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Hagel thanks Nebraskans in farewell message

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By staff and wire reports

Thursday, Dec 04, 2008 - 01:54:16 pm CST

U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel on Thursday thanked Nebraskans for giving him the chance to represent the state in the Senate for the past 12 years.

The Republican, who leaves office in January, sent a farewell letter Thursday.

In the letter, Hagel said in many ways the world is more complicated and dangerous than it was 12 years ago, which presents implications for the state. So he encouraged Nebraskans to consider the global implications of their actions.

Story Photo
U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.

"World affairs and America's competitive position in the world represent the future for Nebraska," the senator, who decided last year to not seek a third term, wrote in the letter. "We are now all citizens of a global community underpinned by a global economy. Energy has done as much to integrate world affairs as any one development."

Hagel said he appreciated the decency of the people he represented. He said most were courteous and understanding, even when they disagreed with him.

"They knew that the world is complicated, combustible and interconnected and they knew that there are few easy and quick answers," Hagel wrote.  "Democracies and great societies flourish through informed and engaged citizens.  I will always be grateful for the support, advice and assistance of the people I have represented." 

Former Republican Gov. Mike Johanns beat Democrat Scott Kleeb in November and will replace Hagel in the new Congress.


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MarkyMark wrote on December 4, 2008 2:09 pm:
" It will be good to see the Senator with the most Conservative voting record in the Senate to leave.

Having said that, it is also sad to see someone with this much intelligence and ethics leave. This man was the real Maverick. "

 Missed. wrote on December 4, 2008 2:56 pm:
" I disagreed with several of Hagel's policies, but he was a honorable statesman and will be missed greatly. Thanks for your service. "

 Ned wrote on December 4, 2008 3:07 pm:
" He really took heavy criticism from the right wing Nebraska constituency for speaking his heart about the Bush war in Iraq gone very wrong. If that same constituency had known the way he voted they would have loved him. As usual, any local politician who wants to do good instead of look like a tough-guy Republican goes down in infamy. "

 MarkyMarkIsCrazy wrote on December 4, 2008 3:11 pm:
" The most conservative voting record? Not even close, most liberal of all Repubs is more accurate. "

 What wrote on December 4, 2008 3:20 pm:
" Uh check your facts Marky Mark- Hagel was not the most conservative voting Senator in the Senate. Far from it- he ranked 39th in March of 2008!! "

 Ninajean Rohlfs wrote on December 4, 2008 3:23 pm:
" And I'll always be grateful we had you, Mr. Hagel. It's clear you are very caring, and always had the best interests of your constituents in mind with your work in Washington, and I've always admired you for that. You are truly what a senator should be. Thanks to you! Hope you have more time to enjoy life now, instead of working so hard. "

 Chris wrote on December 4, 2008 3:38 pm:
" Sen. Chuck Hagel did a very poor job of representing Nebraska in the past 5 years. And Hagel too should first focus on his own conduct as a leader in the U.S. before lecturing us on our place in the world. His criticisms while often, were not constructive in shaping or proposing changes in new policy. Hagel clearly still has no concept of dissenting in a responsible way. And while there may be those who are still fooled into thinking Hagel is some kind of "Maverick", it has been clear to me for some time that he is merely a political oppurtunist with a poor grasp on the complexities of the world we live in today. "

 Barnie wrote on December 4, 2008 3:44 pm:
" Most Conservative, you have to be kidding. Chucky was a true Republicrat and normally didn't have a clue what the rest of the party was doing. Thank God He's Gone! "

 Ignignokt wrote on December 4, 2008 3:50 pm:
" Ned...if 'doing good' means undermining the war effort and endangering the lives of the soldiers on the ground by emboldening the enemy through statements such as "By any standard, when you analyze 2 1/2 years in Iraq ... we're not winning," and, "The reality is that we're losing in Iraq,", then yes...Hagel has done a lot of good.

Where would the U.S. be today if the American Colonies had given up the fight against Britain in the Revolutionary War because they were losing? When did it become acceptable to pack up and quit because we're losing? I don't like making corny analogies...but should the 1980 U.S. Men's Hockey Team have given up because they were quite clearly losing to the Soviets? Should Nebraska have given up against Colorado when the score was 31-24 because they were quite clearly losing? Losing does not equal lost...and any effort by Hagel to encourage the U.S. to tuck its tail in defeat is not 'doing good', it's not 'honorable' nor 'ethical', and it's not serving his constituents...the State of Nebraska. I will not miss him, and I reject his thanks, because I didn't vote for him. "

 MarkyMark wrote on December 4, 2008 3:54 pm:
" Oops, living in the past....flash back to about 2006. "

 KROC wrote on December 4, 2008 3:54 pm:
" Good to see him go. Now we will have a real Republican in the senate. Nelson was more Republican than Hagel................... "

 Jeff wrote on December 4, 2008 3:57 pm:
" I don't know what is next for Hagel - but I hope we find something for him on the national stage. We need his talent and candor very badly. "

 CapHill wrote on December 4, 2008 4:32 pm:
" Sorry "WHAT", but I believe what MarkyMark was referring to was the fact that only one Senator in the United States Senate voted more consistantly with George W. Bush. So he may not have been the most conservative, but he certainly was the second closest to Bush. In fact, check the facts...the only issue he did not side with Bush on, was the War. "

 Hope wrote on December 4, 2008 4:44 pm:
" I really like Senator Hagel. The only people that didn't like him were the die-hard right-wing conservatives who were upset because he didn't vote the conservative way. I really hope Hagel's political career isn't over. "

 outta here wrote on December 4, 2008 5:18 pm:
" Chuck...get on out! Don't let the door slap your behind too hard as you leave. I voted twice for you Chuck. I'm sorry. It was a mistake, but I learned too late. Maybe the true Chuck stayed in hiding until after his second win. I can't think of too much good he did for anyone other than feed is own ego. I seemed to do that very well.

Please plan to live and stay on the east coast after you are gone from the Senate. "

 Matt P. wrote on December 4, 2008 5:30 pm:
" Who cares if he wasn't beholden to the republican party!! Why would you want a party puppet?? He served our State and our Country and decided the republican party was NOT his master.

How you find a problem with this type of mentality is beyond me. We need more people like him...NOT LESS! "

 larry wrote on December 4, 2008 5:35 pm:
" A Nebraska senator bringing up the impeachment of a President during the time of war. That's what I'll remember Chuck Hagel for. So much promise, so little delivery. "

 see ya wrote on December 4, 2008 5:50 pm:
" Washington got to ya Chuck. You forgot who you are and who you represented. "

 whoa wrote on December 4, 2008 6:06 pm:
" How many times was Hagel in Nebraska the past few years? Nebraskan's did not see him in state nor will you see him here. He is eastern establishment all the way. "

 Prop wrote on December 4, 2008 6:28 pm:
" Hagel got played. Barack Obama got the soft endorsement from Hagel (going to Afghanistan for him, his wife endorsing Obama, criticizing McCain and praising Obama) thinking that he'd get some sort of quid-pro-quo out of the deal. I doubt Barack promised him anything, Hagel is just so stupid he let himself be used as a stage prop for the Democrats and got nothing in return for it. "

 Denise wrote on December 4, 2008 6:51 pm:
" Thank you, Senator Hagel, for serving Nebraska with dignity and honor. While Bush & Company often strayed from decency and US citizens, you stood up and challenged the system. Few members of Congress have kept close contact, as did you, with their constituents, you'll be missed. "

 Ryan wrote on December 4, 2008 8:06 pm:
" Good Riddence. "

 Thanks wrote on December 4, 2008 8:36 pm:
" Senator Hagel for your army service and your service in the senate. Now it's time to get out of the most unappreciative state in the union and move to Missouri where we would appreciate your intelligence. Just relocate a few miles south of springfield and we'll welcome you with open arms. Thanks Again. "

 JB wrote on December 4, 2008 11:32 pm:
" Hagel, one Republican who didn't act like a "no brain" conservative all the time. He was able to use his own mind half the time. "

 Thank you Senator Hagel wrote on December 5, 2008 8:11 am:
" Words cannot express my gratitude to the service Senator Hagel has done for his state and for his country. His intelligence is far superior to most of those that he represented in this state. He is a man of honor and one that seeks to do what is good, decent and right, no matter what his constituency is pounding down his throat. He is one of few senators where I felt cradled in the arms of comfort and safety, knowing the decisions he made were heart-felt and for the greater good of society. When he spoke, not just our state, but the nation listened. They may not have agreed with him, but they DID listen. Without him to represent us, I fear NE will go back to being represented by rubber-stamping nobodies. "

 MarkyMark wrote on December 5, 2008 9:33 am:
" Speaking of emboldening the enemy, do you remember Bush Jr. cockily saying "Bring em on"?

I don't think Hagel did anything close to that kind of emboldening.

Your analogy makes some sense Ig, but comparing Iraq to the Revolution, really, come on now. "

 Tammy wrote on December 5, 2008 10:00 am:
" Thank YOU Senator Hagel. You will be missed. How any of you can think that Mike Johanns will serve with even a tenth of Hagels character, intelligence, and knowledge is completely beyond me. Of course, if what you all wanted was a tow the party line man, then I guess that's what you got. Mike Johanns will never be the Senator Chuck Hagel was, not even close. "

 prop is right wrote on December 5, 2008 10:29 am:
" I think Hagel thought he would be a part of Obama's cabinet....oh, too bad....It is bad enough that we have a President-elect that is going to finish the ruination of our great country, but at least he won't be doing it with Hagel's help. "

 Ignignokt wrote on December 5, 2008 10:46 am:
" Yes, MarkyMark, I remember Bush saying that...and while it may have been a poor choice of words, it exuded confidence that we could achieve victory regardless of the enemy opposition. Compare that to Hagel's words that seemed to admit defeat...and decide which would be more emboldening to you. Who would you rather fight an opponent with great confidence? Or an opponent whose being told to throw in the towel?

I also don't see anything wrong with comparing Iraq to the American Revolution. A perfect comparison? Hardly. But you have two countries whose citizens were suffering under an uncaring dictatorship. In both cases, the countries struggled with differing ideologies within the population...some remained loyal to the dictatorship...some supported the fight for freedom and democracy. Both countries needed outside help to achieve victory. Far as I can tell, the main difference between the two was the proximity of the dictator to the oppressed opposition. That...and Americans wanted no taxation without representation, whereas the Iraqis wanted no more genocide. "

 Wayne Smith wrote on December 5, 2008 11:11 am:
" Chuck Hagel is Nebraska. Unique,direct,compassionate. You are my favorite senator of all time. We need your thoughtfulness and demeanor to represent America in the world. I loved your book! Thank you for sharing a little time with this musician from Bethlehem,PA. Also thanks to Mike Buttry. See you down the road "

 Ilof muwidh wrote on December 5, 2008 12:16 pm:
" I hope Barack Obama recruits him so he can stay in DC and continue to serve ALL of us. "

 MarkyMark wrote on December 5, 2008 5:00 pm:
" Yes Iggy, but to you, Bush was exuding confidence. To me he sounded like a mouthy 7th grader on a playground. The entire problem is, apparently you think it was worth a trillion to overthrow him. Now to me, that's not Conservative or even sensible.

I'm just an average citizen who predicted exactly what would happen in Iraq. My Conservative buddies who predicted a victory in a few days and with little to no casulties, and virtually no cost?....They now bow to me. That whole thing is overrated though, as anyone with a high school knowledge of the Middle East could have seen this coming. "

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