Mother Jones - Comments for "The Changing Dynamics of the Chuck Hagel Phenomenon"

I think Hagel seems like a good guy. I know a lot of you Nader voters here will probably disagree... I think you have to look beyond the label of democrat or republican because there are plenty of lousy politicians in both parties. I definitely don't agree with the hard line evangelical right wing nor do I care for the nonsense of the hippy, crunchy lefties calling for socialism and bigger government. Hagel seems pretty solid and reasonable. I can't stand McCain- that dude has some screws loose. I don't want him running this country- he is one person who manages to kiss Bush's [expletive deleted] and at the same time try and distance himself. Jon Stewart needs to stop inviting him on the daily show.. McCain is a has-been..

In 1996, according to the Washington Post, the biggest upset landslide victory in the U.S. was won by Chuck Hagel. What Hagel failed to mention to the press (or reveal in his required disclosure documents) was that he had up to $5 million invested in, and had been the CEO of, the voting machine company whose machines elected him. Election Systems & Software (then called American Information Systems) was owned by Hagel and a company run by Hagel's campaign finance director, Michael McCarthy, and the machines counted an estimated 80 percent of Hagel's votes.

Source Blackboxvoting.com

It's definately time for change, either more parties or no parties. I personally don't believe in party politics. My only alligence is to the constitution, IT IS MY COUNTRY! I will be looking for someone who is willing to restore the constitutional government!

Chuck Hagel has more of a shot than prognosticators of an election many months away give him.
There are many independents and former Democrats, such as myself, of a libertarian mind who have been wandering the wilderness in search of "something else". We are descendants of a now extinct species, "Conservatis Democratis" who after years of waiting for John Kennedy to show up, left the Democratic Party, more aptly named The Socialist Party of the Graying Ponytail.
Also wandering about looking for a home are refugees from George Bush's version of the Republican Party, disgusted with the fundamentalist yahoo straightjacket coupled with military adventuring and free-spending ways that would make LBJ blush with shame.
Mother Jones, Daily Kos and Nation stalwarts may not vote for him, but the 30 % of us in the electorate who aren't thrilled with the current version of either party might very well vote for Mr. Hagel. And if the "Praise only our version of Jeeeesus faction" of the Republicans won't let Hagel in the front of the bus, then perhaps at long last its time for a third party?

Senator Hagel is the only presidential candidate that is not in the pocket of AIPAC. I think that speaks to his independence more than anything.