Nebraskan Nelson OK with Hagel on Dem Ticket

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Omaha, Neb.
Posted: 12:55 PM Jul 16, 2008
Last Updated: 12:55 PM Jul 16, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: desk@kolnkgin.com

3 comments

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Sen. Ben Nelson said he has no problem if his party were to pick his Nebraska colleague Chuck Hagel or any other Republican to join the Democratic ticket.

Nelson said Wednesday during a news conference call that he thinks bipartisanship is underplayed in Washington and partisanship is overplayed.

He also said, however, that party rules may bar the selection of a Republican.

There has been speculation that Hagel, a conservative who has roundly criticized the Bush administration's Iraq policies, might be offered a spot on the Democratic ticket with Barack Obama. Hagel has said he'd consider such an offer but doubts one would be made.

Hagel and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., will be accompanying Obama on a trip to Iraq soon.

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Posted by: lynnette Location: iowa on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Chris Matthews is definately not my favorite person on TV, but he is savvy enough on politics to listen to. He thinks that Senator Joe Biden is Obama's first choice for Vice President. That would make sense, because Biden is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Obama has served on that committee with him and knows his views, his style, his independent-thinking, and his leadership ability (he got 75 votes in the Senate for his resolution on Iraq, the biggest majority of any Iraq-policy vote.) When asked what Republicans he would be willing to have in his Administration if he were President, Biden replied, "Hagel for VP and Lugar for Secretary of State." He would certainly recommend them both for high positions in the Administration if he were elected Vice-President, also. I think that does mean that Hagel would be a very good possibility for National Security Adviser, and perhaps Lugar for Sec. of State, where they would continue to work with Obama and Biden.

Posted by: lynnette Location: iowa on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:54 PM
I see 8 possible roles for Hagel in an Obama Admin. 3 are very good possibilities, the others less good. l)VP - unlikely. various political problems with that, 2) head of Vets Admin. (an admin. post he could do well, but a waste of his expertise and judgment on policy), 3) a part-time, outside adviser, called in on specific issues - not a good role for him - he should be a steady influence on policy and have continuing access to important facts and analysis to keep him up-to-date so his judgment is fully informed, 4) a transition role, advising on first-rate Republicans, Independents, managerial types, foreign policy experts who might be considered for certain Admin, jobs (he should have input into this, but not be in charge), 5) transition development of foreign policy, 6) National Security Adviser. 5&6 are best for the US, & for Obama. Their foreign tour is a "trial run" for the daily, working relationship they would have in the White House. 7) Sec. of Defense, or 8) Sec. of State.

Posted by: lynnette Location: iowa on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Bravo for Nelson! He is helping to pave the way for reasonable Democrats to accept Hagel (himself and not just his opinions on foreign and military policy). I still say: Hagel as Nat'l Security Adviser. Nelson is respected as a helpful moderate who is willing to work on bi-partisan legislation, without being criticized from the left (like Joe Lieberman is). Nelson is more in the category with Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. They are allowed to differ with the majority of Democrats from time to time because of state interests and opinions, and are not pressured to go along with everybody else. That is healthy. It contrasts with how critical many right-wing Republicans are of Hagel - that is more similar to how far-left Democrats are critical of Lieberman. I think that Hagel and Lieberman are quite similar in one respect: they think that they represent the true, long-term traditions of their parties (Hagel staying true to Ike and even RR, and Lieberman staying true to Truman and JFK).

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