Will Obama cave on Chuck Hagel?

[Sprightly]

Really. We wouldn't have had the pleasure of watching Ashcroft covering the nudity of the sculpture in Justice otherwise.

So what?

[Omar]

Except that is a bunch of lies. No one is asking him to put another country first over America and who do you think is a neo con and a yes man for AIPAC that might be nominated for the job???

Actually, that is what some of Hagel's opponents seem to find so appalling. That he had the effrontery to actually say the following:

“I'm a United States Senator, not an Israeli Senator. I'm a United States Senator. I support Israel. But my first interest is I take an oath of office to the Constitution of the United States. Not to a president. Not a party. Not to Israel. If I go run for Senate in Israel, I'll do that."

Imagine a U.S. Senator having the nerve to make such a statement! Of course the truly sad thing is that making such a statement would be considered a disqualifying factor. One would hope every U.S. Senator or Representative would hold such views and be more than happy to express them publicly. But, alas, it is, in fact, expected in some quarters that our elected officials must always put Israeli interests first and foremost. Failure to so subjects one to the kinds of attacks that have been launched against Hagel. The knives are out and it really is disgusting.

The Weekly Standard salutes the Republican senators who stood up against the prospect of U.N. ambassador Susan Rice as our next secretary of state. But let’s be clear: Chuck Hagel would do far more damage at Defense than Rice would have done at State. To have blocked Rice and then roll over for Hagel would be a disgrace.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articl...is_666589.html

[Byng]

So what?

You don't see something a little quirky when an Attorney General of the United States pays $8,000.00 to cover a single exposed breast on the Spirit of Justice Statue, the very symbol of his job, because he finds it offensive?

[Sprightly]

You don't see something a little quirky when an Attorney General of the United States pays $8,000.00 to cover a single exposed breast on the Spirit of Justice Statue, the very symbol of his job, because he finds it offensive?

Quirky, yes. He's a modest man. He was embarrassed to be photographed in front of it and "some" photographers took great delight in mocking him in the photographs prior to the covering. Am I supposed to care about $8,000? Seriously?

[dsummoner]

Iraq was a totally unnecessary war. Hagel spoke out strongly on the war to the point that Cheney singled him out for ridicule when he would not support the Necons.

Hagel told them that decisions on war were an American decision not a Republican or Democrat decision and that his vote as an American was NO!

Police actions using military forces generally are unnecessary. Iraq, Afghanistan (one suspected that it would be a state/nation building clusterfrack rather than an actual war), Libya, etc. - all unnecessary.

[flyboy56]

That's a very charitable description.

For LBJ. 15 years, 50,000 dead.

[Omaha Beach]

Actually, that is what some of Hagel's opponents seem to find so appalling. That he had the effrontery to actually say the following:

“I'm a United States Senator, not an Israeli Senator. I'm a United States Senator. I support Israel. But my first interest is I take an oath of office to the Constitution of the United States. Not to a president. Not a party. Not to Israel. If I go run for Senate in Israel, I'll do that."

Imagine a U.S. Senator having the nerve to make such a statement! Of course the truly sad thing is that making such a statement would be considered a disqualifying factor. One would hope every U.S. Senator or Representative would hold such views and be more than happy to express them publicly. But, alas, it is, in fact, expected in some quarters that our elected officials must always put Israeli interests first and foremost. Failure to so subjects one to the kinds of attacks that have been launched against Hagel. The knives are out and it really is disgusting.

The Weekly Standard salutes the Republican senators who stood up against the prospect of U.N. ambassador Susan Rice as our next secretary of state. But let’s be clear: Chuck Hagel would do far more damage at Defense than Rice would have done at State. To have blocked Rice and then roll over for Hagel would be a disgrace.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articl...is_666589.html

Easy to take that stance when you are from Nebraska, not many Jewish voters, there. Just wondering if he would have had the same courage if he wanted to be a Senator from Florida, or NewYork.

[Omaha Beach]

Hagel backed the Congressional resolution in October 2002 authorizing the administration to use force against Iraq, but on the basis of assurances from Powell and Bush that the administration would use the threat to war to buttress diplomatic efforts. His Senate speech in favor of the resolution presciently warned that “we should not be seduced by the expectations of dancing in the streets after Saddam’s regime has fallen.”

After the invasion and as casualties mounted, Hagel became an outright opponent of the war. He saw Bush making the same mistakes in Iraq that Lyndon Johnson had made in Vietnam, attempting to achieve a phantom victory by escalation. The death knoll for Hagel in the Republican Party and to his Presidential aspirations was when Hagel hinted in 2007 that Bush should be impeached.

So he came out against the, war after voting to use force AFTER the war started getting more and more unpopular with the American people. Wow a, real profile in courage.

[soulflower]

Looks like Obama will cave:


Just as occurred with Rice, the U.N. ambassador whose prospective nomination as secretary of State—leaked to the media—flamed out in the face of widespread criticism of her, President Obama appears to be rethinking his choice for Defense secretary.

A senior administration official told National Journal on Sunday that it was “fair” to say Obama is considering candidates other than Hagel for Defense secretary, in particular Michele Flournoy, who was under secretary of Defense for policy in Obama's first term, and Ashton Carter, the current deputy Defense secretary. Only a week ago, Bloomberg News reported that Hagel was Obama’s top choice.

The White House's revised characterization of Hagel’s standing came after what was, for the former Republican senator, a particularly discouraging series of comments on the Sunday-morning talk shows. Outgoing Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent, told CNN’s “State of the Union” that it would be “a very tough confirmation process,” while on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Hagel’s former fellow Republican in the Senate, Lindsey Graham, said Hagel’s would be “a challenging nomination.” Graham added: “I don’t think he’s going to get many Republican votes.”

http://nationaljournal.com/white-hou...fense-20121223


It's almost as if Obama didn't win an election a few weeks ago

[pickles]

If I was Obama and I thought he was the best man for the job I'd nominate him. And I'd make them block him, and explain why they're blocking a nominee from thier own party. I wouldn't make anything easier for them.

[dsummoner]

Obama caved on Rice because of the racist campaign mounted against her by the Libbie Gaian Warmer religious nutter brigade.

[soulflower]

I was wrong on Obama. Looks like he won't cave on Hagel

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,1970768.story

[Byng]

I was wrong on Obama. Looks like he won't cave on Hagel

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,1970768.story

Must have been the Email I sent to Joe Biden!

Good to see, finally someone who is not a yes man and will tell it as it is and talk some sense.

[Byng]

Biden, Kerry and Hagel..............A Foreign Policy 'Dream Team'

Team of Mentors: Biden, Kerry, and Hagel Are Obama's Senate ...

[SomeIdiot]

Biden, Kerry and Hagel..............A Foreign Policy 'Dream Team'

Team of Mentors: Biden, Kerry, and Hagel Are Obama's Senate ...

Let's see what they do first.

[flyboy56]

Hagel is against unnecessary war! That is good enough for me.

So you think it's too late to stop the war cries before going into Africa?

[Sprightly]

Biden, Kerry and Hagel..............A Foreign Policy 'Dream Team'

Team of Mentors: Biden, Kerry, and Hagel Are Obama's Senate ...

Are Obama's Senate Mafia

[Byng]

So you think it's too late to stop the war cries before going into Africa?

We are not invading and/or occupying Africa. Africa has 3 choices to help them develop their natural resources, Russia, China or the United States. Who would your choice be FlyBoy?

[Byng]

Are Obama's Senate Mafia

Sure beats Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice!

[Byng]

Let's see what they do first.

It will be interesting/telling, when we see who gets the nod at the CIA.