Hagel-Bloomberg In '08? You Never Know

Senator Says Today's GOP Is Not The Party He Joined; Considers An Independent Ticket In '08

(CBS)  The Republican Party has been "hijacked" and led away from its core values, Chuck Hagel, the Republican Senator from Nebraska, said Sunday on Face The Nation.

Hagel, who is still considering his options for the 2008 race, left open the possibility of becoming an independent and sharing a ticket with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"I am not happy with the Republican Party today," Hagel said. "It's been hijacked by a group of single-minded almost isolationists, insulationists, power-projectors."

Hagel said he will not decide if he is going to run for president until late this summer. He did not say if he would run as a Republican or as an independent. Asked by Bob Schieffer if independent candidates would be good for the political system, Hagel said they would be.

"What America will be looking at and wanting and demanding is honest, competent, accountable leadership," he said. "We need some new, fresh, independent ideas to lead this country forward."

After dining with former New York's mayor, who is also said to be 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. "He is the mayor of one of the greatest cities on earth. He makes that city work. That's what America wants."

He said, "It's a great country to think about - a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation."

The Washington insiders on the Face The Nation roundtable said they could see the attraction of a third-party ticket.

"It's the kind of thing that it's so tantalizing, I think it meets a need not just with the political system but with the public," said Michelle McQueen Martin of National Public Radio. "I mean, you see a yearning within the public for another option."

But prospects for a third-party victory don't appear to be strong.

"Third-party candidates tend not to win," Martin said. "What they do tend to do is change the dynamic of a race to favor somebody who's already in the race."

Congress's handling of the Iraq war funding bill appears to be the breaking point in the Republican party.

"For the senators, it's particularly important, because they have to rely upon independent voters," said Jeanne Cummings of politico.com. "And independent voters in New Hampshire and in Minnesota and some of these places where there're going to be very tough races, they have shifted. They're anti-war."

Hagel, who has already broken ranks with the president over Iraq, said the White House is running out of time with its war policies.

"The president may find himself standing alone sometime this fall where Republicans will start to move away, and you're starting to see trapdoors and exit signs already with a number of Republicans," Hagel said. "The 11 House Republicans that went to see him speak for more than just 11 House Republicans. That's just the tip of the iceberg."

[minminmin-2009]

antoniof123,
I think you're wrong. I think lots of Reps are disillusioned with their party. If 11 House Reps are not happy with current policy, then you KNOW there are lots of Americans out there that aren't happy, Republican as they might be.

[gunnerv1]

Bloomberg will just buy the election. And if he does get into office- standby, because "Bend over, here it comes again". He's the type that you saw in school, if he didn't get his way, he'd take his ball and go home.

[flyballisfun]

In responce to Chuck Hagel%u2019s interview. I agree with him on Iraq, we need to build regional consensus and call all the nations to to solve this conflict. Peace in the Middle East affects everyone and is the responibilty of all the nations to resolve not just the US.
I believe the future of the world depends on a revitalized UNITED NATIONS. The US can NO longer take responsibilty for the many complex problems our world faces today. I would like to know if anyone else agrees with me.

[flyballisfun]

In responce to Chuck Hagel%u2019s interview. I agree with him on Iraq, we need to build regional consensus and call all the nations to to solve this conflict. Peace in the Middle East affects everyone and is the responibilty of all the nations to resolve not just the US.
I believe the future of the world depends on a revitalized UNITED NATIONS. The US can NO longer take responsibilty for the many complex problems our world faces today. I would like to know if anyone else agrees with me.

[kansas1946]

LondoninNY,
Whew!! Well said. :o)

[londoninny]

The Neo-Cons are quite nervous about a potential Bloomberg Candidacy and are already taking cheap shots at a highly capable Chief Executive. The Weekly Standard magazine, the Murdoch-owned bible of the neoconservative movement, has as its latest cover story a cartoon of a diminutive Bloomberg perched in an over-sized, throne-like chair, with the headline: "The Mystery of Michael Bloomberg: Why does a popular but mediocre mayor think he should be President?" So Murdoch's Fox News/PNAC Clan of Fascists are already taking aim at Mayor Mike, who as much as I will give Rudy Giuliani credit for turning around New York City in the 1990's, does not compare to Bloomberg. Mayor Mike has emerged as a truly capable visionary leader who can govern like a true executive and without alienating the entire population. The fact is that Mike is far from mediocre. Bloomberg navigated a steady course in Post 9/11 New York City. Mayor Bloomberg is probably the best Mayor in the history of New York City. And sorry, to all the PNAC FASCIST CRIMINALS and their henchmen who picked BUSH/CHENEY to rip off the Treasury. Your time is up and you all have no credibility to attack Mayor Mike. There is no place for fascism in America and your crooks from the World Bank (Wolfowitz), The Justice Department (Gonzales) and your administration (Rove & Cheney) will go down in history as the most singularly corrupt band of thugs in American History. Nixon-Agnew on Steroids is Bush/Cheney.

[kansas1946]

Chuck Hagel is the only Republican that I would even remotely consider voting for. The rest of the group is pitiful. The Republicans have lost their way and don't deserve any votes.

[lestb35]

But they're a "BIG BUSINESS" ticket. Status quo - more of the same. They're just wearing the anit-war, anti-Bush hat to get votes.

[londoninny]

The two party system is failing this country. No credible American can run for office and tell the truth about what he plans to do or has done in his past. Instead you get double talking liars like Bush/Cheney who represent the worst leadership in the history of the republic, the best leadership that your corporate military industrial complex can buy. Our founding fathers would have lynched these two criminals for what they have done since taking control of the Executive Branch. Impeachment? They deserve to be executed!! EVERYTHING IN DC HAS BEEN A LIE Since Bush/Cheney took office...and I mean "everything." To get through the primary process, candidates have to appeal to the worst elements of their party. The Neanderthals on the right want to bring America back to the stone ages. Newt Gingrich, Fred Thompson (another B Actor who is reading from a Conservative Script) and Mitt Romney (an empty suit) are the best this party can do? It's as if Bush/Cheney have lowered the bar significantly as to what we should expect from our leaders. Whatever happened to "less government", libertarian values and respect for the constitution and our civil liberties? HELL YEAH...I would vote for Bloomberg-Hagel or Hagel-Bloomberg.

[antoniof123]

I am sorry but it is not a matter of what they say. Any vote for an independent will take away from the Dems the reason is that the Reps are all lock step. They have shown how they behave when the party is in trouble. So baring a dead monkey and I would have to consider that one too I will not vote for any other party but the Dems this coming year. They need to be punished because they had a responsibility to America and they let the likes of Jack, and Tom, and Mark do there thing on this country. I blame the moderates becasue they should have kept the religious right wing nuts in line. They failed and now they need to be replaced.

[enufalready1]

Does he have a party? Are there other independent people in Congress with whom he would caucus? Or would the people elected to Congress be the same old same old, ie the Republicans who are there now? Nothing would change, the politics would still be the same because there is NO independent party in this country having elected officials in offices throughout our country. Come on people, think.

[jodo201]

We need Independents for Congress to start running now. This is the effort that would support the top-of-the-ticket Independents. We are recruiting both Bloomberg to run and 468 Indie candidates now at www.DraftMichael.com

[forthepeopl1]

IN 08 THERE WILL BE MORE INDEPENDENTS ELECTED THAN ANY TIME IN HISTORY..REP HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE AND THEY KNOW IT....IF I WAS A REP/ I WOULDN'T EVEN SAY I WAS..GOOD THING I AM A INDY..

[Razzl]

Chuck Hagel is the only Republican who can run with honor in '08. He would lose, and I would not vote for him, but he would not lose badly and rank-and-file Republicans would have an honorable alternative to being spoon-fed a bunch of Texas dynastic oil fascists picked by professional think-tank staff targeting religious fanatics...

[toldyouso21]

At present, I can't stand the Republican party and think they are dangerous. But as an Independent, I would vote for Chuck Hagel. He has been very honest and outspoken on this war and is the first of either party to dare speak of impeachment. That takes ballz, cajones, moxie--you name it. He will always have my respect for that. Yep. I'd vote for Hagel. Obama is too inexperienced (so was Bush and look where it got us) he needs more time and credentials under his belt. Clinton is too calculating, determined to please everyone and I still don't know what she truly supports or believes in as opposed to what she finds is expedient to say or support. Dispassionate and caluculating would be a good way to describe her.
No other real Democratic contenders (though I like Dodd) ON the Republican side--the most electable is Guiliani but I despise unapologetic adulterers. I have a feeling the man is as vindictive and self serving in public arenas as he was in his private life--but he does know how to talk the talk. McCain is a loser. I stopped liking him after the torture bill was watered down and rubberstamped. The trip to Iraq confirmed what I already suspected--sell out. . Hagel would definitely upset the applecart. Maybe it is time to send a message to both parties--we are tired of the 2 party, lobbyist controlled system, we don't want amnesty for illegals, we don't want special interest above our interest, and we want the war to stop. If he runs, I will vote for him.

[neoconrcrazy]

The republican party

has been hijacked

and is being held

indefinitely

in Iraq.

[houser123]

Bloomberg & Hagel, now that is an interseting Independent ticket. Bloomberg certainly has enough money to start and fund a presidential bid. Judging by some polls a certain block of the electorate would support an Independent ticket. However, we will still have a Democratic (hopefully)controlled Senate and House that any Independent will have to deal with. What we must be careful with here is that should this ticket evolve, that those voters moving to the Independent ticket do not syphon off votes that would go to the Democrats alone. Remember one thing, both Bloomberg and Hagel are now Republicans and have always been. I am leary of a wolve in sheeps clothing.

[rfstevens]

But the real question becomes which major political party would be hurt most? I think it will take away Republican votes that might otherwise cross over to the Democratic Party in 2008. The Democrats cannot be happy about this.

[johnpatrick9]

Senator Hagel means well and has the (Vietnam) credentials to know the horror and stupidity of an ill run war...I see him as in the same mold as Ike...common sense and decency..but maily common sense. Most Republicans today have neither nor do those who support them. Chuck push for IMPEACHING BUSH/CHENEY and you may gain the vote of those who yearn for the real, the beloved America to return and this southern based-fascist one to be put back under the rock from which it crawled out of.

[mh4cbs1]

"GOP was hijached" - Senator Hagel

This is News ????

It was obvious in 2002 that the GOP had been hijacked by NeoCon fascists, who LIED us in to Invading Iraq, creating a needless horrific WAR, and diverting our resources from the true need to track and dismantle terrorist organizations.

JAIL CHENEY and JAIL BUSH. Their LIES to take us into War are CRIMINAL ACTIONS!!