Chuck Hagel made his big announcement in Nebraska on Monday just as planned. Reporters flocked from everywhere to hear, and rumors of another presidential candidate were everywhere. So as all gathered around to listen, Chuck Hagel from his perch said, “I’m here today to announce my family and I will make a decision on my political future later this year.”,,,,”It will be the people of the state and nation who will determine my political future.” So the big announcement was he has a big announcement later. Hagel joins the wait and see club on the Republican ticket with Newt Gingrich and the latest entry Fred Thompson from Tennessee. Maybe the thought of raising the 100 milllion dollars that would be neccesary to run in this race, overwhelmed Hagel.
The money hasn’t scared actor/former senator Fred Thompson yet. He raised speculation that he might enter the Presidential race in the near future on Fox News Sunday in an interview with Chris Wallace. Thompson plays a D.A. on the TV show “Law and Order,” and took over Al Gore’s Senate seat when Gore left for Washington.
Thompson later left his Senate seat because “Law and Order” paid much better. Some wonder if he can bring Law and Order to Washington. Thompson seems to be closer to what the conservatives are looking for when compared to the rest of the Republican hopefuls. Thompson is pro-life and believes we should take another look at Roe V Wade, Thompson said, “I think Roe vs. Wade was bad law and bad medical science. And the way to address that is through good judges.”. He opposes gay marriages, “I think that that ought to be left up to the states. I personally do not think that that is a good idea.” He supports George Bush in Iraq, “I would do essentially what the president’s doing. I know it’s not popular right now, but I think we have to look down the road and consider the consequences of where we are.” And has said he would pardon his friend Scooter Libby, “I’d do it now. This is a trial that never would have been brought in any other part of the world. This is a miscarriage of justice.” He sounds like a great alternative to the other Republicans for the conservative bunch.
Ron Paul, who describes himself as a libertarian, has also signed on to run as a Republican. On C-Span’s Washington Journal, Paul said he was at first reluctant to run, but that “a lot of people want to hear my message and I’m willing to deliver it.” Paul has been critical of Bush’s policies in Iraq and has called for investigations in to his mishandling of the war. “I’m very confident the Republican party has gone in the wrong direction,” Paul said in his C-SPAN appearance. “We used to be the party of small government. Now we’re the party of big government.” Three very different new candidates for the Republicans to choose from. The uncertain Hagel, the Reagan conservative Thompson, and the libertarian Paul. Good luck!
Alan Cosgrove
Here is a Feburary 26, 2007 interview of Ron Paul by CNN’s Lou Dobbs.
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