I am sad to hear this.

I lived in Nebraska for the better part of 10 years and I always liked Senator Hagel. Voted for the man twice. He is a strong, principled and intelligent public servant and his retirement is a loss to the US Senate.

Unlike many in Congress, this man had the experience and smarts to back up his positions. I am disappointed to read that he will not be seeking re-election, but I have a feeling that what ever he does after Congress will be to the benefit of the people he has served so well.

Sorry to see him go. One of the type of Senators, like Warner, that the framers of the Constitution had in mind.

Honest, pragmatic, and not a party hack unwilling to question anyone about right and wrong without taking right or left into account.

He's a Republican. He must be a child molester and rapist. Probably a murderer.

After all, according to the loons at DR, anybody who supports a strong national defense and tax cuts to create middle class jobs MUST BE a pervert.

We are just waiting to find out what REALLY happened in the Omaha airport.

First Senator Warner and now Senator Hagel, what will happen to the Repubs if there conscience all leave the senate. I am a Democrat and I believe that these two Senators were fair, and taught of country before Party. It's shame that there are leaving.

anybody who supports a strong national defense and tax cuts to create middle class jobs MUST BE a pervert.

No, Vern, anybody who supports an incompetent Commander-in-Chief's squandering a strong national defense and tax deferments, paid for with borrowed money, for the top earners while eliminating middle class jobs must be a Republican. Being a pervert just goes with the Party.
Remember the new GOP slogan: "If we can't steal it, screw it, or blow it up, we're not interested".

I have a hard time believing he's done. If it's Hillary versus Thompson or Romney, a Bloomberg/Hagel (or vice versa) independent ticket will look real good and if the primaries are over by mid-January, there's plenty of time to make it happen.

If not that, Hagel as Deputy Sec. of State in a Democratic administration?

WRONG Time to retire. We will need people like Hagel in some sort of office when Dubya gets through fucking everything up. Sad to see Him leave.

Larry

He's gonna run with Bloomberg. Just a hunch.

I like Senator Hagel and am sorry to see men of his caliber leaving the GOP. This is the time when our country needs all the GOOD guys we can find, of either political persuasion.

What makes him good, in your opinion?


Read his interview in GQ magazine from a few months back.

I don't care to. What makes him good, in your opinion?


I wasn't telling you TO read it. I was mentioning that, after reading the article, I liked him based on his principles and standing concerning Iraq.

I agree he's probably not leaving public life entirely. Good thing too. while I haven't sgreed with him on much, he is a good representative of the pre-NeoCon Republican party.

He obviously isn't leaving 2 steps ahead of the Federal Prosecutor, he didn't say he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Senator Hagel served in Viet Nam with his brother and I have immense respect for our veterans. Senator Hagel was not afraid to stand up and say that we are going in the wrong direction in Iraq when it was unpopular for a member of the GOP to do so. I respect him for these things. I certainly respect him a heck of a lot more than I respect that ornamental shrub in the Oval Office who spent Viet Nam cowering behind his daddy and ducking what little service he was suppose to perform in the Texas Air National Guard.

Chuck Hagel is one smart cookie! He knows Washington is one Big,Vicious Sunami of Shit and he wants to get out (dry) while the goings good and try to enjoy whats left of his life.Why stick around and end up on some election string puller's hit list! It wouldn't be too suprising if Hagel left the USA altogether!