The New York Times Magazine did a profile on him last Sunday.  A big part of his problem is that he doesn't come off as a very optimistic guy, and, as you know, we Americans constantly need sunshine shoved up our asses from politicians.  (Why that is, I don't know.)  Bill Maher told a hilarious joke about it:

"Like Reagan.  He was sunny!  FDR was the sunniest Democrat, but he had polio, and his wife was a dyke.  There was nowhere to go but up."

FDR would've gotten a kick out of that.

Hagel's a Vietnam veteran, so I'm inclined to listen to him on issues of war and peace more so than non-veterans.  That may be unfair, but it's simply a knee-jerk reaction of mine.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.