March 28, 2007
Spotlight: Hagel's Timetable
Today's Hotline Spotlight:
Did Chuck Hagel help hand his party a major defeat on Iraq and, coupled with his recent use of the I-word re: Pres. Bush, further cement his status as the Senate GOP's biggest, baddest maverick? Or did Hagel unwittingly help his fellow GOPers put Senate Dems on record calling for a timetable, forcing yet another showdown with Bush and putting Dems on course toward '08 defeat?
-- In either case, one thing seems virtually certain: Hagel's no longer planning a WH '08 bid, at least not as a GOPer. (Or, alternatively, not one he plans to win).
-- Two weeks after he announced he'd announce his '08 intentions later, and voted against identical withdrawal language, Hagel delivered the deciding vote 3/27 for Dems' timetable. It was the vote of a GOPer seeking re-election in NE, where even GOPers like ex-Rep. Bereuter oppose the war. It wasn't the vote of a GOPer plotting a WH race against McCain, Romney and Giuliani in SC and beyond.
-- On the other hand, is Hagel simply ahead of the curve? He called for AG Gonzales to resign on 3/25; today, the National Review followed suit.
Posted at 02:15 PM
Comments
"Or did Hagel unwittingly help his fellow GOPers put Senate Dems on record calling for a timetable, forcing yet another showdown with Bush and putting Dems on course toward '08 defeat?"
The implication being, of course, that calling for a timetable will destroy the Dems' chances in '08. But if that's the case, why do 59% of Americans support a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq by August '08? (http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=313)
Faithful reader | 03.28.07 02:57 PM
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Electionwise, Hagel put Sununu, Smith, Collins, Coleman, etc. in very hot water for '08.
I guarantee that these senator's Democratic opponents will say something like: Unlike critical Republicans like Sen. Hagel, Sen. So'n'so rubber stamped President Bush's policy for keeping our troops in harms way indefinitely.
marcus | 03.28.07 03:46 PM
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I think you greatly misread my state if you think that Hagel's vote was a political calculation based on the voters of this state. I tend to think we're more against this war than most of the country gives us credit for, but you should see the letters to the editor every day in this state. Republicans are not happy with Hagel. If Bruning backs off of his earlier pledge not to challenge Hagel, he might find the anti-Hagel crowd to be a natural ally.
Hagel can win reelection on the backs of Democrats he's fooled into thinking he's a moderate, but he's opening himself up to a challenge from the right in a primary if he's not careful.
jd in ne | 03.28.07 04:54 PM
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i wouldn't be so sure, it is great to see a conservative back in the republican party... there is a great post here
http://joeleonardi.wordpress.com/2007/03/18/president-chuck-hagel/
mia | 03.28.07 07:52 PM
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Hagel better be careful because even in the common sense state of Nebraska the Republicans don't like candidates that they can't control. I give the recent Heineman defeat of Osborne for the governorship.
Troy | 03.30.07 12:48 AM
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I hope Hagel represents a new trend in the GOP to demonstrate a conscience and a little concern for human life. Also, putting criminals like Gonzales in their place is very out of character for the GOP. Maybe a few of them are going to snap out of it.
Ron | 03.31.07 06:52 AM
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