When a public official is asked to confirm the adequacy of, say, the design of a bridge, he or she is putting their professional reputation and personal liability on the line.

They cannot say “Although I think this design is inadequate, who am I to judge the designs of others, so I will confirm it as okay. And besides that, someday I might need them to confirm one of my designs!” They would be lucky to be merely be run out of town, and not prosecuted for dereliction of duty. Who are they to judge? Are not they the people paid to judge and sworn to judge?!

So where the hell do these Senators get off saying “This guy is incompetent, but in order to get along with my friends in this really super club, I will assent to his nomination – I mean it’s just an oath I took to to uphold a role assigned to me in the the Constitution, so it’s no biggie.”

Any Senator who perverts his Constitutional duty by assenting to the confirmation of a high official that he publicly states is incompetent, is in violation of his oath of office, and should be recalled.

It’s about time we hold these people accountable to us, not to their fellow club-members – and yes I’m talking to you Arizona!

Hagel just doens’t recall saying that. Miss Lindsay appears satisfied with Hagel, too.

I hate McCain more and more every day. Really, he doesn’t t stand for anything. It’s always “reach across the aisle”.

Mirimichi on February 17, 2013 at 6:07 PM

Romney has been the exact same way his entire political life, so what else would you expect from a Rove/GOP elitist? It isn’t as if more republicans are signing up with the TEA Party to fight this sort of spineless ‘representation’.

America ALWAYS gets the government it deserves.

GOP BOP.

Ball-less Old Party.

profitsbeard on February 17, 2013 at 3:52 PM

The GOP is only as good as its supporters, so what did you do this time?!?!

No he isn’t and any and everyone knows it. Once Obama nominated him the most important thing was push thru the nomination to prevent Obama from getting egg on his face. They have not the least bit of concern
For the country. After all, Obama and Jarret will be calling all the shots anyway. They just want a RINO as the front man to give them some bipartisan cred with the stupid, ignorant and gullible. It’s all about Obama now and, as is customary, to he’ll with the country.

When Newt is good, he’s SO GOOD.

Ball-less Old Party.

We are so screwed.

NEWRIVERELECTRIC on February 17, 2013 at 3:21 PM

Have you folks considered a recall effort? I would think your local TEA Party would be interested in doing exactly that.

How about you? Are you involved in grass roots efforts? You must know that leaving others to do the heavy lifting never works out…

And replace McCain with what, who? We in Arizona aren’t crazy about that loon either. I keep hoping he’ll retire, but he just keeps on going. We had a relatively young conservative run against McCain in the last midterm, McCain’s group spent millions of dollars smearing him into oblivion. McCain has the money and the power.

I’m sorry to say McCain is going to be around for a long time.

Arizona offers it’s apologies.

Defense experts say Hagel, if confirmed, will face major challenges in wrangling a sprawling institution and working with partners to implement President Barack Obama’s policies. That would be the case for anyone taking the top civilian defense post, but Hagel would walk in without the bureaucratic expertise of his predecessors.

Since Obama’s goal is to funnel as much money as possible to bureaucracies, social programs and union contractors, it’s really not a problem. This is what the bureaucracies (such as the Pentagon) do when left to their own devices.

If Obama’s goal was to produce an effective national defense then Hagel would not be his nominee.

KOOLAID2 on February 17, 2013 at 2:59 PM

What I had in mind involved a broken off broom handle and barbed wire …

I wonder if the fighters of the death penality would allow impalement?

RasThavas on February 17, 2013 at 2:33 PM

…I gave him a pass early on after Nam…but you are right on!

We owe thanks to the TEA Party Senators for their due dilligence in staying the course. What we owe the GOP Elitists is something so crude that I’m uncertain as to whether it is fit for public consumption, so I’ll leave it to the more crass element [Romneycare supporters!] to fill in that blank.

DannoJyd on February 17, 2013 at 2:33 PM

…oh its OK DannoJyd…I’m here!….phuckem’……may they dine at a swine trough full of feces!

There’s one main job on his résumé — politician — and for Hagel, that’s the problem. …

…that’s what JugEars requires!

RasThavas on February 17, 2013 at 2:33 PM

Very true. Well written.

Gee…Thanks for the prehistoric reference there Mr.Father Time.