These days, Mr. Hagel is no longer feeling so alone.

As he walked across the Capitol, one day after the latest chapter of the Senate war debate ended, he said he is receiving fresh encouragement to consider a presidential candidacy. He intends to study the landscape and disclose his intentions “in the next few weeks.”

“There is no Republican presidential candidate with this point of view [bold mine-DL]. There might be an opening for me on this,” Mr. Hagel said. “I’ve had three very significant Republican fundraisers come to me this week, all of whom said I should look at running.” ~The New York Times

If the “point of view” to which he refers involves a lot of talk about tactical disagreements for the last four years and relatively little action on anything more substantive, he would be correct that this point of view continues to be unrepresented.  The war “opponent” who does not, in fact, favour ending the war is an unusual profile, but it is one that he has staked out with gusto.  Indeed, Chuck Hagel fits the slot of Serious Republican Leader Who Does Not Lead perfectly.