Hagel is One Shrewd SOB...And He Isn't Going Away

[TwilightGardener]

Having thought about this (since I'm off today, have time on my hands), I have come to the conclusion that we will either see a President Hagel, unless the Dems play their cards right and put up the right nominee, or we will see a VP Hagel, which might draw away independent votes from Dems in the general. Yesterday, on NDP's thread about him, I followed conventional wisdom and shrugged off his chances to get very far. His press conference today changed my mind. Here's why:

1) Looked and sounded Presidential. No one else can match him here, with the exception of Obama and Edwards. Had complete command of the press conference, didn't sound scripted, was more articulate (yes, that word) than I'd expected for off-the-cuff answers, and can give a good speech without hamming it up (are you listening, Dem candidates?). Also showed self-deprecating humor, and was downright likeable.

2) By not announcing his candidacy, he maintains and strengthens his "brand". Face it, are Rudy, McCain, Romney and Hillary getting the sickeningly glowing profiles Hagel gets, now that they're "out there"? When was the last time anyone compared Huckabee or Brownback to Zorro, fer chrissakes? (read the Esquire article). He is slowly building his star power, knows how to play the media (co-chair of McCain's surprisingly successful 2000 campaign) and has a sense of timing.
The media will forgive him his non-news today, because he did discuss his political future, which was all he promised he would do--it's just not what people expected or wanted to hear. They'll get over it, because he will end up being good for ratings, if he isn't already.

3) Timing: He does not want to use Iraq as a political stunt, and the hot and heavy Senate debates have just begun. In fact, he does not want to run as "anti-war", so he won't be emphasizing that angle--he'll not campaign at the same time he argues and votes about Iraq. This might help the GOP come to terms with him a little easier.

Ignore him at your peril, fellow Dems. I am getting that same sinking feeling that I had in 2000, when I realized that America would fall for Chimpy. I may be spectacularly wrong, and often am, (is he on the DC Madame's List?) but this is my gut feeling.

[Skink]

1. If we keep both houses the oversight will continue.

It's going to take years to uncover everything the Bush administration has done. Let them keep the Presidency for awhile.

[ramapo]

2. Hagel/Richardson

I think Richardson is the most capable of the bunch. Not a chance of getting the nomination. Not a star, no money, etc. Just competence.

I don't know much about Hagel except his stand on the war. How about they both leave their parties
and run as independents. After they win....get Ron Paul as Secy of Treasury.

Just my wacky though of the day.

[AshevilleGuy]

5. Hagel is very RW on the other issues. n/t

[Czolgosz]

12. At least Hagel and Richardson agree on NAFTA, tax cuts for the wealthy, DOMA, the death penalty, etc

[AshevilleGuy]

3. The WH and/or RNC would never allow him to be their nominee

His staunch antiwar stand would embarrass the shit out of them. It ain't gonna happen.

A similar thing was in 1968: LBJ was frantically worried about McCarthy or Bobby being the Dem nmoninee that year.

[buff2]

4. His "press conference" was bizarre

He had all those reporters anxiously waiting for some BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and they got nothing.He is just another ignorant camera crazy hog just like all the other GOPerverts. The guy is a loser and will get nowhere. I can only imagine how the press was PO'd at his nothing of a press conference. No one knows anymore about his intentions now than they did before his little show. For a repuke,I had just a tiny little bit of respect for him....being against this war and all,but now I have none. What a loser. :puke:

[MessiahRp]

6. Two problems we encounter with Hagel

1. He is outflanking us on the anti-war and even the impeachment rhetoric. How the hell we are losing the battle when clearly the public elected us wanting this war over and accountability for the President is beyond me but it shows how gutless most of the Democratic Senate are and how they stand for everything that is wrong with our party and why we have consistently lost elections over the past decade.

2. His connection to voting machines (and their inherent scandals) could be very troubling.
http://www.senatemajority.com/chuck_hagels_voting_machines

Rp

[AlCzervik]

7. "ignore him at your peril" you sound like a Hagel fan and none of them will be ignored

extensive oppo research will be done and used against everyone of them but thanks for your concern.

[TwilightGardener]

8. I am an Obama fan, but I have always liked Chuck--he is my Senator! I dismissed

him as not having a serious chance, but I think I'm mistaken. As far as oppo, he is divorced, so no family values for him! I'm sure there's plenty else to dig up.

[AlCzervik]

9. my rule is you can't dismiss any of them and i should know, i lived in Texas when

Bush was the Governor and many of us just laughed at him when he said he was running.

[TwilightGardener]

10. I laughed at Chimpy too, until the first debate, when he clearly lost,

yet miraculously won in the media's eyes. I wanted to hurl. I see that the same thing might happen with Hagel. I have never seen such worshipful press since McCain in 2000, or Obama now. I believe he's either running for Pres or Veep, just not officially yet.

[MuseRider]

11. So did I.

I laughed my ass off over and over. Then I felt relieved when the Florida voting mess went to the Supreme Court. Funny, init? Never ever take anything for granted no matter how impossible it seems.

[AlCzervik]

14. to add to that, this is what my husband said to me when Bush announced-

"Don't worry Hon when the rest of the country gets to know him he'll never win" and he was right, too bad it didn't stick.

[MuseRider]

16. God yes.

Both of my brothers lived in Texas under Bush** and the youngest who was barely unstoned enough to care hated him and the other who was politically aware told me that he would win. He told me that there was no way a Bush would ever be allowed to lose again. He was right, well he didn't win but you know what I mean. My husband kept telling me to let it go, he might not be that bad. He thinks back to that and asks me to please never tell anyone he said that so shhhhhhh. ;)

[stillcool]

13. Unlike many republican representatives...

Hagel is nice on the ears. He speaks intelligently, thoughtfully, and sounds sincere and earnest. How he can square his votes with what comes out of his mouth, is a puzzler, but in any event the result is the same...the people get fucked.

[CK_John]

15. I agree and am very concerned by the level of strategy discussion or

lack of strategy on DU Politics. I don't expect it in the lounge but on this forum it needs to be raised up a few notch's. We need to stop reacting to daily briefings, we are playing checkers and they are playing chess.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Do you mean in terms of what I laid out in my post, about what I

think Hagel's strategy is? I think the Dems aren't doing too bad a job with their campaigns, but I can't see Hagel adopting a fake speaking style (southern accent--lol!) or coming up with quasi-cheesy stories during his campaign speeches, the way Dems sometimes have a tendency to do (don't flame me, it's true--LOL!), and people will end up possibly taking him more seriously, especially on the foreign-policy issues. I think Obama is best in this regard--that's why I back him. But we do need to discuss/critique strategy no matter who runs on the opposing side. What sucks is that all of our candidates are going to be "out there" for so long--with the possible exception of Gore, God bless him!--they might open themselves up to Macaca moments that will haunt us in the general. Hope not!

[CK_John]

20. You are right. Just pointing out your post is one of the few that seems

to be looking at long term campaign strategy and not bouncing around like a ping pong ball reacting to daily headlines.

[TwilightGardener]

21. Thanks! I like big pictures--I'm simple that way! :)

[elizm]

17. Hagel can get moderates and Independents...

...which every candidate needs in order to win. Getting the nomination would be the problem....but as a candidate, he would be heads above any of the other Republicans now in the race.

[knight_of_the_star]

19. That's the problem

We need to find a way to take him out in the primaries because we can't afford another four years of GOP.

[bluedog]

22. well,hes against the war........1 point for him

if hes also against illegal immigration and amenesty..and for closing the borders.........he WILL get many voters............we have not (as far as I know) come out against amensty........correct me if I'm wrong.........but this is on many peoples minds...especially the border states......

[MasonJar]

23. Hagel is a conservative; do not be fooled because he is anti-war.

[SpiralHawk]

24. There is no such thing as a republicon 'conservative'

They like to use the word conservative, but they are radicals.

They spend money like drunken sailors, they have thrown the USA deep deep deep in the hole financially,
they are gungho on Nation Building, and they trash the earth, air, and water that all of our children and grandchildren
will need to survive. Meanwhile, they are supporting a RADICAL mutation of the food chain with whipsaw fast wholesale
genetic engineer cloned crap food product.

republicons are totally radical. I will never use the word 'conservative' in association with such a radical pack of corrupt cronies. To do so would be right out of 1984 -- doubleplusungood.

[Ninja Jordan]

25. The right's nutty base will never nominate him.