Posted on 05/14/2007 2:13:05 PM PDT by stan_sipple
Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel says the Republican party has been led astray by “isolationist insulationists” and it may be time for an independent presidential ticket — perhaps with the names Bloomberg and Hagel on it.
Hagel, a lifelong Republican who has been a frequent critic of the Iraq war, said Sunday he will decide about running by late summer after determining where he can best play a role to “make a better world.”
After dining recently with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is also considering a run for president as an independent, Hagel said people might want to consider the two on a ticket.
“We didn’t make any deals. But I think Mayor Bloomberg is the kind of individual who should seriously think about this,” Hagel said.
“It’s a great country to think about — a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation,” he said.
Hagel said it was time for the political system to be shaken up with a third-party candidacy. He explained that the GOP is no longer the party of “Eisenhower, of Goldwater, of Reagan,” but rather a group hijacked by “single-minded, almost isolationist insulationists, power-projectors.”
“I think the elections next year for president and other offices will be settled on the basis of what America will be looking at and wanting and demanding — honest, competent, accountable leadership,” Hagel said.
“This country is in trouble. The world is in trouble. And we need some new, fresh, independent ideas to lead this country forward,” he said.
Hagel spoke on “Face the Nation” on CBS.
An independent candidate? lol Does the name, Ross Perot, ring a bell? lol
Here it comes.
Just as the Clintons bought off Perot to split the Repub votes in 92 and 96, now Hillary is taking a page to do the same in 08.
Although it’s not readily apparent what Conservatives would find attractive about Hagel.
Expect an Arkancide soon. These two losers would swipe the democrats leaning towards the middle.
It’s definitely time for a new Republican senator in Nebraska.
It’s true that Conservatives won’t vote for Bloomberg and Hagel, but RINOs might. I don’t know which party might lose more to this loony ticket.
They'll suck more votes away from the Demoncrat candidate than the GOP one.
The thing is though, it's not going to work. This isn't 1992. Conservatives know what's going on now.
You are on to something. Hagel can split the Democrat anti-war vote. Since all Republicans are for the war, he won't get any of those.
He won’t even be the Ross Perot or the Pat Buchanan of the next presidential race if he runs. He’s ruined in our circles with his constant carping and the Liberals already have their Hillary and their Hillary wannabe’s.
Are you sure that would be the effect? Seems to me Hagel running as a third party candidate would split the anti-war vote and hurt the Democrats
I’ve heard Rush explain that Perot took more votes from Clinton then from Bush (HW).
Yikes. What if Hagel/Bloomberg AND Giuliani all go after independent candidacies?
The people I have met from Nebraska are to smart to elect a POS like this. How on earth did this lying turkey get elected.
Right! The same way the rest of the turkeys get elected. $$$$$$$$$$$
Thats the job of the Greens, not a psuedo-conservative. He would be more like a Ross Perot - type spoiler, without the entertainment value.
this guy’s out of touch with reality.
if hagel ran,
he’d generate a political implosion.
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