Democratic officials: Obama has settled on Hagel for defense secretary
President Barack Obama has settled on Chuck Hagel, a Republican and former U.S. senator from Nebraska, to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, with an announcement expected Monday, Democratic officials tell POLITICO…
A Democratic aide described the White House’s logic for choosing Hagel, age 66: “Chuck Hagel is a decorated war hero who would be the first enlisted soldier and Vietnam veteran to go on to serve as Secretary of Defense. He had the courage to break with his party during the Iraq War, and would help bring the war in Afghanistan to an end while building the military we need for the future…
A Senate Democratic official said: “I don’t think Dems just fall in line. Ultimately, he may be confirmed. But at this stage, his fate is totally up in the air. He will really have to work hard to overcome some of his previous statements and positions.”
Blowback
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Obama simply picks fights because he can. I applaud this decision. It means he’s squandering political capital on a pick that will likely fail.
That’s capital he won’t have on immigration and gun control.
The man is fool.
Curmudgeon on January 6, 2013 at 8:54 AM
Gay Jews…very upset…
right2bright on January 6, 2013 at 8:55 AM
Rattling the cage.
OldEnglish on January 6, 2013 at 9:01 AM
He wants a token Republican who can be another whipping boy for “bipartisanship.” For Obama, Hagel’s animosity toward Israel is a bonus.
conservative pilgrim on January 6, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Democrats will make noises and grandstand, and then fall in line and say Hagel’s explanations were “satisfactory.”
RINOs will make noises and then cave and say “the president is entiteld to his picks,” even though the Dems never return the same courtesy to GOP presidents.
Wethal on January 6, 2013 at 9:07 AM
Democratic officials: Obama has settled on Hagel for defense secretary
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How,Progressive!(sarc)
canopfor on January 6, 2013 at 9:08 AM
the dems will fall in line…
ALL HAIL DEAR LEADER
cmsinaz on January 6, 2013 at 9:08 AM
Such a brat. Too bad his commie grandparent-caretakers never bothered to spank him when it might have done some good.
Naturally Curly on January 6, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Obama’s probably doing this for the uninformed. Hagel has a bogus R next to his name, so the Senate GOP looks unreasonable opposing him. And if they do oppose Hagel, they’ll look racist and vindictive when he starts appointing more crackpots to SCOTUS.
Given the stupidity and gutlessness of most of the Senate GOP, maybe the GOP should save its fights for judicial opponents at all levels–at least appeals and SCOTUS.
BuckeyeSam on January 6, 2013 at 9:19 AM
Aaron Goldstein an AmSpec blog.
Wethal on January 6, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Hmmmm….I forsee another lunch-time or weekend “Recess” appointment in the near future…
Rogue on January 6, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Islamic terrorists will be extremely thrilled by obama’s choice.
Pork-Chop on January 6, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Why wouldn’t Obama? He has gotten everything he has ever wanted. Who’s gonna stop him? Republicans? Democrats?
portlandon on January 6, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Ordinarily Obama would throw someone like Hagel under the bus. But maybe Obama has concluded that Hagel’s leftish sneering not only satisfies the Democratic nutroots, it appeals to at least some of the dispirited voters who sat out the last election. Hagel is the kind of guy who tells everyone off without having much useful to say, and that’s just the ticket for this kind of president.
Seth Halpern on January 6, 2013 at 11:35 AM
portlandon, he didn’t get Susan Rice. Imagine if the party banded together.
SuperBunny on January 6, 2013 at 12:02 PM