Hagel to announce retirement on Monday

One of the few Republican lawmakers to hold true to his conservative principles during the Iraq war is retiring:

Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a persistent Republican critic of theIraq war, intends to announce on Monday he will not seek a third term,according to Republican officials.

The officials also said Hagel does not plan to run for the White House in 2008, despite earlier flirting with a candidacy.

The60-year-old senator arranged a news conference for Monday in Omaha,Neb., to make his formal announcement. The officials spoke on conditionof anonymity to avoid pre-empting the event.

Weeks ago, it was rumored that Democrat Bob Kerrey would seek the Nebraska Senate seat if Hagel retired.  This is yet another seat that the Democrats could pick up.  Of the 34 Senate seats up for grabs in 2008, 22 of them are Republican.  Democrats have a shot to end up with 55 Senate seats, more House seats and a Democrat in the White House.

Comments

[Jon]

Can't say I'll miss him. His criticisms of this war came far too late and amounted to little. As for Dem prospects for gains in the house, senate and presidency, lets hope so but more importantly lets hope they studied their republican counterpart's brief stint of unchecked power and learned lessons on how not to do things. Dems can't rest on their laurels if they win again as they did in 2006.