Chuck Hagel has announced that he will not seek election (as President) or reelection (as Senator).

Hagel plans to announce that "he will not run for re-election and that he does not intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008," said one person, who asked not to be named.

Hagel has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Monday at the Omaha Press Club.

According to one person interviewed, Hagel told Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Friday morning that he had decided to retire. Hagel's staff learned of his decision that afternoon.

The North Platte native earned national recognition as perhaps the most vocal, at times angry, GOP critic of the Bush administration's Iraq policies.

His outspokenness on Iraq and other key issues, including Social Security and foreign policy, fueled national interest in Hagel as he flirted with a possible presidential bid.

His national profile reached its zenith in March, when he headed to Omaha to hold a press conference on his political future.

But amid wide speculation that he was leaning toward a White House run, Hagel announced that he would disclose his plans later in the year.

As usual, the liberal press can't admit what really went wrong here--Hagel miscalculated badly and is now a political paperweight. There was never any interest in Hagel except by far-left Democrats willing to use him for their purposes. His willingness to oblige neglected hard political realities--the Democrats were glad to use him, but there would be no payout for his assistance. Republicans, especially ambitious Nebraska Republicans, saw it as an opportunity--to take his Senate seat away from him.

Rather than create a new political coalition, Hagel simply dug his own grave.

I'm hoping we can get rid of a few more incompetents before the elections.