's comments led to applause from the Senate gallery. As a Republican who has been a staunch opponent of the war, his latest comments have been widely reported in a week where Bush decided to increase US troops in Iraq by 21,500.<br /><br />Hagel attacked Rice directly, telling her that "...when you set in motion the kind of policy that the president is talking about here, it's very, very dangerous."</span></p><p><span style="color:#000066;">See the video of a Hagel/Rice exchange, keep a look out for Rice trying to claim that the sending of extra troops is not an escalation.</span></p><p></p><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3wlMxxyKztw" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140099017251780222.post-55946392776437852702007-01-08T09:55:00.000-08:002007-01-10T23:16:02.716-08:00Will Hagel Run?<span style="color:#000066;">In a race where the two leading GOP candidates soak up much of the media attention, Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> might consider that this is a nomination that may be too hard to win. But there is a way to go yet.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> has a solid and reliable record. In a year where the Iraq War will become an even more sordid an affair for the Bush Administration, attention will focus heavily on the current and previous positions of potential candidates. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> has good form here. He was an early opponent of the war, urging extreme caution before the commitment of troops. And he recently has called for a phased <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">withdrawal</span> of U.S Troops. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> should know about war. He is a heavily decorated Vietnam Veteran.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">The issue for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> will be if he can compete against the more prominent candidates, and if he can raise enough to run an effective campaign. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">If, as is likely, the Iraq War becomes <em>the </em>issue in the 08 election, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> appears to have the most credibility on this matter. This could well appeal to Republicans who consider that the only hope to retain the White House is to distance themselves from the mistakes of the Bush Administration.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">On the finance side it is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">anyone's</span> guess. But if he does emerge as a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">front runner</span>, expect the money to come, especially if some of the other leading candidates fall over along the way.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">An announcement by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hagel</span> may not be imminent, but it is almost certain that he is seriously considering the option.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com