Reply #6: No matter. The only chance Hagel has to be president is to run

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

as a Republican. Even if he secretly agreed with the Democrats it wouldn't do him any good to become one now because of his long history of doing Republican shit -- the Dems wouldn't have him, no matter what he said or did at this point. So the only thing he can do is appeal to the Repubs who have become disappointed or disillusioned with what their party has become, but who are too conservative to leave the Dark Side. Hagel is placing his bets on the fact that the mood of the country is changing, turning away from Bush. McCain is stuck with his Bush-hugging, fundie-appeasing antics, and I think Hagel is going to try to out-"maverick" him.

Divide and conquer. Hagel will never take the fundies; I hope he splits the party.