We may have a historical opportunity-- let me explain. What if the Netroots got behind Hagel with financial support. Hopefully this would carry him through enough of the primaries to win against the regligious right candidates. Hagel would be our fall back candidate. I know, there are problems with this, but think about what this would open up.
Instead of supporting and fielding a middle-of-the-road Democratic candidate chosen only because we think that candidate can manage a slim electoral victory, we would be free to select a truly progressive candidate that will run on a full-on liberal platform.
Then we could have a real debate on the future course of the country. A clear choice between a moderate Republican and a liberal Democrat. For the last several cycles the fear of a right-wing Republican presidential win has forced us to moderate or water-down our candidate choice. I think we could trust Hagel to engage in a fair and honest debate.
For the first time in many election cycles, liberals would have a candidate they could get behind 100%. Voter enthusiasm and turnout would be high. We would not have to accept the choice of voting for a moderate Democrat as the lesser-evil. If we could not make our case, we would have started the debate, made our vision of the future of the country known and tapped the pent up passion for a candidate to speak candidly and with a vision. And we would have lost to a moderate Republican which would bring out the moderate elements in that Party long lost to the neo-Cons and religious fanatics. The national debate would change.
This is not perfect but it offers a real choice and the possibility of real change.