I have been saying throughout this campaign that a master stroke of political strategy and real act to unify this country in STUNNING form would be to have Senator Chuck Hagel, the Republican from Nebraska, be on the ticket as Obama's running mate.

As a Black man, life long Democrat, someone who has done work for the party in the past, a Joe Biden guy at the outset of this primary season, I think that such a move would captivate the whole WORLD. let alone the country. Get past your party loyalty genes for a second and think about it.

I am watching C-Span2 Book TV at the moment and they're airing an book stumping event that Hagel gave on 4/24/08. Please check it out on C-SPAN's website tonight if you can. They will have it available for viewing tonight. I challenge you to tell me that you are not impressed with his pov. I think he is a patriot and is also an agent for change in our country. I would love to see Obama be so bold as to buck recent tradition and do this. BTW, didnt Lincoln do something of the same in his cabinet?

Peace

Not that I disagree with you (I don't know anything about hagel) but Lincoln isn't the most unifying example...lol.

Because he is vehemently opposed to the war and related standards of the Bush Administration (assaults on civil rights, the erasure of habeus corpus, etc), while he is obviously a Republican, thus attracting those fence sitters unsure about Obama being a wacky liberal who wants to impose Communist-style health care, education and the like on the U.S.

Please understand, I am NOT advocating this POV, just offering what I believe to be the general answer to the question.

Party loyalty to me isn't the main issue ... ideology and voting record is.

If Obama should, for whatever reason, die/be kidnapped/be incapacitated/etc., this man becomes President.

Since 2001, he has voted with Bush 95% of the time. Look past the rhetoric, look at the actual votes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/w...el_b_40031.html

Look where he scores on the issues.

http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm

Rated 8% by the AFL-CIO on labor issues
Rated 0% by AU (fSCS) on church-state separation
Rated 0% by NARAL on pro-choice
Rated 0% by HRC on gay rights
Rated 0% by LCV on the environment
Rated 0% by CTJ on progressive taxation

He's a doctrinal rightwing conservative, who despite some nice rhetoric on the war, still voted with Bush most of the time.

Plus, he won his election on vote machines made by his own company, ES & S.

I say no way.

HI,

The Lincoln comparison is that his VP, Johnson, was a major political critic of Lincoln, enemed eally. And at a time of the biggest crisis the nation had, or even has, ever faced, he placed people in his cabinet who were not sychophants (sp). And as you know, after the war and before his death, he pointed the Union on a path to reunite the nation, rather than to take the "victors justice" path he rightfully could have.

Some said it was Lincolns sense of grace, love of peace, desire for unity and reconcilliation, wisdom, and love of country that guided Lincoln. Others said it pure damed political hogwash. So, I'm thinking that given what I know about Hagel, what I've heard and believe about Obama's focus on breaking gridlock, what I've heard Hagel himself say over the past couple years, and the political map in 08, Im thinking it might make good sense.

Then, a couple months ago I started to hear a little bit of chatter on cable about Hagel. And then somehow he purportedly is still on a short list. I always get a lot of push back on this from dems, but the more I see of this campaign, and especially in light of the Wes Clark firestorm, to me its either him or Webb. But Webb is a predictable play, imo. Obama/Hagel would be electrifying. It would spark so much debate nation and worldwide.

BTW, It just occurred to me to wonder why C-SPAN chose to rebroadcast this April event with Hagel today. Why do they think its topical?? Open ended question.

Peace

Exactly! And that is why the idea is delicious to me. Those values or positions which you ascribe to him are plenty good for me, keeping in balance possible negative repercussions in the party, etc.

If you can, check out the C-SPAN2 Book TV event from today on their website. Its freakin awesome.

Who would you prefer for the job, btw?

thx

DIEBOLD

Hey Seeker, thanks for the links, and turning me on to Ontheissues.org. This site is FANTASTIC. And now I have to say that I totally have to agree with you based on his record. I am really perplexed because I would never have imagined he took those positions. Totally anti just about everything I am for vice versa. Wow

My sarcastic side suggests:
Well if we take the latest maxim "just win"...who BETTER!?

My strategic side suggests:
VP...if we pull an R senator...in a vulnerable location, and put him in an office like the VP (kinda do-nothing job?) I dunno...I'm no expert but it seems the case could be made that VP choices are all about electability. Although the Obama campaign swears this isn't their attitude.

Frankly, I was hoping for Clark.

I would rather see Hillary as VP than that repuker neocon Hagel! IMO he should be behind bars along with the rest of the repuker liars,thieves and murderers!!!

IMHO, I disgree that Hagel should be put behind bars with the rest of the Bush goons. Powell should be put behind bar long before Hagel should be considered locked away.

As some here has stated already, the attraction to Hagel is his strong opinions/voice against the Bushies since last year. He was one of the VERY FIRST in the Senate to stand up against these current wrong wars and as he did, he told them all that they should be ashamed of themselves supporting this mess. One needs to give credit where credit is due and for Repub Chuch Hagel, he had the backbone to stand up to his Repub comrads in the Senate including Bush and Cheney and shame them for their actions concerning these wrong wars.

But, as a few others have listed in this thread, Hagel's voting record sucks otherwise. He's votes Repub. Another good point that one here has brought up is, what if Obama is removed from his presidential office? That does worry me. In every case with whomever Obama chooses for his VP, we must also consider the what if and which person then would become president. As much as I appluad and do cheer Hagel's efforts for his boldness in the Senate to stand up to his comrads and the Bushies, I'm afraid that to place Hagle as Obama's VP would be too risky for the Democrat Party. If Hagel had a 50/50 voting record that helped the Democrats sometimes, then I'd be very open to a Hagel VP spot with Obama. That's not the case however.

First off, I don't want him for the reasons listed before. But secondly I'd be afraid that some nutjob would kill Obama just so we would have another right wing kook as President.
Who do I want? Been saying for months I want Richardson. Don't know if it will happen though.

FUK Chuck Hagel!! IMO he would be worse than any DLC asshole!!

'Cept DLC don't bring no votes.

Where is Hagel more dangerous, the VP or the Senate?

I honestly don't know...

He's not running for reelection so he'll be out of the Senate soon.

Aight then...screw em.

Hagel is a freak, he'll never make the list, I'd like to know the Vegas odds on who he will pick as running mate, there's some serious money to me won, IMHO!!!