Chuck Hagel in the spotlight. Since President Bush announced his decision to increase the U.S. troop presence in Iraq nearly three weeks ago, Hagel's vigorous opposition has placed him at center stage.

Now comes a Newsweek story this week titled: "Rebel Chuck Hagel: A President in the Making?"

With John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani — the three Republican presidential frontrunners — all supporting Bush's Iraq plan, Newsweek suggests an opening for Hagel despite the fact he's never mentioned in the top tier of prospective GOP candidates.

"Hagel may be the one Republican who can fully separate the party from the troubled legacy of George W. Bush as the GOP looks to 2008," the magazine states.

"Viewed from afar, the stuff inside Hagel looks like the stuff that makes Republican presidential candidates," the article states.

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Hagel countdown:

n Groundbreaking interview in coming issue of GQ: Hagel says original 2002 Iraq resolution language proposed by the White House would have authorized the president to go to war anywhere in the Middle East. In view of what he describes as doctored intelligence and the president's failure to fulfill personal assurances that all diplomatic options would be exhausted and broad international support obtained, Hagel says he regrets his vote to authorize U.S. military force against Iraq.

n Although Nebraska's two U.S. senators have a tense personal relationship, Ben Nelson had a gracious response when asked about Hagel's possible presidential bid. "Nebraskans can be proud" that Hagel is a presidential prospect, Nelson said, and "I wish the Hagels well in their deliberations" about whether to enter the race.

n Fragments from a column by Peggy Noonan, writing for The Wall Street Journal "in praise of Chuck Hagel" for last week's words challenging every senator to accept responsibility for taking a position on conduct of the war: "Mr. Hagel has shown courage for a long time. He also stood against the war when that was a lonely place to be. He had guts."

n Rush Limbaugh, long a Hagel critic, recently has been referring to him as "Senator Betraeus," a dittohead derivation of the name of Gen. David Petraeus.

n Plans to move 2008 presidential primaries in California, Illinois, New Jersey and Florida up to early February, right on the heels of New Hampshire, would further strengthen the candidates with the big money. Money could be Hagel's biggest strategic challenge.

n Hagel will be keynote speaker and receive an honorary degree at the College of William and Mary's charter day celebration in Williamsburg, Va., on Feb. 10.

n A front-page Washington Post story last week suggested Hagel may have extended his framework for a decision on his political plans from two to six weeks. But it was just an offhand remark, not actually a revised timeline.

n Tick, tick, tick.

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Observations from Bob Kerrey in Time magazine about how presidential politics has changed since he took a crack at the Democratic nomination in 1992.

"You don't have to go from city to city to city to do events" to make sure your message gets out, Kerrey says, not in the new age of the Internet.

But any mistake will quickly end up on YouTube and spread like wildfire.

"Any slight misstep can be distributed in all 50 states simultaneously," Kerrey says. "There will be less creativity in talking — and in thinking."

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A good and decent man.

Not every man described in those terms at the end of his life truly earned that accolade. Bill Swanson did.

Because he was trusted, Swanson had the great talent of being able to bring people together and get things done. That served the state when he was in the Legislature; it served both the University of Nebraska and the state when he was at the university.

His life was a gift not only for his family but for all of us.

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Finishing up:

n The choice for Lincoln as it faces the big decisions that have been placed on its plate: Passive or dynamic? Is this Lincoln's Nike moment?

n Dialogue, Washington-style. President Bush: "I'm the decision-maker." Vice President Cheney: "I'm vice president and they're not."

n Hard to imagine there's a better movie this year than "Letters from Iwo Jima," but I'll keep looking.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.