Well one thing is for sure republicans have no problem tearing into each other lately, just as long there is no film of Hagel hugging the president he might be OK. Ever since the Gov of NJ hugged the president they treat him like the "Redheaded Stepchild" ha no offense Fiesty it's just an old expression.

what are the chances the likes of McCain, etc., won't try to block it?

It is guaranteed, and will do so hiding behind the "gay card", you know, that group they love to hate until it is to their advantage.

Donald Rumsfeld will have something to say about this.......

His sage advice....I'm sure all the TeaPeople are waiting to hear!

I certainly hope not. I'm a little encouraged by the voting today that the "staunch conservative GOP" numbers are dwindling ...

By the way, did you all see the piece on Harry Reid and how many were appointed without anyone interfering with the Senate doing their job???

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/03/1175907/-Lawrence-O-Donnell-Segment-about-what-Harry-Reid-just-did

Yes--as a matter of fact, I did.

And Rumsfeld is a Neocon, not a Teabagger...

Chuck Hagel is a republican I respect, even when I disagreed with him. He's old school republican, the kind who used to dominate the GOP; the kind who used to understand what being elected to "govern" meant. He's a Vietnam vet, a person who understands the consequences of unnecessary wars. If he is nominated, no doubt the right-wing bomb throwers in Congress (and on FR) will be out in force led by McCain, Graham although they lost their third muskateer, Joe Liebermann; maybe Kelly Ayotte is his replacement, she took his slot attacking Ambassador Rice.

Forrest Grump, if memory serves me, Hagel endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and in 2012, so the hug won't matter.

Layton, Lawrence O'Donnell did a great piece on Harry Reid's efforts. Showed him reading page after page of nominees and legislation unanimously passed. Old Harry may be quiet but he had Mitch McConnell's help with this.

Layton - "staunch conservative GOP" numbers are dwindling.

I watched Nightline last night and the 20 new women in Congress were interviewed. It was so interesting. I couldn't tell you who most of them are just by looking at them but they all had one purpose - JOBS. Each one who spoke said that was their reason for being there - to help get bills passes that created more jobs.

It didn't matter if they were R or D - JOBS was it. And, each who spoke said they were tired of the topics of "contraception" and "abortion." One of them summed it up - "we are capable of determining what is best for our bodies and don't need anyone else telling us." And, one woman quipped - "and why is it always some man bringing the subject up?"

Could be very interesting times coming up!

And Rumsfeld is a Neocon, not a Teabagger...

Ah, Yes.....one in the same!

I too saw what Senator Reid was able to accomplish on his own....no interference....Kudos!

If Hagel would have had his way, the US would have over $1 trillion less in federal debt, because he opposed the Iraq war and stood his ground against Bush and the neocons against it.

T. Neville - lobbyist isn't the first thing that comes to mind with Chuck Hagel and the fact that you bring that up is not surprising. Just another Republican who loves to hate anything President Obama proposes.

citizensarethecountry - which is probably one reason President Obama respects him so much since Obama ALSO voted against the war in Iraq.

Neoconservatism is a branch of American conservatism that includes endorsement of political individualism, free markets and the assertive promotion of democracy and United States national interest in international affairs including by military means.

The Tea Party movement is an American political movement that advocates strict adherence to the United States Constitution, reducing U.S. government spending and taxes, and reduction of the U.S. national debt and federal budget deficit.

Invisible - unfortunately the Tea Party Movement is nothing like what you've posted. They are a group of radical right wing extremists who hate anyone who isn't white, male and looking just like them. They hate gays, have little use for women and want to control everyone and everything.

from the article: "There are as many as 10 Democratic senators who could vote no, Capitol Hill sources say."

i am fascinated by all the praise heaped on a republican once obama says it is ok.

Donald Rumsfeld will have something to say about this.......

Who cares what Herr Rumsfeld thinks. As eloquently stated by Mr. Boehner, Donald, go f*** yourself!!

i am fascinated by all the praise heaped on a republican once obama says it is ok.

What fascinates me is BillyBob continues to whine and complain about Democrats when they select a republican candidate for a post, and then continue the mantra that Obama and Obama supporters are the most divisive group in the history of the world.

Ain't too much in the form of Congressman and Senators coming out of Nebraska that I can tip my hat towards, but Hagel, I can. Smart, rugged, payed his dues physically in service to the Country, not a party line vote, thoughtful.

He's a good nominee and deserves no less of respect to be openly vetted and ultimately confirmed as the next SecDef.

As for the remaining Nebraska delegation...f'n do something worth something!

I don't know Hagel from a hole in the ground.

T. Neville - not in denial at all. Our President is NOT anti-semitic (yet another lie from the far right) and his selection of Hagel is a great one. Go peddle your hatred somewhere else!

Seking Sanity is a complete tool. The Tea Party hates women? Of course thats why Michelle Bachman and Sarah Plain are their darlings. They hate blacks? South Carolina's new black Senator was appointed because he's a Tea Partier. As far as control everything? What does he me an? Healthcare or something ridiculous like that?

maybe trouble in paradise -- in a previous article there was great praise for the idea of barney frank to be the appointed senator from massachusetts until the election can be held. (my bold)

but just a few minutes ago he said this: "Outgoing Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced on Monday that he "strongly opposes" the potential nomination of Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary, due to anti-gay comments the former Republican senator from Nebraska once made."

are 15 year old comments for which an apology was issued a legitimate reason for someone to vote against a presidential nominee?

T.Neville

Is that why Obama tried to give the Palestinians $400,000,000 after over 6,000 rocket and mortar attack in the last couple of years, and Obama is not very welcome in Israel ?

============

Um sure, you run with that. To hear you speak, you get the impression the US Government has a greater obligation in posturing and actions related to acts of violence and terror pointed at Israel, than it does to US Citizens.

What is John McCain's claim to National Security expertise? The fact that he crashed 4 or 5 military jets and was a Viet Cong prisoner of war? His answer to any conflict is to "arm the rebels". Other than that, not sure where he gets off proclaiming himself to be a National Security expert.

skibum - I mispoke - the Tea Party hates INTELLIGENT women! They do have their token blacks but that is it!

As to control of everything, they want to control what everyone does in the privacy of their own homes. But hey, they do love their damned guns - no matter how many little children are massacred!

With John Kerry as Sec State, I find it incredibily hard to believe that "Hanoi" Jane (another traitor) has not been put up as Sec Def. Obama is missing a real opportunity here to totally destroy the United States (a place he once visited)

jtarpa - John Kerry a traitor? Funny since the men who actually served with him don't think so and my guess is they know a lot better than you do!

Oh wait - you're a birther! 'nuff said! IDIOT ALERT!!!!!

Chuck Hagel is a good Man, and well qualified. That's all that's needed for the republicans to do everything they can to block His confirmation. Seems to have a good head too. That won't sit well with the likes of McCain and Graham atall.

seeking -- actually i believe the left wants control in homes as evidenced:

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who famously instituted a ban on smoking in bars, may now be looking to target those who want to light up in their own homes. According to documents obtained by the New York Post, community groups will be sent out to convince landlords and tenants across the city to turn their private buildings into smoke-free zones.

@VincentBlackShadow - I served as well, Reserves, but served none the less. One of the things I can't stand are service members who sometimes covertly, other times overtly walk with an expectation that others are supposed to acknowledge and do the "...oh thank you..." routine.

There is zero wrong with any person recognizing the service of another, but in my opinion, everything wrong when the service member starts to expect the recognition. There really is a huge difference.

McCain and his service history bother me, because when things are well and good, McCain says all the nice things and otherwise acts as a humbled soldier...that is until when one does not place McCain's service or self-proclaimed expertise of international affairs above their own position, then the crotchety one appears.

There is not debt of gratitude owed. I don't say that to be nasty or disrespectful or disregard my own service. I say it because our job was to defend the freedom(s) of this Country and frankly, like it or not, one of those freedoms is to not care.

When you serve, you serve the Country. If you serve in expectation that roses were to be thrown at your feet, you used the military, you didn't serve the Country. My own opinion of course.

Makes sense that the anti-semite Obama would nominate a defense secretary hostile toward Israel.

red -- you have not read the post correctly; no whining or complaining just an observation.

thanks for playing; between you and sanity the fun never ends

ciao

Bi-partisanship and comprimise is off to a good start in 2013.

Lets keep the ball rolling!

Salud

T.Neville

That's not it, I am against Obamas continuing gifts of our tax dollars to Islamic terrorists like those in Palestine, Syria, Egypt, and Libya.

=========================

I can give you space on that point, but playing devil's advocate, the US has no problem giving tax dollars and arming religious, secular, environmental terrorist that are US citizens who blow up buildings, plot and execute violence against masses of innocent people every single day

I guess the controversial question is, do you disdain the use of US tax dollars in support of terror 'in all forms' because it seems to me that US tax dollars and US law fund and enable acts of terror in this Country all the time.

@Invisible Hand#1.12: Tea party movement is a gang of crazies who wish all but them to be forced to perform their bodily functions in "outhouses" and be satisfied with wiping their asses with no more than 1 cob apiece per day. No lime treatments either, unless the lime is bought from them. They claim this is in the constitution, somewhere.

The American People are being played once again by the bought and paid for crooks in Washington and the MEDIA!

Let the games begin!

You libs crack me up.

I certainly hope not. I'm a little encouraged by the voting today that the "staunch conservative GOP" numbers are dwindling ...

The demise of the Tea Party and their influence has been greatly exagerated by the media. We'll continue to right the direction of the Republican party by continuing to remove progressive Republicans. The media thinks that since the Tea Party wasn't able to match the historic results of 2010 that they're someone now obsolete is neive and frankly silly.

I too saw what Senator Reid was able to accomplish on his own....no interference....Kudos!

Praise the powers of dictatorship. Mao, Hilter and Stalin were also able to "accomplish" a lot on their own, without intereference.

They are a group of radical right wing extremists who hate anyone who isn't white, male and looking just like them. They hate gays, have little use for women and want to control everyone and everything.

Are Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Tim Scott, Allen West and Nikki Haley, to name a few, white? Are Nikki Haley, Michele Bachmann, and Sarah Palin men? The Tea Party only wishes to "control", or limit, the power of the Federal Government they don't care if someone is gay or a minority or not. There's vastly more racism prevalent in the Democratic Pary.

kibum - I mispoke - the Tea Party hates INTELLIGENT women! They do have their token blacks but that is it!

Again another falacy and I love the prejudice coming from the left. Token blacks? Too funny...

As to control of everything, they want to control what everyone does in the privacy of their own homes.

Based on what? Them not thinking it's appropriate for the tax payers to pay for someone's birth control. If anyone has brough the Goverment into someone's home or bedroom it's been the left.

It doesn't look like the libtards have gotten any smarter in 2013.

Glad to know that Obama is off spending taxpayer dollars again on a relaxing two week vacation in Hawii, no wonder he wants to raise the debt ceiling, what a joke of a president.

billybob

actually i believe the left wants control in homes

Are you kidding me? The Tea Party is all about big government control in your personal life. They want to tell you what religion to follow, what to do in your own bedroom, what women can do with their bodies, who people can marry... they believe rape is a gift from god ... they hate gay people so much that they will even mock and "boo" a soldier, fighting for us, on live television just because he is gay. These people claim to be christian, yet hate the poor so much that they chant "let them die" at primary debates.

THAT is who the Tea Party is. THAT is what they do. The push for conformity to their standards, where big government tells everyone exactly what to do with their lives. They demand less spending, but want to spend MORE at the border. They demand less spending but want to spend MORE to put armed guards in every school. They demand less spending but want to spend MORE on defense.

They are the closest thing to theocratic fascism our country has ever seen. Remember the famous quote: "Fascism will come to America draped in a flag and carrying a cross"? THAT is what the Tea Party brings.

Ebeneser - when you make posts like that you continue to look stupider every day. President Obama has still taken fewer vacations than Bush during the same period of time. And, as we have for ALL Presidents, we only pay for transportation and security for the President and First Family - nothing else.

Your ignorance is so tiring. Try a new whine - this one is very old!

Glad to know that Obama is off spending taxpayer dollars again on a relaxing two week vacation in Hawii

Bush spent 32% of his Presidency on vacation.

Obama has spent 5.2% of his Presidency on vacation.

Invisible Hand

The Tea Party movement is an American political movement that advocates strict adherence to the United States Constitution

...you forgot to add: as long as it does not apply to women, the poor, minorities and/or gays....

Nancy's Red Diaper Doper Baby

You libs crack me up.

The demise of the Tea Party and their influence has been greatly exagerated by the media.

damn Media for showing pictures like this:

http://www.motherjones.com/slideshows/2010/09/tea-partys-racist-signs/niggar

or like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCpwjvVaqyE

poor Teabaggers are being picked on for no reason...

Well bayllie, congratulations on the stupidest comment of the day. I go to most of the local Tea party gatherings, and the attendance is at least 50% women (to include the party chairperson), a large number of low income folks, some minorities (not many live here), and several admittted gays. There's some first hand fact for you....now why don't you tell us all the source of your ridiculous comment?

@Zathrose

Makes sense that the anti-semite Obama would nominate a defense secretary hostile toward Israel.

So Hagel talking about the obvious fact that there are influential pro-Israel lobbying groups operating on Capital Hill amounts to antisemitism? Are you serious? The secular state of Israel and the worldwide Jewish community are by no means a single entity.

I've noticed that the Right nowadays likes to throw out the "antisemitism" card as much as the left likes to use the "racism" card, and it's usually just as ridiculous when they do.

Chuck Hagel should sail through confirmation with no problem. The teaparty mentality of obstruction is crippled (as are many of them). I too maintain some hope for bipartisan reasoning, but I'm hearing that some Republicans think they should hold the nation hostage again when it comes to raising the debt ceiling. It isn't going to happen the way they envision because President Obama has correctly identified that strategy as a form of terrorism to which he will not respond in a positive way. Excellent...another 'proceed' moment.

spider

I go to most of the local Tea party gatherings, and the attendance is at least 50% women

Some women like to take away rights from other women, what's your point?

Still waiting for a single tea partier to tell me how we are supposed to PAY for all the unwanted welfare children that their abortion-ban will produce. Or are we just supposed to let them starve?

a large number of low income folks

Do they collect welfare? That must piss you off... to know that a "dirty welfare rat" is standing right next to you.

and several admittted gays

Do you show them the video of YOU tea partiers "boo'ing" and mocking a soldier, on live television, just because he is gay? If not, I can provide the link. It was during the Republican primaries, so you can find it anywhere.

There's some first hand fact for you

I've got a first hand fact too... the local tea party group in my area decided to attend a non-profit fund raiser. Funny, they didn't actually attend the fund raiser, but stood outside with signs that said "go home sand n***er"... because a Muslim group was hosting the fund-raiser, which raised money for battered women.

The police actually noted that this particular tea party group had teamed up with a known hate group to demonstrate their protest. I saw this first hand, but if you would like a link to the story, I can provide that as well.

How does it feel when people find what YOU, and your group, really stands for?

spider-737231

Well bayllie, congratulations on the stupidest comment of the day. I go to most of the local Tea party gatherings, and the attendance is at least 50% women (to include the party chairperson)

mothers also allowed their 16 year old daughters to marry Warren Jeffs, so what is your point? Just because a group INCLUDES women it does not automatically makes them pro-women.

Wow, my comment was the stupidest???

Yeah good idea, G-Dog, just keep on raising that debt limit.....anything to keep the freebies flowing to Obama's low-information voters, right? Why don't you go get a good book on basic economics and look up those big words like inflation, credit rating, devaluing currancy, and default?

Hi Spider: Raise the debt limit to pay the bills lawfully incurred. If you don't want to raise the debt ceiling, don't approve the debt in the first place. I'm not impressed by your economic knowledge...al all.

howaboutthis - and clearly you've reburied yours!

SeekingSanity:

You shoulld redouble your efforts to find sanity, you seem to be a long way from it. You have no evidence that The Teaparty "hates nonwhites, women, and gays," and I am sure the nonwhites, women, and gays who are proud members of the Teaparty movement will be very suprised if you ever find such evidence!

just keep on raising that debt limit.....anything to keep the freebies flowing

Debt limit allows you to pay what you ALREADY spent... not spend more.

Now what did you say next?

low-information voters

Considering you do not even know what a debt limit does, that sounds about right.

FERNDOC

You have no evidence that The Teaparty "hates nonwhites, women, and gays,"

Video proof of the Republican primary debate where the GOTP "boo'ed" and mocked a soldier on live television, just because he was gay. They could not even give a soldier the respect he deserves. That evidence enough?

How about the "rape is a gift from god" comments? Ya, those people don't hate women at all.

And all the tea party members holding signs that say "n**ger" and "go home sand n**ger"... you don't consider that hate?

Seems the evidence is overwhelming. What's wrong? Does the truth hurt?

Hagle is just another career politician that has over stayed his welcome. Obama has had teams of researchers looking for the right RINO to add feathers to his cap.

my -- as i have posted elsewhere today mr. obama's words before he became drunk with power:

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.

FERNDOC - read mguy's excellent post 1.51 and find your proof. If you are a Tea Partier - YOU are the problem - the party of haters of all people who are not as demented as you.

And, yes, seeking sanity in the Republican and Tea Party but as haters like you prove - none exists!

billybob-6210632

my -- as i have posted elsewhere today mr. obama's words before he became drunk with power:

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure.

yet the Republicans make Reagan to be the presidential god and their symbol of success even though he raised the debt ceiling 17 TIMES.

and the president whose name Republicans try to forget -GWB - raised it 7 times

explain THAT.

mguy-478

low-information voters

He/She is just a blathering Ditto Head with the "low information voter" comment. Rush has been spewing the same bs for days now

m guy Presidents go on vacation but are never on vacation. The amount of money spent by Obama and family on vacation is in the billions of dollars. Bush went home to Crawford Texas and spent almost nothing except for security.

Hagel is an honorable man-more honest than most of the bought and paid for nitwits who try to drag him down. He is a distinguished Vietnam Vet, a seasoned past Senator, a middle of the road guy from the mid-section of the country.

He has proven his sincerity in trying to make this country better, smarter, honorable, and more honest. He has not been bought by neo-cons and special interests - as has been done by McCain, Graham, Liebermann, and now the new sidekick. He believes in American power, but understands that indiscrimnate spending on wasteful defense projects does nothing to strengthen this country. He supports smart strategies and modern day tactics - not the imperial USA approach taken by those who never saw a war they didn't like....McCain and Graham particularly...(except they seem to have less of a taste for it in Africa).

Most Americans are really tired of the Congressional whiners of the GOP - the "nadering na-bobs of negativism".. (Agnew?) They are doing everything in their power to hyrt this country. They are so obssessed with going after President Obama - they are willing to drive the country off the edge to our demise in an attempt to discredit him.

Mr. Hagel - my first suggestion to you is a full audit of the Defense Department budget. Let's see what is really going on, and what our tax dollars are paying for. Ask each Pentagon department manager to cut 15% of their budgets during the next 2 years, close all the new facilities opened during the past 10 years, close 300 bases overeseas (that leaves another 300+-don't worry), bring back all troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, fire the independent contractors who provide the golf courses, pools, jacuzzis, vehicle maintenance and chef services, and bring back military "grub"- bases with just the basics - soldiers who service their own equipment, and cut the defense budget back to Clinton era levels - when we won the Cold War, balanced the budget, had a space program, led the world in education and innovation, and did not need a bloated standing military to project American power.

I say cut Congressional salaries in half, put them on Social Security instead of a pension, change their health insurance to Medicare or VA, cut their staffs in half and their budgets, eliminate their ability to take a job as a lobbyist or NFP manager for at least 5 years after they leave office.

Speaking of debt ceiling:

If your house is full of 5hit, do you raise the roof, of get the 5hit out ?

You think the "debt ceiling" is analogous to an actual ceiling?

Jesus f***ing christ... can we get just one moderately intelligent republican in here? Just one. Is that too much to ask?

Some women like to take away rights from other women, what's your point?

Still waiting for a single tea partier to tell me how we are supposed to PAY for all the unwanted welfare children that their abortion-ban will produce. Or are we just supposed to let them starve?

What rights are the Tea Party trying to strip from women? If you even start with the "right" to free birth control we'll know you aren't to be taken seriously. Nobody has a "right" to free anything. By all means have as many privately funded abortions as you want.

As far as paying for these unwanted welfare children, its called prioritizing. Despite what the left wants you to believe America does not have a revenue problem. We could start by defunding Planned Parenthood to help pay for those foster children, we could defund the EPA, stop our forgein aid..etc. Do you want me to continue? There's more than enough current revenue collected to cover the I'd put the well being of children as one of the highter priorities for State or Federal Government.

How does it feel when people find what YOU, and your group, really stands for?

I realize the left loves to classify and separate groups of people but try as you might you'll never be able to tell me what I stand for. That is unless you're going to say personal resposibility and individual sovereignty.

Nobody has a "right" to free anything.

So you advocate charging for air. What a Romney-bot. Oh, and Red Diaper Rash, no one ever advocated 'free birth control', but hey, keep believing insurance coverage for birth control equates to free. It simply proves we DO have low-information voters.

What rights are the Tea Party trying to strip from women?

The right for them to choose what to do with their own bodies. Or... as I like to call it... the right to MIND YOUR OWN GOD DAMN BUSINESS.

And no, free birth control is not a "right"... it is the financially responsible thing to do because pills are a helluva lot cheaper than ANOTHER welfare baby. Unless you want to spend more.

We could start by defunding Planned Parenthood to help pay for those foster children, we could defund the EPA,

Again, it's called financial responsibility... you defund planned parenthood, and all the medical services provided are cut. So now all those women have to go to a hospital, and we pay even MORE for the same services they would have received. Great idea, genius. Way to "cut" spending.

And we already have over 400,000 children in foster care... let's just defund organizations to pay for MORE. Sure, why not? It's not like any of you Tea Party freaks are doing one god damn thing to help the current foster kids... Noooooooo, let's just have even MORE. I can't see anything wrong with that.

Then we can defund the EPA too, because businesses have such a sterling reputation for NOT polluting the f*** out of everything around them, right?

I realize the left loves to classify and separate groups of people but try as you might you'll never be able to tell me what I stand for.

Oh, and this is the part where you try to tell me that you are "not" like the people who "boo'ed" a soldier on live television, because he was gay. Go on, say it. Come on, let's hear the spin, the word twisting, the excuses. We have video proof of EXACTLY who people like you are, but it's funny to hear you try to deny it.

So Seeking, does this mean that you would vote for Hagel for president in 2016?

DB- He certainly has more to consider than inhabitants of the "'clown car"....Gov. Perry, the Pizza Guy, Michelle-a-rama-ding-dong, 3-TIME Newt,Pope Santorum, Mr. Comb-over, Mittster, etc....

I don't imagine he would run, and I dont think he has been vetted for that yet. But a good man is worth a lot. The fact that his own party is trying to trash him is rather endearing.

I would like to see Hagel switch to a Dem, that would make me feel better !

Kevin T- -President Obama & the first family have not spent "billions" on vacations (or anything else for that matter that has to do with their family). And you have no idea how much GWB spent on his vacations at the ranch in Crawford. Finally, it doesn't matter how much either of them have spent on vacations- -it is NOT taxpayer money with the exception of Air Force One and the secret service, and those are expenses which Congress approved decades ago.

spider. 1) just because someone goes to a rally does not mean that the person buys what's said.

2) I simply don't believe you. I read what Tea Party people say, what is on their web sites, how they act, and what they act on. No way are you people as open-minded as you pretend to be.

Out of one side of the mouth they talk about fiscal responsibility, out of the other the government in the doctor's office giving a pregnant woman false information.

You know the dastardly republicans will find fault in any person the president chooses! Hagel will be no exception. It would be nice if the republicans didn't keep their word that, "Since we can't make him a one term president let's get at him in every way possible!"

lilkirt,

bushwhacker has the record for days on vacation at something like 550 for his 8 year term. Obama going into his second term has 81 days by last count. Less vacations less time on Air Force #1. How blind you are to bush and his crimes. Remember the Hague has an arrest warrant out for him for War Crimes. That is why he hides on his ranch all the time!

Nancy,

Are you sure you are a woman? You must love to have been told what to do with your body your whole life! Others have different views, but the teabuggers want to take the right to decide away from us!

KevinT.

Bush spent many more days at Crawford, TX than Obama has in IL or HI, and he used Air Force One, with security for him and his wife, plus his children who were grown and living on their own, (Jenna and her twin sister) were covered with security paid for by taxpayers. Where was your outrage when Bush's twin daughters went to Mexico with lots of security as twenty somethings, getting drunk and having a grand time on vacation on the tax payers dime. Get a clue...Bush spent much more times playing golf than Obama has...where was your outrage about that. Taxpayers pay for presidents to travel to their home states, Bush's was TX, Obama's is HI...what is your beef.

I may appear to be anti Jewish ,which is far from the truth ,but I am unhappy with Israeli policy especially in their demands that we only say yes to their policies irrespective of our betterment and national interests.We have been one hundred percent in agreement with them ,in fact we were instrumentally in the foundation of the Israeli state but since they continued their ancient philosophy of attempted genocide of the original inhabitants of philistine,we are becoming linked with their policies. The latest Israeli demands that we blindly follow their demands are an insult to our international policies and are counter to our interests.They refuse to negotiate with the Palestinians in the return of the occupied territories and now their supporters are prepared to refuse to pass a Presidential appointment because he is not a one hundred percent supporter of their foreign policies.Who runs this country? America or the Israeli government.

Let's see, hate's gays. Hates Jews.

Defends Hamas. Defends Hezbollah. Defends Iran.

I can see why Hagel would be Obama's choice...

...

Oh, yeah, and he also voted against abortions! Chuck Hagel voted against a measure in the Senate expressing support for Roe vs Wade.

.

Here's a question for all my liberal friends;

Since when do you support Jew-hating homophobe, Neanderthal bigots for positions in the president's cabinet? Is this the new 'cool' over there in New York and San Francisco?

I'm not talking to the guys posting here who work for Hagel, just normal liberals who actually have real opinions about these things. So do you support a Jew-hating homophobe Neanderthal for the position of Secretary of Defense?

Who's Obama going to nominate for secretary of the treasury, Reverend Jeremiah Wright?

It's quite obvious that you what a Sec of Defense that takes his marching orders from Israel. Please join the army so you can die for Israel. To put it bluntly, F Israel.

For Americans there are many reasons to oppose Chuck Hagel.
Hagel has no natural constituency, except perhaps for those who want a foreign and defense policy that is tougher on Israel and softer on Iran.

Israel would be clear that Obama views the Jewish state with hostility. Iran would be clear that it has nothing serious to fear from the Obama administration.

Nothing else can explain this odd nomination. Team Obama tried to couch it as a bipartisan act, inasmuch as Hagel was a Republican Senator. But key Republican Senators have made it clear that they don’t want Hagel at the Pentagon. Key Democrats have also failed to express enthusiasm over that prospect. Even Barney Frank opposes Hagel. If there’s a bipartisan consensus around Hagel, it’s that Obama should nominate someone else.

If the President would like to abandon his election promises about stopping Iran's nuclear weapons program he should just say so.

Trying to change it by just appointing Hagel will be understood well in the Senate and will.
not be accepted.

The loss of the confirmation will seriously weaken the President.

To me he is the stereotypical Archie Bunker type bigot. His policies have been anti gay (even now after his late and self serving apology he doesn't support equal benefits for gay military families.

there are many ways a Secretary of Defense could help gay military families no matter how DOMA is decided and Hagel has not come out in favor of any of these.

Reports to the contrary, LGBT equality is not yet a done deal in the military. There is still the matter of partner benefits. There still remain a handful of regulations that could be revised independent of the Defense of Marriage act that could bring some equity of compensation and benefits to gay and lesbian service members. but remain denied due only to Department of Defense foot-dragging:

Included in the discretionary benefits currently denied are spousal identication cards, and shopping at the PX, the former cited in the Pentagon's own Working Group study as not requiring DOMA repeal to deliver.

His remarks about the Jewish lobby having too much influence would cleary be seen as bigoted if you substitute any other.
minority group's lobby. Try NAACP or La Raza and see how long you would be considered.

He is anti-African American (with a 11/100 rating from NAACP and admires Strom Thurmond as a great role model. anti Woman (vs choice and contraception).
and
Hagel has drawn additional heat from insiders who claim he lacks the credentials needed to manage a department as large and essential as the Pentagon.

“Yes, Hagel has crazy positions on several key issues. Yes, Hagel has said things that are borderline anti-Semitism. Yes, Hagel wants to gut the Pentagon’s budget. But above all, he’s not a nice person and he’s bad to his staff,” said a senior Republican Senate aide who has close ties to former Hagel staffers.

“Hagel was known for turning over staff every few weeks—within a year’s time he could have an entirely new office because nobody wanted to work for him,” said the source. “You have to wonder how a man who couldn’t run a Senate office is going to be able to run an entire bureaucracy.”.

Others familiar with Hagel’s 12 year tenure in the Senate said he routinely intimidated staff and experienced frequent turnover.

“Chuck Hagel may have been collegial to his Senate colleagues but he was the Cornhusker wears Prada to his staff, some of whom describe their former boss as perhaps the most paranoid and abusive in the Senate, one who would rifle through staffers desks and berate them for imagined disloyalty,” said Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon adviser on Iran and Iraq. “He might get away with that when it comes to staffers in their 20s, but that sort of personality is going to go over like a ton of bricks at the Pentagon.”.

Multiple sources corroborated this view of Hagel.

“As a manager, he was angry, accusatory, petulant,” said one source familiar with his work on Capitol Hill. “He couldn’t keep his staff.”.

“I remember him accusing one of his staffers of being ‘f—ing stupid’ to his face,” recalled the source who added that Hagel typically surrounded himself with those “who basically hate Republicans.”.

Sources expressed concern about such behavior should Hagel be nominated for the defense post. With competing military and civilian interests vying for supremacy, the department requires a skilled manager, sources said.

“The Pentagon requires strong civilian control,” a senior aide to former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told the Free Beacon. “It’s already swung back in favor of the military over the past five years. A new secretary of defense should push it back in its rightful place, but it’s doubtful Hagel would be that guy.”.

“It’s not clear that [Hagel] has the standing, the managerial prowess, or the willingness to gore some oxen,” said the source.

One senior Bush administration official warned that Hagel is ill informed about many critical foreign policy matters.

“He’s not someone who’s shown a lot of expertise on these issues,” said the source, referencing a recent Washington Post editorial excoriating Hagel’s record. “That [op-ed] was extraordinary.”.

“Only in Washington,” the official added, “can someone like [Hagel] be seen as a heavy weight. He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”.

Hagel is likely viewed positively by the administration mainly because he is a Republican who often criticizes his own party, the source said.

“He’ll dance to a tune played by the White House,” said the former official. “That I think is the real problem.”.

As lawmakers consider a deal to avoid sweeping budgets cuts and tax hikes, Hagel’s support for slashing spending at the Pentagon has irked many defense hawks.

“This is a time when a secretary of defense needs to be raising hell about the sequestration cuts,” said the Rumsfeld aide. “It’s not clear that Hagel has any interest in picking that fight.”.

Hagel’s reluctance to chastise Iran also remains a central concern.

As chief of the Pentagon it is expected he would avoid planning for a military intervention should Tehran refuse to end its clandestine nuclear enrichment program.

“The military brass is already reluctant to offer up any military options on Iran even though it’s their job to have something on the books and to leave the options of the commander in chief open,” said the Rumsfeld aide. “Hagel will only reinforce these worrisome tendencies.”.

“Chances are he’ll view any legitimate effort to talk about military options with Iran as some plot by the ‘Israel Lobby’ to box him in,” the source said.

There is no reason to believe his appointment would change Israeli policies.

But there is a very strong likelihood that it would be a fatal blow to the chances of a negotiated settlement with Iran.

Iran would have to conclude that it doesn't have to fear.
finishing it's nuclear weapons program or even continuing towards ICBM's pointing at America.

It is not at all about preferring negotiations with Iran over war, or about Israel showing reasonable flexibility in negotiations. Those are mainstream reasonable ideas that almost everyone supports.
Hagel's ideas are not these ideas and are not mainstream in any way.

That is why the senators from Kansas are very likely to join those that will say no if Hagel comes up for.
confirmation.

President Obama should avoid the risk of loosing a confirmation vote over someone who's views on many major issues are opposite of the President's stated views and instead appoint the better person Michelle Flornoy.

Flournoy closely mirrors the previous stated policies of the President, the Democratic Party, and the American people.

Duqu,

Let's see 30 to 40 years ago I was speaking out for Nixon, Goldwater and Reagan. Boy people can change their views with time and so has Hagel. Both of us for the better as I hate the former party I used to be associated with. The repug. nuts!

Chip - there will certainly be a little push against this nomination. In the end, there will be a strong vote for Hagel.

Not sure if anyone remembers, but Hagel made a great move during the Reagan administration. That is when we had the worst VA Administrator, Robert Nimmo of California. Nimmo was intent on cutting funding for V.A. programs. Nimmo had referred to veterans groups as "greedy", and to Agent Orange as not much worse than a "little teenage acne". Hagel left immediately!

Chip - Your point is sad but true. Why is it so shocking to the GOP that Sen. Hagel is a moderate? In GOP lingo, is that now a dirty word? Has the Tea Party watered down the GOP so far that nothing outside their views is tolerated?

The GOP has one last chance to take back their party and let the Tea Party stand on its own. If not - they sign their own affidavits of worhtlessness...

McCain should have no say because if there is a problem its McCain !

Block everyone? You mean like John Kerry whom they support and Obama chose?

GOP want a shot at Kerry's senate seat, that is the only reason they support him.

You know they will. These GOP have given transparency a whole new meaning. Whatever they do, it's merely to block whatever President Obama wants.

Well David, that's why I voted for them. Here's to hoping for another 4 years of obstructing Obama's trasnformation of America.

omg, omg, that liberal commie fascist radical America-hatin' muslem is going to appoint a GOPer! *melt-down*

Well somebody has to block the stupid antics of the poser-in-chief, his juvenile, selfserving, socialist efforts to grow government and shrink individral freedoms, are the greatest thret this country faces today! Obama is so inept at dealing with Congress (both houses) that he had to send Vice President Joke Biteme to do the job for him! Now thats desperation

FERNDOC - yes, you truly ARE a good little Tea Partier - don't have one brain cell you can call your own! You and others like you are disgusting excuses for Americans. Too bad you stay here since you hate it so much. Why don't you leave?

@ SeekingSanity

The hyperbole is impressive. I find it odd that you fancy yourself some kind of authority on what an American is. We don't leave because we're fighters and we don't tuck our tails between our legs and run at the first sign of adversity.

Well you got that wrong Ferndoc, Obama was very adept at not giving in to Boehner, and Boehner could not even get his house to vote for his "plan B", it was Boehner that publicly threw in the towel, because he could not get what he wanted from Obama, or his own party, so he asked for it to be put in the hands of the senate. You think the VP negotiates and signs off on deal without the presidents advice and consent? Well you see what the senate did, they have to win statewide elections they cannot depend on their Gerrymandered little districts to continually vote them in, they gave Obama much more than he originally offered Boehner a long time ago. They gave him the tax increase with no cuts to SS and medicare because they know that the majority of the people in their state are against those cuts, and they wish to be re-elected. Virtually every republican in the senate voted for that deal, they hung Boehner out to dry with no chance to amend the deal, but hey Boehner said I can't do this, I can't get it done, and asked the senate to do it for him, and they did. You have a Speaker of the House that cannot speak for his house, why blame that on the president. You think the president was not behind those negotiations, Biden is a good man but he is not calling the shots, he was the mouthpiece at McConnell's request and the only reason is that it is political poison and quite embarrassing for McConnell to now be perceived as compromising and negotiating with the president, he has to win re-election back in Kentucky. Obama did McConnell a political favor he does not deserve by letting Biden be seen as the negotiator, why do you think McConnell let Reid pass a hundred bills in the middle of the night without the usual BS from senate Republicans.

In my opinion the Republican Party are attempting to survive and they know that to do so they must move from the far right to the center or even slightly to the left if center and divorce themselves from their unwisely chosen cohorts of the far right. I do hope so,for as a true Liberal Democrat I would be unhappy with a one party system,even if it were of the Democratic Party.

Jennifer - McCain and Dole were friends but McCain had no problem voting against the disabilites bill - with Dole standing right there!

Sorry Jen,

No respect for McCain... He is just low-down AND dirty....

After he pulled that trick with Susan Rice.... ughhhh

Senator McCain serves the interests of Israel. My money says he will vote to block Hagel, along with every other Netanyahu/Israel a$$ kisser in Congress. This nomination is going to show which politicians align themselves with Israel, over the interests of America.

America's Secretary of Defense job should be no business of Israel. The only possible concern for Israel is the possible elimination of all the freebies we send them. We don't see any other countries meddling in our politics.

Here is an article from the Jerusalem Post on Hagel's candidacy.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?ID=296204&R=R1

Senator McCain lost my respect during the past eight years. While I still credit him for his military service and respect his years as a POW, that's it. Occasionally there is a flicker of the old McCain but, particularly the last four years, he has behaved like a bitter, angry, sore loser who seems bent to revenge his own failed effort to be president. I cannot respect any person who would attack Susan Rice (or anyone else) without knowing the details and worse, yelling for answers in front of a microphone while skipping the high-level intelligence briefing that would have answered his questions. I particularly cannot respect him because he remained silent during most of the Bush years when many, far worse things happened. McCain voted against the disabilities bill; might has well have slapped Bob Dole in the face, you can't get much lower than that.

Jody - well said. I have to admit, I have a difficult time acknowledging the current McCain with the one who served in the military and was a POW. It is hard to match the two. He has shown how little people can become when they believe they are entitled to something - then don't get it.

If McCain believed he was entitled to anything he didn't earn on his own he'd be a Democrat, the party for those who takem, but never give.

Don't blame John McCain, Susan Rice does not deserve any respect. She flat out lied to the American people several times about what happened in Benghazi. Now Hiliary Clinton is using all kinds of excuse after excuse to delay her testimony about it. The facts are out that is was their fault and Clinton knows who is responsible besides herself and the rest involved, and Susan Rice is just as guilty for going along with the lie. Why would anyone get on TV and spread the lies that she did without knowing the facts. Now that the facts have surfaced, all of a sudden she is innocent, lol. Senator McCain is a true American who loves his country unlike the unAmerican communist we have running this country today.

Kanic . . .

Now Hiliary Clinton is using all kinds of excuse after excuse to delay her testimony about it.

Yeah, God forbid she'd have a blood clot and be hospitalized. Your post is truly disgusting.

Hagel's opposition to the war in Iraq, alone, shows he has more wisdom and good judgement than the majority of Republicans and those Democrats who voted to give Bush/ Cheney and the neocon cabal in the Pentagon, the authorization to go to war with Iraq.

The Iraq war will end up costing upwards of 3.5 trillion dollars. What is more important, an insensitive remark that might have offended some people or the judgement to avoid a war in which America lost over 4500 soldiers and had 10s of thousands critically wounded? In matters of critical importance, Hagel has shown courage and leadership. Hagel is the proper choice for the position, if you have the welfare of America as the top priority.

It must be noted that McCain voted for the war in Iraq and would be quick to vote for military intervention in Syria and Iran. America cannot afford men like John McCain, who leap into wars, with no thought of the costs to Americans.

Your arguments about "don't ask- don't tell" are feeble attempts to delegitimize a great candidate. What is your real motivation, Neville?

Hagel is only being nominated because Obama thinks he'll get less resistence for a "Republican" nominee and that Hagel is anti-Israel which Obama greatly appreciates. If Obama nominates Hagel I hope those Democratic Jews start to see which party has their best interests at heart.

Hagel's opposition to the war in Iraq, alone, shows he has more wisdom and good judgement than the majority of Republicans and those Democrats who voted to give Bush/ Cheney and the neocon cabal in the Pentagon, the authorization to go to war with Iraq.

You do realize that almost 40% of House Democrats and 60% of Senate Democrats voted for the war, correct? It was undoubtly a bi-partisan approval.

Nancy - Hagel is Obama's nominee because he is well-qualified. Save your stupid hatred for your ignorant friends!

And, yes the war was voted for because of the lies the Bush administation contrived and put in their report to get it approved.

That is right. BOTH parties supported BOTH wars in far greater numbers than americans who support Barack Hussein Osama in the last election. The fact that Hagel felt that September 11th happened to his satisfaction, and no accountability was needed for it, does not exactly endear him to me, how about you?

seeking -- ending the week with an old conspiracy theory. you are slipping up

Jimbo - the wars were supported because of lies. Even Condi Rice was called out for lying by the CIA - she had been told that the metal tubing could NOT be used for WMD's but left that small bit of info out of the report that went to Congress - as well as many other facts.

bilybob - no conspiracy - these facts were all in the CIA report - as well as the FACT that Rice and Bush were told the US would be attacked using our own planes - which Condi Rice stated she WAS told. They didn't tell us to "avoid panic." How'd that work out for everyone?

T. Neville - NO because they were from way before we attacked Iraq. And, we attacked on "information" that Iraq was somehow behind 9/11 - which Bush/Cheney knew was a lie when they said it!

When we invaded Iraq there were NO WMD's and the UN inspectors kept telling Bush they weren't there. Bush just had to go in to get revenge for Daddy - and it cost us dearly in lives that shouldn't have been lost!

Save your stupid hatred for your ignorant friends!

There's no hatred here but can the same be said for you?

Nancy....as to your statistics about voting for the war....I wonder if any poll was taken (secrectly of course, so that the repercussions wouldn't sink anyone's career) asking if any of those yes voters had 'buyers remorse' afterwards?

I would just about bet the farm that those poll results would make for some interesting conversation.

Nancy , do you really think Hagel is being nominated because Obama think he'll get less resistance if he nominates a Republican? ANYONE who is paying any attention at all is aware that there is resistance to Hagel's nomination. If Obama decides to nominate him in spite of that resistance, he probably has a really good reason.

Nancy - Long after we found there were no WMD, Republicans were still going on television saying "it was the right thing to do". The entire war was predicated on lies. The mobile biological weapons labs were for filling weather balloons. The aluminum tubes were unsuitable for nuclear weapons. The Niger documents proving Saddam had a nuclear weapons program were forgeries. Ever wondered who forged them?

John Kerry made it clear he was only voting to give Bush the authorization to go to war, if all other avenues were exausted. They were no. Bush had the weapons inspectors, who were led by Hans Blix, withdrawn, so we could attack, using "shock and awe".

Here is one way the war was sold to the people and the politicians. Read below:

Zionist
warmongers like Ken Adelman and the Zionist Washington Post pushed the war in
an editorial titled, “Cakewalk in Iraq.” Jewish supremacists Richard Perle and
Paul Wolfowitz told you that Iraq would “Welcome us as liberators.” Iraq became
the longest war in American history. Here is a report from USA Today: “Pentagon
officials estimated for the first time Wednesday that up to 360,000 Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans may have suffered traumatic brain injuries.” Now that’s
not counting tens of thousands who have suffered maiming, amputations, or death
in this war based on lies.

Neocons, Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith planned the war in 1996, when working for Arial Sharon. They tried to sell the idea to Clinton in 1998 with the PNAC Letter, which told of WMD in Iraq. Apparently, Clinton was smart enough to disregard their pleas for war, so they waited for the "useful idiot" named George Bush and the master manipulator Dick Cheney. They got their war for Israel. Now they are working to get another one, this time in Iran. If Romney had been elected, we would probably be bombing Tehran today.

The Iraq war belongs to the Republcans. Hey, ever wonder why George Bush's name was hardly ever mentioned during the presidential campaign?

Yes, that used to be true, and filibusters used to be equally rare so don't count on it.

It also used to be rare for anyone block a presidential nominee; some may have fussed and fumed, and made noises but unless there was something really egregious in that nominee's past (Bork), approvals were quick.

Of course, now GOP Senators filibuster their own bills.

Wonder why SHEISTY BED HEAD hasn't put down the first comment?? Must be because the liberal dim wit has no character to attack the nomination put forth by her commander in chief? Even tho the guy is a right wing Republican, Sheisty must be throwing up over the thought of her hero Barry Obummer nominating a person who stands for everything Sheisty cannot stand. Where o Where is SHEISTY BED HEAD?? Care to comment?? LOL

jody -- allowing the minority party in the senate to bring bills forward for consideration used to happen all the time but not anymore. republicans in the senate are not even allowed to offer amendments under harry's rules.

At Nuremberg the defense was "I was just following orders". You're excuse is the same.

No one cares what Tea-tools think. We already know you blame Obama for everything and oppose any decision he makes. We get it already.

T. Neville. That is the second one of your comments on this thread that is based on a total reading comprehension error. The article said that Hagel quit his post at the VA because the person who was in charge of the VA, Robert Nimmo, compared agent orange to teenage acne. It was not Chuck Hagel who said that. Hagel quit the VA immediately because he was as offended by that statement as you are.

Wasn't it Romney and his party that proposed massive defense spending increases against the wishes of the Pentagon leadership during the campaign?

There is a lot of LARD to be squeezed out of the defense budget, but if the deficit is to be reduced THAT lard needs to go. The Pentagon needs to be fueled with muscle and brains not Congressional PORK.

Hagel is fiscally conservative, including regarding military spending. He is very knowledgeable in foreign affairs and seems very cautious and intelligently thoughtful when regarding any military involvement, so probably most of his opposition will be from the military-industrial complex advocates/neocons.

citizen you are undoubtably correct. He is likely to actually fight against unneeded and unwanted weapons systems added to Defense appropriations bills as pork for the sponser's constituents and not because the military needs them.

It is an honorable thing to do - bring a bloated mess into sanity, order, and efficiency. Hagel wants to do something that has meaning - not just play party politics for power.

Congress is full of folks who owe much to their "benefactors". They pander to them constantly. Both sides of the aisle. Neo-cons are pragmatic - they care nothing about parties, or domestic issues. Their concern is strictly US Imperial Power, and will buy supporters on both sides of the aisle cheerfully. Read up on the position papers put forth by the Project for a New American Century back in the 1990's... and check out the names of the founders and signers. Their priorities are self-evident once you see that. These are the core of the neo-con movement to this day - starting with key insiders for Reagan, Bush I and Bush II - often the same names.

So - I welcome a person into a position of some influence who is NOT owned by the neo-con crowd. Mr. Hagel - I salute your honesty and ability to evolve with the times - as you have regarding LGBT issues. The GOP is sneering at one of their own, but roundly complaining about the lack of bi-partisanism??????? Typical - the GOP is as usual conflicted.

Of course, the dems will do anything to make sure Brown doesn'get in including stooping to put in another corrupt Kennedy.

Kanic - explain how the Kennedy in Mass is corrupt? Specifics please?

Sasha, I agree.

nycguy...

Very classy denegrating a decorated vet. What a boor...

Did you serve? Did you see combat?

nycguy - what an imbecilic post - but nothing we don't expect from a Republican. You must feel better now that you've taken the opportunity to put the President down. And, there are lots of qualified Democrats who are ex-militay.

Yes and we have a comander in Chief who never served, but to be fair did attend terrorist training camp in Pakistan when he illegally travelled there on a foreign visa.

skibum - proof of your allegations please. Oh, and please don't forget that Bush was a deserter!!!! Everyone in his National Guard unit says so!

Yes and we have a comander in Chief who never served

He did however single-handedly kill Osama bin Laden.

Very classy denegrating a decorated vet. What a boor...

So nycguy denigrated a decorated vet by calling him a RINO? Funny. Are you also going to criticize those that are denigrating McCain? Or do you just pick and choose which decorated vets are above criticism?

Nancy - my guess is you voted for Mitt Romney - who ALSO never served? Your point????

Chip....so I must love Hagel if I didn't serve in combat....you are really stupid..............................

Seeking Sanity...I'm not a Republican and the POTUS couldn't sink any lower than the depth of slime he put himself in.....

nycguy - What has the President done to "sink" to such depths? He is heads above the boy Bush you voted for - twice. And, my God he is a better man than Mitt Romney could ever hope to be. Your stupidity is showing!

Nancy - my guess is you voted for Mitt Romney - who ALSO never served? Your point????

Apparently I really need to slow things down for you, SeekingSanity. By point was not about whether Obama served or not but that I take exception to all the credit he takes for killing Osama bin Laden, like he was actually part of the Seal team.

It's true I voted for Romney, although I found him too progressive and too deep within the establishment to be my first choice he actually knows something about business and the economy from his real world experience. Which is something that Obama, who to my knowledge has never held a private sector job, severly lacks.

The RINO comment is a dead give-away that here is an old "ditto head," Limbaugh addict. What other kind of comment could anyone expect?

...you pathetic leftwing trash couldn't cobble together a cogent thought to save your lives......

Here one that I refer to below in #15

sdc.clark....since when is reciting facts considered "hate"?? Odd interpretation....

HopeisGone - feel better now that you've posted your hatred? You and others like you are totally pathetic and jump at the chance to show it daily. It really sucks to have to wake up every day and find out you're you, doesn't it?

Seeking...."hatred"??? Once again, please point out what part of my FACTUAL post contained "hatred"??? You need to take the pillow case from off of your head and open your eyes and wake-up!! Blindly following Obama like a moth chasing the light of a bug-zapper will have the same results for both you and that moth.....

HopesiGone is always happy to hear bad news and will blame Obama for all of it because we all know Obama runs the country by himself.

seems that you Obama supporters take real issue with facts.....would you like me to make up some sugar-coated, pleasant stories that say everything is jolly-gosh dandy under Obama!? ....sorry, I don't want to compete with NBC.

wait...Andrew, in November you said that Obama was responsible for good employment numbers.....now he isn't responsible for bad ones?? Odd perception....

No your good, I mean every one knows Obama makes all the bad things happen and if something good happens he gets no credit because you are fare and balanced in your assesment of world events.

Back in November weren't you arguing that the unemployment numbers weren't to be believed and here you are happy as hell ready to believe them as long as they are bad.

No Woman is going to vote republican as long as the GOP teats women like crap. Which they are still doing even after the election. Gindal wants to stop the violence against women act...the republicans never learn that the old white voter is dying off. The dems have figured this out. Hope is gone for the GOP in 2013. Hope is alive for the Dems in 2014.

Andrew...judging by the posts here....I wouldn't really call the MSNBC boards "balanced", would you? This is more like a giant hug-fest where a bunch of whiny liberals come to reassure themselves that their ill-fated decisions and distorted perceptions of the world are actually "normal" because there are others just like themselves posting here......any post that is even minutely critical of the Obama administration is the only hint of "balance" you will be able to find here.

K- Don't you realize that women unemployment rates keep going up and up under the Democrat's watch?? Dems are taking women out of the workplace and putting them back into the kitchen to cook and clean. The Democratic Party is kind of like an abusive husband who roughs his wife up and tells her he only does it because he "loves" her. Ever hear of the term Abused Wife Syndrome? Maybe we should come up with a new one....Democrat Woman Syndrome??? Both are being abused and are supportive of it. ....Odd.

Hope, A bunch of liberals, your here every day playing devils advocate saying out landish crap and insulting people when they have a different point of view. No one takes you seriously because EVERYTHING is Obamas fault according to you. "Democrat Woman Syndrom???" for instance.

PS...I am not even in agreeance with these unemployment numbers. As bad as they are, they don't take into account seasonal adjustments for the Holidays, the underemployed working only 15-20 hrs. per week when they want full-time jobs, nor the millions who are no longer eligible for unemployment. So, realistically, the REAL numbers must be downright even more frightening!!

Andrew....you have DWS (Democrat Woman Syndrome)???....sorry to hear. I didn't mean to offend you!!

Hope, no body votes for you because you are right, they vote because they hate Obama and you are funny. Please don't take yourself to seriously. There, I just voted for your comments because they make me laugh.

AndrewWoody - don't waste your time responding to Hope. Clearly it is a person who has not knowledge of anything but loves to post their hatred of all things Obama at evry chance. People like that are worthless and giving them attention just makes them spout off more!

Hope, you sound like a blamer. But both parties today are blamers...if you listen closer to their spiel. That is all they got.

We need new ideas from the banished middle. How long must we follow their left and right's antiquated same old song and dance. They are just chasing their tail...and you all are just sheep.

Andrew...I neither take myself nor any of the hack politicians in this country too seriously. Your views, however, are absolutely hilarious!

Hope, Good to know, I was concerned you believed what comes out of your mouth. It's nice to see people who know they are full of crap. Still voting for you, you crazy nut;)

joe...I agree....a pretty bad group of politicians (Dem and Repub) running this country lately. however, I am not a "blamer". I am just posting some of the REAL statistics and numbers in hopes of educating some of the masses here who are blindly believing the sugar-coated sound bytes they hear from their biased sources. Notice how real facts are considered "hateful" on this board?? The best analogy I can make is trying to shoo a bunch of moths away from a bug-zapper.....those moths would call my "shooing" just as "hateful" as some here are calling my posts.....

Andrew...Just as a side note, two of the largest and trusted sources of liberal "news" are Bill Maher and John Stewart.....comedians by trade....go figure!

The difference between them and you? They know what they are talking about and they are actually funny. Don't worry though, I will keep voting for you as I know that you need it to feel relevant.

Hope I meant the Dems and GOP. Not you. Their positions are to blame the other party for everything. A vicious runaround. Time for new ideas and solutions.

Good day, I hope you find some hope, it must suck that it is gone.

Andrew.......keep flying high!

.

(towards that zapper)

joe...I absolutely agree with you! A lot of finger pointing and nothing "good" getting done.

HopesiGone is always happy to hear bad news and will blame Obama for all of it because we all know Obama runs the country by himself.

But you accept Obama's blame of Bush unquestioned?

Injun...

Of course that statement is BS.

If you think that wasn't fuill of it then give us some examples otherwise you're off the rails.

Rice withdrew idiot.

CHIP, I have to reluctantly acknowledge that Obama on more than one occasion has been less than stalwart in supporting nominees and/or postitions he has taken. I am fervently hoping that this will change in his second term.

Sorry to disappoint you, Injun, but John Kerry was always President Obama's first choice to replace Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton; he almost selected him in 2009, and had Hillary not been interested, Kerry would have been named.

Ozzie boy, in most cases, the nominee withdrew because the GOPers in the Senate refused to allow their names put on the floor for an up/down vote and often times, one Senator anonymously put that nominee on indefinite hold. President Obama did what he could, while trying to clean up the Bush mess and the economic collapse, to get those nominees approved but the GOP was hell bent on obstruction.

I suppost Hagel but you're preaching about Democrats being "obstructionists"??? Now that is LOL funny pal. You sure do tell good jokes. Got any more???

Ozzie...please tell on what grounds these dems would be voting "no"?

I suppost Hagel but you're preaching about Democrats being "obstructionists"??? Now that is LOL funny pal. You sure do tell good jokes. Got any more???

Depends, did you hear the one where Harry Reid refuses to take up House passed bills to vote in the Senate? Is that not obstructionism? Or is it only obstructionism when it's your policies being opposed?

Leading to the question: vacation from what?

Hey BILL, blow it out your shorts pal. Obama has taken half the vacation days then what your fearless leader, Dubya did. Try using facts sometime so as not to make a fool out of yourself.

In the future, I'll make sure the White House consults with you prior to the President taking any time off.

yes on vaction. better on vaction than destroying the country.

Hed read it on his teleprompter.

BUM, and you are aptly named. Can you name me one president since JFK who has not used a teleprompter on a regular basis??? And Obama managed to graduate Magna Cum Lauda from Harvard Law without using one so he must be at least as smart as you pal. LOL

I ask a simple question and get a stupid answer.

Mark Thomas - Hagel served the country well in the military and has a good understanding of foreign affairs. He received two purple hearts, served in the Senate and currently is a professor of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; Chairman of the Atlantic Council and co-chairman of the President's Inteligence Advisory Board. He's well qualified.

you neglected to mention that hagel like stone face kerry is also a millionaire,i'm sure he worked for it or got insider trading info from his colleague's of the venerable? senate or house,scoundrels is an old word and it really does not sound as rageful to describe these things that are called humans.

mikevietvet - I don't really care if Hgel is a millionaire. Contrary to Republican rants, most of us have no problem with people who achieve success. Your point?

What a change from the election! Kerry and Hagel should present ten years of tax returns to the public - and they had better reflect an acceptable effective tax rate. Just kidding - we respect people who have achieved monetary success even if they married into it.

Seeking

Romney.

whatever

HOWIE, Booooo Hoooooooo for you pal. Kinda sore you just took a thrashing in November, huh fella???

Firstly, this is not a lifetime appointment like the Supreme Court and the rules that one plays by are markedly different. Name me one thing, just one thing that your party has not obstructed on. They are even refusing to vote for aid to survivors of the Hurricane that left the North East devasted. Nice people, you Righties. You'll piss away trillions on unnecessary wars and then turn around and deny people the right to the very basics to get their lives back in order. Oh, and the same scumbags failed to pass the Violence Against Woman Act. I though you folks were such god fearing Christians???

WHEN YOU SEE eveil, you wouldn't recognize, judging by your track record. You saw no evil in Bush and Cheney who tanked the economy and reckllessly squandered the Clinton surplus. You saw no evil in the racism and narrow vision that so many Republicans were spewing out during the last Presidential campaigns. You saw no evil in the Southern strategy that still reverberates in American politics in the form of unadulterated hatred again Obama (for being Black), women, Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, even young people. But I have since learned that Light is greater than darkness and hopefully people like you will one day embrace Light and thus a broader vision of society. You make yourself nasty and make so much noise; but Obama got re-elected trice by more than 51% of the popular vote, a fit accomplished only once in the last 57 years by Eisenhower. That gives me so much hope about the contuing greatness of America! I drink to that!!!

If Chuck fails to win confirmation, Wesley Clark would be a very good choice.

Yea, you're a bright one pal. Guess you miss your boy Dubya. He sure did a Cracker Jack job with both our economy and his quaint little shooting wars.

Adn BTW dimwit, Democrats have NEVER obtructed to anywhere near this degree when the minority party. Try reading a book sometime so you don't sound quite as ignorant.

ozzie,i like your no nonsense approach to the circus clowns who post here.

skinger - you slipped past the nice guards at the gate for your hospital, right? Don't worry - they'll come get you soon and take you back so you can be safe. OMG - you guys get dumber and dumber!

skinger- You right-wingers are so far to the right, you have your own cliff to go over and I can't wait til you all go over it. You are the reason we have those a$$holes in Congress. But their days are numbered also, more elections are coming and more true Americans are opening their eyes and can see the main problem.

news, how is it that you have all of this advance information? Will the D-rats continue to blame the rich for the poor or will they protect the borders and stop excessive spending and taxation.