The Hagel Dynamic

Steve Clemons is all a twitter at the thought of Chuck Hagel entering the presidential race. Since Steve’s forte is national security, I can understand his excitement.

Agree with him or not, you have to admit that Hagel’s has been the loudest, most consistent voice (except for Wes Clark) among possible contenders, on the debacle that is Iraq, and indeed, Bush’s whole foreign policy “vision”.

I think Clemons is right in as much as his entry could really shake up the race….

……..I’m must concerned about getting the Democratic contenders to shape up. I think with Hagel in the race — they will have little choice but to mimick his views on the Iraq War and foreign policy.

Wes Clark played this role on being the first significant political player to endorse direct negotiations with Iran.

Hagel will stir the pot in good ways. Americans need to get to know him to see if the other issues they care about mesh with the Senator’s views — but on foreign policy and national security and Iraq — I think he gets it right.

With Hagel in the mix, the current Dem contenders will have to face national security head on, instead of the usual sound bites and we all know how much they prefer to retreat to the safe cocoon of domestic politics.

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