David Broder: Hagel testing the waters for 2008

[question everything]

DAVID S. BRODER THE WASHINGTON POST

Hagel testing the waters for 2008

October 30, 2005

Last week, as a federal grand jury neared the end of its investigation of senior officials in the Bush White House, Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska quietly introduced two far-reaching pieces of legislation dealing with such serious national problems as immigration, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

It may have been just a coincidence that the Nebraska Republican moved to raise his profile on these topics just as special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was winding up his two-year examination of leaks from the president's and vice president's staff of the identity of a covert CIA operative.

But if you are looking for signs of the changing political environment in Washington and the Republican Party, Hagel's Halloween-festooned office is the right place to begin.

A reflective student of political trends, here and abroad, as well as a skilled politician who has won two Senate terms without breaking a sweat, Hagel, 59, is one of many Republicans weighing the odds for the 2008 presidential contest.


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Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051030/news_mz1e30broder.html

Broder can be reached via e-mail at [email protected]

[Benhurst]

1. Gee, David, it must be nice being the Dean of Washington

Columnists.

Like the rest of us hadn't figured this out long ago!

P.S. I think Hillary Clinton might like to be president one of these days. Check it out! Developing ...

[ISUGRADIA]

2. I thought he was going to Ames, Iowa tonight for the lovely

weather Iowa has in October...

[Swamp Rat]

3. ES&S

He "owns his votes," so to speak.