Key Republican breaks with Bush on Mideast

[Renaissance]

Since Hagel has been one of the first and more outspoken critics of the Bush administaration - the title that he 'breaks with Bush on Mideast' is a bit misleading. It's interesting how close to truth Hagel's statements are too:

"How do we realistically believe that a continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend -- the country and people of Lebanon -- is going to enhance America's image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East?"

and

"Our relationship with Israel is special and historic," he said. "But it need not and cannot be at the expense of our Arab and Muslim relationships. That is an irresponsible and dangerous false choice."

Hagel also acknowledged in 2004 that he was considering running for the 2008 presidential election. IF such an election were to occur and he ran, and the current voting system is still in place then he would, imo, have a huge chance in winning. But not because he 'speaks the truth' and 'Americans hear him'. I sincerely doubt his sincerity.

He is the past chairman of ES&S (one of the primary voting machine companies) and won his first political office by an incredable 'surprise' win:

Diebold's Political Machine

In 1992, investment banker Chuck Hagel, president of McCarthy & Co, became chairman of AIS. Hagel, who had been touted as a possible Senate candidate in 1993, was again on the list of likely GOP contenders heading into the 1996 contest. In January of 1995, while still chairman of ES&S, Hagel told the Omaha World-Herald that he would likely make a decision by mid-March of 1995. On March 15, according to a letter provided by Hagel's Senate staff, he resigned from the AIS board, noting that he intended to announce his candidacy. A few days later, he did just that.

A little less than eight months after steppind down as director of AIS, Hagel surprised national pundits and defied early polls by defeating Benjamin Nelson, the state's popular former governor. It was Hagel's first try for public office. Nebraska elections officials told The Hill that machines made by AIS probably tallied 85 percent of the votes cast in the 1996 vote, although Nelson never drew attention to the connection. Hagel won again in 2002, by a far healthier margin. That vote is still angrily disputed by Hagel's Democratic opponent, Charlie Matulka, who did try to make Hagel's ties to ES&S an issue in the race and who asked that state elections officials conduct a hand recount of the vote. That request was rebuffed, because Hagel's margin of victory was so large.

[Comment: This reminds me of a lie so big that no one "could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously".]

As might be expected, Hagel has been generously supported by his investment partners at McCarthy & Co. -- since he first ran, Hagel has received about $15,000 in campaign contributions from McCarthy & Co. executives. And Hagel still owns more than $1 million in stock in McCarthy & Co., which still owns a quarter of ES&S.

It's funny the SotT ran the article on Hagel on the same day and page as this story:
Diebold voting machine hack exposed

Seems like two voting machine hacks are in the news on the same day!