MyDD :: NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election

NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election

by Dave Sund, Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 01:12:33 AM EST

From NNN:

Sen. Chuck Hagel will announce Monday he'll not seek re-election next year.
Hagel also will tell an Omaha news conference he does not intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008, clamping a lid on speculation he might be pondering a late-inning presidential bid.
In a prelude to Monday's announcement, he conferred Friday with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Later, Hagel gathered his Washington staff together to inform them of his decision, according to sources close to the senator.
Hagel's departure at the end of 2008 will bring an end to a meteoric 12-year Senate ride that propelled him to national prominence as the most outspoken Republican opponent of President Bush's Iraq war policies.

Tags: NE-Sen, 2008, Chuck Hagel (all tags)

Permalink :: 13 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election (none / 0)

go bob kerrey

Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.

by lori on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 01:25:05 AM EST

Re: NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election (2.00 / 1)

This would be the third Republican Senator to announce his retirement this cycle (Allard, Warner). In comparison, only one Republican (Bill Frist) announced his retirement from the Senate in 2006. The average from 1960 through 2006 (counting 24 elections) is 2.375 Republican Senate retirements. In only 3 of the 24 election cycles did more than three Republicans retire (4 in 2002, 5 in 1996, and 4 in 1978).

No Democrat has announced retirement plans. In 2002, no Democrats retired but in 1996 six did and in 1978 five did. The net loss of three retirements is already tied with 1990 as the second worst cycle of the 48 year period.

Looking good.

by David Kowalski on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 02:20:48 AM EST

Re: NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election (none / 0)

It will be an uphill fight for Kerrey but if it makes republicans spend money here it's a good development.

by Justify My Vote on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 02:35:48 AM EST

Other Republicans still on retirement watch? (none / 0)

As it becomes more and more clear that Republicans are not going to get back the Senate in '08, and as scandals pile up, we might see more retirements. Not regaining the majority is more of a motivator in the House where majority control matters more, but nonetheless...

Here are the names left on Senate2008guru's retirement watch from back in May:
Pete Domenici (NM) -- would be another very competitive race without him
Ted Stevens (AK) -- having a really bad last couple months -- it would probably be better for his Democratic opponent Begich if Steven didn't retire

Thad Cochran (MS) maybe? Rumored he'll run again.

One Million Strong --- Join up

by psericks on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 02:42:50 AM EST

Re: Other Republicans still on retirement watch? (none / 0)

So far there haven't been too many rumors for any of these guys to retire, outside of Stevens. Just because he has the whole "Corrupt" label rolling all over right now. If it doesn't surmount to anything soon, Stevens will probably run again.

by JeremiahTheMessiah on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 10:31:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Guess he finally had enough (none / 0)

of his party's bullshat. Here's hoping that's another D pickup. We are in desperate need of Dems who'll campaign on an Anti-Occupation platform and then actually vote that way when they get elected.

by Leslie H on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 08:09:38 AM EST

Re: Guess he finally had enough (none / 0)

Problem is that Bob Kerrey, the likely front runner, is a step backwards on Iraq and perhaps Iran compared to even Hagel's weak mumurings of concern Iraq wasn't working out well.

by Quinton on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 12:59:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Guess he finally had enough (none / 0)

Yeah, and almost every other issue he's an improvement.

So Hagel, (After long and enduring support of this war) had one outbreak which make him vote with us a couple times on the war, and rarely if ever voted with us on anything else. He's a conservative.

Chuck Hagel had a party unity score of 72.3 percent, according to http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20070712/pl_c q_politics/senatedemsvotingmuchmoreinste pthangop

What that means is if Bob Kerrey had a party unity score of more than 27.7, he'd be an improvement. Worst case scenario is he'd be a little under 50, but that also would be about 2X the improvement of Hagel for us.

by JeremiahTheMessiah on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 01:31:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Guess he finally had enough (none / 0)

My point in that is...
Yes. Iraq is a big issue. But the point of the 2008 elections, is to start 2009 with a huge majority, and pass laws on all spectrums of policy. Not just the war. We can only focus on the war for so long in a 6 year period. The war will probably ammount to 12-15 votes at the most. That doesn't even account for the fact that the war will hopefully be over in a year or so after elections.

Hagel isn't running for re-election. Do you have any Republicans who are with us on the war running for Senate? As far as I can tell we don't have any other top tier Democrat on the bench for this race.

by JeremiahTheMessiah on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 01:35:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Kerrey (none / 0)

Bob Kerrey is likely a front-runner if he decides to run. He's bad on Iraq, but he's good on everything else.

by elrod on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 10:05:15 AM EST

Re: NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election (none / 0)

get Warren Buffett to run

by orin76 on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 10:33:06 AM EST

Re: NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election (none / 0)

Here's an interesting quote. Has Bob Kerrey already decided to run for US Senate?

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) "stepped to the brink of a possible 2008 Senate bid," the Lincoln Journal-Star reports.
"Kerrey placed a conference call to New School University trustees in New York City to inform them he may be returning to Nebraska. Kerrey said he has become convinced Sen. Chuck Hagel will not be a candidate for a third term next year."

Said Kerry: "I am more and more certain Chuck is not going to seek re-election, and my intention is to make my decision before he makes an announcement."

This was posted in late August.

Full Article Here: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/0 8/23/kerrey_readies_possible_senate_bid. html

by JeremiahTheMessiah on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 11:43:01 AM EST

Re: NE-Sen: Hagel Will Not Seek Re-Election (none / 0)

I wonder if Hagel would be willing to endorse Kerrey. Kerrey had said he would do the same for Hagel if he decided to run for reelection. I assume he would, esspecially if Jon Bruning gets the GOP nomination.

All of the "decent" Republicans (Hagel, Warner) are leaving the senate, but I think Hagel would be an attractive running mate or Secretary of State for one of our candidates, particularly Mr. Obama, whose theme is about unity.

by Namtrix on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 04:24:13 PM EST

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