Recall that real surge of wishful thinking back in 2000, when people actually talked about Al Gore and John McCain joining forces as a truly bipartisan "unity ticket"? Of course, that was back when there was a belief that Sen. McCain was actually a Straight Talker, as his campaign tried to frame his candidacy. Gee, that WAS a long time ago, wasn't it? Seems almost like there are at least two John McCains wandering around out there.

What the heck, let's indulge in more wild speculation -- how about a Hagel-Webb ticket? (Or a Webb-Hagel ticket, if you prefer...)

Now THAT would be a Straight Talking pair, at least as far as this misbegotten war in Iraq is concerned! Sweet...

If you're a betting person, Hagel might be a good gamble. While he's a right-winger on many issues and not someone I'd like to see in the White House, he is articulate, comes across as honest, and is positioned perfectly to come up out of nowhere if he runs.

The heartland loves him and the grassroots legions on the Right know and trust him. Millions of conservatives hate this war (remember isolationists?). He is great on TV and doesn't come across as extreme. He's opposed the war for a long time. He has few chinks in his armor.

Suffice to say, Hagel's chances of becoming the GOP candidate in the general (and even winning the whole thing) are much better than his Vegas odds.

Is this what it's come to, even in the wake of the 2006 battering of the GOP, that people try to figure out a dream Democratic ticket with a Republican? Hagel's stance

on the Iraq War isn't noble or particularly wise -- it's common sense! And if the war was going well (whatever that means), he'd be on board with it like all the others. Are people so cowed that stating the obvious is what passes for political courage?

The American Conservative Union gives him a lifetime rating of 86 (putting him ahead of McCain and Bill Frist, who are themselves politically Pleistocene). Forget Third Way appeasement -- maybe Joe Lieberman would like to run with Hagel. Maybe Webb, or some other collaborator. Whatever.

We barely have two parties as it is! Let's not blur them together, please! Instead, let the Democrats run on a new New Deal, a real agenda that recognizes that national security is best achieved not by wars of opportunity abroad, but by opportunities for Americans at home, at school, at work. Through investing in a better America in a multitude of ways -- our success and security as a nation is better served through repairing our reputation abroad, and that means making America a better place, versus being the world's (corrupt) policeman.

Have people forgotten that in 1996 Hagel was elected in stunning upsets in both the primary and general election conducted on voting machines programmed, installed and ran by a company that he was the head of and that he continues to own a part interest in?

In 2002 those same machines gave him the largest victory in the history of Nebraska?

Please check out his voting record before any Dem starts thinking that this guy might be a good guy. He is not. He is jumping on this anti-Iraq war wagon for political purposes.

Did Cheney.....[break the law] regarding the issue of [xxxx]?

Why yes, yes he did.

on Meet the Press. What fun ! What drama! He can begin by asking the V.P. of Other Priorities if he would make a better candidate for president than Hilary. Follow that one by asking Cheney to define "throes". Then politely decline an invitation to go hunting...

...I just said that you could make money in Vegas because he's going to go farther than most people expect, if he runs.

Another poster was right to point out his ES&S connections, but the Dems have already decided not to raise the machine corruption issue (not like that can campaign on that in 2008 after 2000, 2002 and 2004 concessions).

Hagel is a bad guy in most respects, if you're liberal, and I would fight his candidacy tooth and nail. All I'm sayin' is that you should watch out because he'll come from behind.

there's a shocker. He's been running against Bush for years anyway.

Let's see if he has the balls to take the heat. I say no.

I, a life-long Democrat, actually posted a letter implying that I would support a Hagel Webb ticket (and drink the koolaid). It is indicative of just how desperate many of us are to get out of Iraq.

A poster mentioned a real Democrat on a New Deal platform. I couldn't agree with you more. But, nothing will get done on anything until we: A get out of Iraq; and B shut down the war mongering department (AKA The Pentagon) and replacement it with a true defense department, that will consume about 1/10 of 1 percent of GDP.

I'd like to remind everyone that next year, every seat in the House, and 1/3 of the seats in the Senate (and most of them are repubs) are up for grabs. NOW is the time to start working on getting people registered to vote and work on getting them to the polls. Most of the repubs are terrified. They do NOT want to follow Bush Cheney over the cliff. We have the repubs by the short hairs; we just need to give them a good yank.

Before any one is not far right gets to excited to Hagel, please keep in mind that on every issue accept Iraq, he is squarely on Bush's side. He was one of 28 Republican Senators to vote in favor of completely eliminating the Federal Minimum Wage. Iraq is not really a Republican issue, as most Republicans would prefer that it had never happened and would like nothing better then to wave a magic wand and have all of our troops come home with no unpleasant results. The only real difference between most Republicans and Democrats on this issue is party loyalty tempers how loudly and forcefully Republicans are willing to voice their true thoughts on the issue. Let us not forget that it hasn't been so long since Democrats were also reluctant to critize Bush or the war. Frankly, given the mysterous set of unlikely events that brought him to office, I don't trust him at all. I give even money that his position against Bush on Iraq is a shrewd power play rather then a heartfelt ethical stand.