Hagel is calling it quits

omaha.com ^ | 9/8/07 | JAKE THOMPSON

[mathprof]

WASHINGTON - Chuck Hagel will announce Monday that he is retiring from the U.S. Senate and will not run for president next year, people close to the Nebraska Republican said Friday.

Hagel plans to announce that "he will not run for re-election and that he does not intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008," said one person, who asked not to be named.

Hagel has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Monday at the Omaha Press Club.

According to one person interviewed, Hagel told Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Friday morning that he had decided to retire. Hagel's staff learned of his decision that afternoon.

The North Platte native earned national recognition as perhaps the most vocal, at times angry, GOP critic of the Bush administration's Iraq policies.

His outspokenness on Iraq and other key issues, including Social Security and foreign policy, fueled national interest in Hagel as he flirted with a possible presidential bid.

[Pablo64]

You may not remember, but those of us here in Nebraska do, that Hagel called a huge press conference (a week in advance or so) to say that he had an announcement to make. Everyone thought he was going to announce a run for the presidency. It turned out that his big announcement was that "sometime at a future date he would make an announcement about his future political plans."

The putz actually called a press conference to announce that sometime in the future he would call a press conference!!! What an egomaniacal ass clown.

[BobS]

"I never thought this A-hole would make my day, but this really did it. I might start Happy Hour early."

If you have no pending chores to do.

If one of the two old bags from CA retires, I'll set the BBQ up by the pool early. Bring a bathing suit. And Hank Williams Jr. I'll throw a great big loud eating and drunken party right here around the pool all day long. A good party is noticed when the cops stop by and tell everybody to behave themselves:)

[BobS]

"These announcments that they are going to announce something later are ridiculous."

He had the choice of being a gentleman or a douche bag.

[Tzimisce]

....will we get a real conservative now? Or another RINO?

[bigfootbob]

Good Job!!!

[MNJohnnie]

Will RINO Carlito Hagel join MSDNC as a ‘Conservative’ that agrees with everything the Lib Chris Matthews says?

I think Joe Scarsbourgh has that job nailed down tight.

[eleni121]

Good riddance!

---

I echo that. Now for a real conservative Republican to fill the useless space he took up for so long.

[MNJohnnie]

Good on you. Good luck to you all. Be a nice change from Hagel stinking up the air waves with his nonsense

[elhombrelibre]

You posted my exact words when I read that news.

[river rat]

Hagel is yet another example of what happens when weak minded folks spend TOO LONG in positions beyond their capabilities in Washington, D.C..

They fall victim to believing they ARE “honorable, wise and worthy” of the position of trust placed in them by the people....

It fact - they aren’t.
Most are not....
That is the problem — Washington is filled with people INCAPABLE of grasping the real problems and solving them..

Most of our politicians are in a state of constant grooming, preening and strutting before the cameras.....while defecating all over the place, like the chickens they mimic...

[zerosix]

The RINOs continue to slide into history. Interestingly, many either re-register as dims (their true identity all along) or decide to "spend more time with their families."

Fewer traitors in our midst.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

This RINO is gone. Now Nebraska needs to replace him with a solid conservative.

[El Gato]

he North Platte native earned national recognition as perhaps the most vocal, at times angry, GOP critic of the Bush administration's Iraq policies.

National recognition, Nebraskan condemnation.

I've heard rumors from contacts in Nebraska that if Hagel hung it up, Bob Kerrey would come back to run for his old seat. Hated to hear that for a number of reasons. Since his position on the major issues is pretty much the same as Hagel's I'd hope he couldn't get any traction for such a run. OTOH, it might make things easier for his Republican opponent.

[rideharddiefast]

One less democrat around. Now if Nebraska can elect a real Republican is yet to be seen.

[El Gato]

Democrats?

Especially those in the media.

[rockrr]

Absolutely! Now we won’t have to expend our energies on GETTING RID OF HIM!

[wildbill]

I guess this means I won’t have to put up the “SinkChuckHagel” website I had planned for the election year.

[Amalie]

Bob Kerrey is making noise about returning; I hate to say it, but my money is betting he’ll get the open seat on name recognition and political savvy. Hagel may have been a RINO, but his absence leaves one more chance to give the Dems both Hillary and a veto proof 60-vote majority in 2008, at least for two years.

[samtheman]

Since 1988, we’ve had 20 years of Rats&Rino’s in charge.

Here’s hoping that 2008 will turn out to be the Year of the Conservative.

[Timmy]

It takes 67 to override a veto. I think you mean "filibuster-proof majority."