WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Thursday stalled the nomination of former GOP senator Chuck Hagel as the nation’s next defense secretary over unrelated questions about President Barack Obama’s actions in the aftermath of the deadly raid on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya. Democrats called the vote ‘‘tragic’’ and vowed to revive the nomination after Congress’ weeklong break.
By 58-40, with one abstention, the Senate fell short of the 60-vote threshold required to advance Hagel’s nomination to a final, up-or-down vote on his confirmation. Four Republicans voted with Democrats to end the debate and proceed to a final vote: Sens. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Mike Johanns of Nebraska.
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He WILL be confirmed. This is just more delaying tactics by the Republican donothing idiots.
Hagel appeared confused, and unable to answer many of the questions at his confirmation process. If the poAnyone who watched Hagel responding
Confused. Yes, I understand.
A sad state of affairs for the country and for the Republican Party. How does a party regain credibility when it can't seem to make wise decisions or at least wise political decisions. Do Party leaders really think that this will be received well by the rest of the nation. The country is not "kansas" and not ideologically locked into a viewpoint. Sad, mostly sad for the Party and terrbily insulting to a decorated soldier. If the Party thinks those of us who served in the Nam with Mr. Hagel don't take offense they are sadly mistaken.
Hagel had a horrible confirmation hearing. He should not be confirmed for three major reasons;
1.) He and President Obama want to bring our level of defense spending to what the EU is aka none. Appeasement doesn't work - we learned this in the 1930's we do NOT want to relearn it.
2.) He is from the Lindberg side of the republican party - very much isolationist. As we learned from 9/11 the oceans don't protect us.
3.) His hearing was horrible - you want to put him in charge of the DOD ?
Hey Tsyn- First of all what are you talking about? The United States spends way too much on defense. Hagel represents smart spending and that concept is sorely needed in our current economic climate. Second, preventing another "911"won't happen because we throw more money at the Pentagon. That happens when we beef up our intelligence and think logically about proper allocation of limited resources. Are you saying that the original attack happened because of isolationism? I would say it happened because of the rampant idiocy in the Bush administrations.
oooops ! something happened that posted my comments prematurely.
Hagel appeared like someone with early stage dementia. He ought not to become defense secretary. The appointment is too important for someone who appears to know so little about the job.
Whereas the 45 minutes that it took you to reformulate your premature post reflect your own stellar compos mentis. Thanks, Doctor! We all feel better now.
"tsynch" Come on you're smarter than that. This is political and stupid. It is nothing but embarrasing for the Party. The man will be confirmed but instead of just doing it they make fools of themselves. I'd agree with you if I though he wouldn't be confirmed but the fact is come Monday next week, they'll confirm him. So all you have is a policially stupid move.
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Where was all the feigned outrage in 2003 when the Democrats filibustered outstanding judicial nominees like Miguel Estrada. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. And I suspect Mr. Hegel is cooked. Expect a withdrawal next Friday afternoon before the Senate comes back into session.
Wrong. Don't follow politics much?
Just like Estrada disqualified apparently liberal candidates when he was a clerk in the Supreme Court. He was nominated for judge by George W Bush (after representing Bush's team in the Bush v. Gore case), another example of the Bush "reward" system. He had held NO judicial positions prior to his nomination by Bush to the Court of Appeals.
First of all it was perfectly fine with the media when Democrats, led by Ted Kennedy blocked the confirmation of John Bolton for UN ambassador, and smeared Robert Rork for the Supreme Court.
Second Chuck Hagel is grossly UNQUALIFIED. He proved it himself by failing to answer basic questions: Which the AP and the Globe FAILED to include in this piece. The AP piece and the Globe DELIBERATELY failed to include the major questions that were asked by Republicans like Lindesy Graham and John McCain, and Chuck Hagel's COMPLETE REFUSAL to answer them. Exactly WHY should a nominee be confirmed if he refuses to answer Yes or No questions? The filibuster was NOT because of Benghazi. The AP piece is a grossly incomplete and is LIE. It's purpose is to FOOL the readers. And the bloggers here have been fooled. Hhis views on Iran are outright DANGEROUS for America and for Israel. He is not opposed to iran getting nukes and has even supported the idea of America putting a consolate in Tehran. WHY? So the Americans at this consolate can be held hostage (as under Jimmy Carter) captured or even KILLED? ...The people who support him have to share his views, else they would not support him.
Third, the media and Obama DESERVE this for calling the Republican Party weak and divided whenever they do not oppose Obama. If that's what the media and Obama will do, then why should the GOP go along?
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