Believe it or not we (or as Rich would say, who is this "we") got the hose out. It had a piece of metal in it we think may be to hold it rigid so it wouldn't move around. That is what was holding it up. Took a lot of swearing, yanking and pulling but eventually it worked free. Of course, running the new hose was not exactly easy either. But it is done and the cooler drains great. So - it can be done.
