Since I have an exam in the morning, I won’t be able to liveblog Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel’s 10 AM Central news conference on his “future plans”. Instead, I’ll leave this up as an open thread where you can discuss and dissect his announcement as it happens. The New York Times boils down the possibilites to three:
It’s another cryptic announcement from Mr. Hagel, whose options include:A.) Throwing his hat into the ring for the Republican presidential nomination.
B.) Announcing his plans to seek reelection to the Senate in 2008.
C.) Stepping down from politics when his second term expires next year.
To which I would add: D.) Both A and B. Of course, since Hagel resolutely promised us that “twelve years in Congress is enough for anyone” back in ’96, surely the former won’t be his course of action. After all, Chuck Hagel is integrity personified, right? Stay tuned.
The DSCC and the speculative (and conditional) Democratic nominee, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey must be waiting with baited breath to find out whether Nebraska will have an open Senate race next year. I’d keep UNO Democrats and the New Nebraska Network bookmarked for front row seats.
Update: Chuck Hagel joins Thad Cochran (R-MS) and John Warner (R-VA) in the ranks of indecisive and coy Senators up for re-election in 2008. How disappointing.
This country is crying out for a straight shooter from Nebraska who can think for himself and knows what it takes to do the job.
Go get crushed in the primary by Romney and give us a shot at your seat!
Any word on whether TX-14 is open?
I’d be shocked if he didn’t announce he was forming an exploratory committee today. He’s going to an IAFF cattle call on Wednesday. You don’t do that if you’re retiring from politics. You certainly don’t do that if you’re running for reelection in a Senate seat that you won with 83% of the vote last time. So, he’s running for President.
He’s dropped a few hints that he might be retiring from the Senate, too. (The term limit pledge doesn’t mean a whole lot, but taking care to remind voters of it back in August 2006 does). And rumors inside Nebraska are strongly suggesting the possibility as well. So, I’m going to predict that he won’t be seeking reelection.
If it weren’t for the cattle call, I wouldn’t even suggest that he’s running for President. But the cattle call is just too hard to ignore.
One other thing that sort of threw me for a loop: two Nebraska politicians were specifically invited by Hagel… Governor Dave Heineman and Attorney General Jon Bruning. My read has long been that Bruning and Hagel/Heineman had some bad blood between them stemming from before the 2006 Governor’s race (where Bruning endorsed Tom Osborne). If that’s not the case, it’s difficult to see Bruning losing the Republican nomination. If he’s got even tacit support from Hagel and Heineman, that leaves little room for challengers to his standing.
These three stations will carry the broadcast live:
KETV Omaha
KMTV Omaha
WOWT Omaha
Until later in the year.
I am officially announcing that at some point I will make a major announcement as regards the schedule of my announcement about the future of my political career.
Expect a press release tomorrow touting the creation of an exploratory committee to study the drafting of a press release promoting this announcement of my potential major announcement.