Monday, June 11, 2007
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Chuck Hagel's Primary Challenger
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Posted by:
Patrick Ruffini at
10:15 AM
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Kos is wondering why no one is talking about Chuck Hagel's primary challenger.
I'd be happy to oblige.
Chuck Hagel has drawn a serious primary challenger. His name is Jon Bruning, Nebraska's attorney general. His website is here. If you're so inclined, you can contribute here.
Bruning is the youngest Attorney General in Nebraska history. He was first elected by a 2-to-1 margin in 2002 and was unopposed for re-election in 2006.
A poll in early May put Bruning's favorable rating as higher than Hagel or Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, a potential Democratic candidate:
Hagel’s 51 percent compared to 44 percent for Bush,54 percent for Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey — a potential Democratic Senatecandidate — 61 percent for Bruning and 70 percent for [Gov.] Dave Heineman.
Nebraska is one of the most bright red states in the country, and it's unclear whether Fahey will run. Either way, it's difficult to see the political wisdom of national Republicans getting involved to save Hagel. This is Nebraska, not Rhode Island, so you don't need to nominate a particular type of Republican to win. And Bruning, the state's popular Attorney General, would have a better chance in the fall than Hagel, who has forever alienated the party's base. Ask Chafee and DeWine whether you can win without the base once Democrats smell blood.
For the NRSC, Chuck Hagel has to be seen as more Bob Smith than Lincoln Chafee. With a good alternative in the race, it's time for national Republicans to tell Hagel that he's on his own.
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With all due respect, I don't think it was "thinking like that" that lost us our majority. It was in some order, perceptions of corruption, dissatifaction with Iraq, and a brilliant strategy by the Dems of running "conservative" candidates in center-right districts. Throwing one of our own under the bus is not the path to return to a majority. If we want to get close to the 60 senate seats the Democrats scorched-earth tactics have necessitated, we need to expand the reach of our party, not drive out 2.08% of our sitting senators because they don't agree with us on every issue. Look, I said in my original post, Chuck Hagel drives me batty (not moon-batty, don't worry), but his independence is a testament to the breadth of our party, and reflective of the narrow mode of thinking coming from the Democrat caucus. We rightly mocked the Democrats when they picked Ned Lamont in the primary over a guy who agreed with them on almost everything else. Making the same mistake does not demonstrate a level of political maturity that the right side of the aisle should conduct itself with. |
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"Hagel is an American hero,"
So was John Kerry. I still wouldn't vote for Hanoi John Kerry if I had a gun pointed at my head.
" unlike 99% of those posting BS about him here."
Since you have no way of knowing how many of us have served in the military, the only one talking BS here is you.
"he went to war to fight for his country when it asked. You all didn't."
And how would you know that, sucker? |
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Thank God, now we can put our stratagy to retake teh party into action. We will get Hagel in the primaries in Nebraska and Graham in South Carolina. Two of the worst RINOs gone.
Oh and acroso, you are a complete and utter idiot. You want McCain to get the GOP nmination to destroy the Republican party. Real smart, then we can all live under Democratic-Socialist rule. We'll sure have safe borders then! Get real. |
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Got a cousin that lives in South Carolina, someone like you that can take down Lindsey Graham?
Just a thought. |
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Hagel is an American hero, unlike 99% of those posting BS about him here. And unlike those same 99%, he went to war to fight for his country when it asked. You all didn't. |
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I'm surprised Hagel would even show his face in his home state, much less consider running again. I guess he is counting on the illegals he loves to vote him back in. Maybe he can pull a LB Johnson and register all of the occupants in the grave yards to vote him in.
RR |
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Nebraska red? As in Corn Husker Red? I could have sworn the whole state paid us a visit last September 17.
http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/091706aaa.html
Nebraska has great fans--they were a lot of fun to tailgate with.
Speaking of football, Coach Carroll is excited. You know what that means Notre Dame fans.
But as to the business at hand, I'm all for Jon Bruning. I noticed he has a great first name, but even otherwise, I'd be completely for him. |
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McCalvey - it's thinking like this that lost the Sen and the House. A Pro Security (from illegal immigrants), pro troop (including fighting AQI), Pro-life candidate will win in Neb (and virtually anywhere not on an ocean) by a huge margin.
The GOP is 'strapped for cash' and any money spent by the party to defend Hagel in a primary (or a general) is a waste. The GOP will win the Sen seat in Neb if the candiate is in touch w/ the people of Neb (and actually lives there - unlike Sen Hagel).
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Chuck Hagel may be many things but a Republican center right leader, he is NOT.
A charter member of the notorious Gang of Fourteen, he helped insure that several qualified Jurist's nominations were never even allowed to be brought to a vote. A great proponent of "get attention by sticking a finger in the eye" of your nominal friends.
Go Mr. Bruning! |
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Guys,
Chuck Hagel frustrates me more than any other senator, since the early retirement of Chafee, but please, with all due respect, get a grip! Like Rudy Giuliani says, it's far better to have an 80% than an 80% enemy. On MOST of the issues, Chuck Hagel is a staunch conservative, with a voting record as reliable as any putative conservative stalwart, but because he breaks from the orthodoxy of the base on illegal immigration and the war, we are so quick to run him out of town. HELLO, we are in the minority. An anti-immigrant conservative political party will not command a governing majority in the United State at any point in our life-times, and kicking good and honest, albeit misguided, men like Chuck Hagel out of the party will not strengthen our cause. I understand that Nebraska is a red-state, but if the Democrat candidate begins to catch wind, a rising tide could erase any inherent electoral advantage that Bruning would have in the general election. Chuck Hagel running as the GOP nominee guarantees that the seat will stay Republican through the first six years of the next presidency. Imagine how many Supreme Court appointments, tax cuts (or increases!) or national security related laws will be voted on during that period. There exists a very real possibility that we will all witness the inauguration of President Clinton, Obama or Edwards in nineteen or so months, and running the risk of giving away a senate seat just to prove a point is far too great a risk.
It would be far better to run Bruning as a LG in 2010, and then potentially challenge Nelson in 2012, or run for his open seat. He is a young guy, cool his heels.
Nebraska is too red a state to run the risk of two Democratic senators, which is exactly what we run the risk of if this circular firing squad continues. |
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The NRSC and its opposite number, the DSCC, are run by incumbent senators and have incumbent senators heading them, selected by the Senate caucus. They will always support incumbents in primary contests. Always. Incumbency protection is their primary (pun intended) reason for being.
Bob Smith was opposed because he quit the GOoPers. Hagel hasn't. If he does, we'll talk about it then, but you've got a long track record of predicting things that don't happen. |
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I know more about Hagel than most people from Nebraska. I know he is rated as one of the most conservative Senators in congress. I know that he spoke of the challenges in Iraq long before anybody else apparently recognized them. I know that he always calls is like he sees it regardless of how it affects him politically. I know that he believes in the Constitution of the United States.
I know that people in Nebraska don't like the immigration bill that he helped to write. Honestly, I doubt very many of them have read the bill. I hope those same people who hate Hagel's stance on immigration have studied Rudy Giuliani's histroy on immigration. |
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Will you please tell us via a site, just where, what your 'popular' blog is? I cannot find it and would like to see your philosophy explained on your personal blog.Thanks |
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Pat: I will be supporting Bruning. I will also be supporting primary challengers to many RINO's in both House and Senate races. I think that this a very important action that people who want to see the GOP survive and not be destroyed by liberal Democrats and their own stupidity and agenda silliness. The Left media wants to destroy the GOP but it should not happen if we believe in real democracy. To leave the leftist socialist pacifist Dems on the political field alone would bring destruction to our nation. And please, no 3rd Party will ever gain enough to challenge these leftist ideologues. We need a strong conservCenter Right Gop which fights the evil of the Dems. Period. Get involved and support primary challengers to the GOP libs. |
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You're welcome to Hagel - we don't want him, and it is revealing that you do ~~
You really need to do some research on Hagel ~ then, if you still want him, we have nothing in common ~ |
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As a resident of Nebraska for several years, I have more respect for Sen Nelson (D) than Hagel. Hagel is a disaster in very sense of the word. Our AG, Bruning should be supported by everyone not on the take (welfare).
May there be one less Rino in the Putrid Pot on the Potamac in 08!
It's a sad commentary when we have politicians rather than Statesmen leading our once great Nation. |
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we already have a linguine spine GOP senator, Warner, we don't need another. |
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Chuck Hagel is the only person in congress with any courage at all. I am from Virginia and I would love for Chuck Hagel to come be my Senator. I think it's hilarious that many Nebraskans would want to run a leader like Hagel out of office in favor of a sheep like Bruning.
Kind of a sad commentary on Nebraska. |
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Mr. Hagel, ostensibly a Republican, uttered in 2005: "The United States is no longer the dominant power on earth as we have been the last 50 years. That's good news, I think."
That is not good news, and it is beyond me why Mr. Hagel would think it is.
This man should not be anywhere near the halls of power in DC, except maybe in a janitorial capacity. |
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I look forward to reading about primary challengers for the seats now occupied by Messrs. Grahamesty and McVain. |
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The GOP grows increasingly interested in keeping their Big Tent free of heretics. RINOs today, Hagel tomorrow.
These purges don't spring from confidence. 2008 is going to be a bloodbath. But at least those GOP Victory Parties that November night will easily fit the room's occupancy limits.
There's a positive to everything.
DU |
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I hope his challenger is successful. The NRSC will work to save him, he is a reliable pro-amnesty vote. The meatpackers in his state need him to keep the illegal alien labor coming, they will contribute heavily. We know he is worth their money, in the '90's he intervened with the former INS to stop enforcement actions against them. |
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if they want fresh ideas and energy or tired pinko pathos... |
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Looks like we may have our first nominee for backing from the Victory Caucus! |
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**this should read NOT through the RNC this year or in 2008 |
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I gave last week. I will support those that support Victory and border security. I will support candidates directly and through the RNC this year. |
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I'm glad to see Chuck get some competition from a real Republican. But did this guy hire Mitt Romney's webmaster? Their sites look very similar. |
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