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Subscribe to RSSPublished 12:23 p.m. ET -- Although stung by attacks from his former Republican colleagues in the Senate, Chuck Hagel is bracing to fight back against his critics and has no intention of withdrawing as the nominee to be Defense Secretary, according to the former senator's brother.
"He's not going to walk away from this," said Tom Hagel, who spoke to his older brother about the looming confirmation battle on Sunday night. "The way he's responding to this, he's just going to fight harder."
Tom Hagel's comments to NBC News came Monday just moments before Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, announced the panel will vote Tuesday on Hagel's nomination.
White House spokesman Jay Carney responds to questions regarding Sen. Lindsay Graham's intention to fight the nomination of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary.
They also came amid mounting signs that some Republican senators are gearing up to try and fight it with a filibuster. On Sunday, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a member of the committee, vowed to put a hold on the nomination -- as well as that of John Brennan to be CIA director -- if the administration does not provide more information about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, the ranking Republican on the Armed Services panel, said he was weighing a filibuster.
But other Republicans senators, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- have said they would not support a filibuster. It's not clear Graham would have the votes to go through with one.
There was also speculation the former Nebraska senator might pull his name as a result. Widely respected defense analyst Tom Ricks wrote Friday he believed there was a 50-50 chance Hagel would withdraw.
Tom Hagel, who served with his older brother in the Army during Vietnam and sat behind him during his rocky Jan. 31st confirmation hearing, described Chuck Hagel as "committed" and "optimistic" that he will be confirmed as Defense Secretary.
"I don't think there is any possibility" he will withdraw-unless he's asked to do so by President Obama, Tom Hagel said.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Former Senator Chuck Hagel testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to become the next secretary of defense on Capitol Hill January 31, 2013 in Washington, DC.
The White House appeared to shoot down any hint of that Monday.
"We are absolutely committed to the Hagel nomination," said Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman.
Tom Hagel said his brother was "shocked" by the level of personal animosity to his nomination from his former GOP colleagues in the Senate.
He also indicated that both he and his brother were upset about the blizzard of TV ads from anonymously funded advocacy groups attacking his nomination, calling the ads "absolutely gutless." He added, "If these people have integrity and believe in what they are doing, why don't they put their names to it?"
But while his brother was "tired" by the ordeal and it has taken a "personal toll," Tom Hagel said his brother was "ready to deal with it" and prepared "to respond to whatever attacks come out."
Leave a Comment:
Anyone else as tired as I am from watching the hissy fits from "Dumb" (McNasty) & "Dumber" (Graham)!
Why does America have to watch these two chicken hawks wave their "hard-ons" at anything Obama?
Give em hell Chuck & Good Luck!
I guess that means he'll try to wean himself off the barbiturates. UpChuck is awful.
"no confirmation without information." Joe Biden.
Graham has stood too close to McCain and caught the 'I am no longer worth while' virus. Kelly Ayotte needs to pull up her panties and leave the building before she becomes besotted with non-viable sperm. It would be most un-Catholic of her to be so sticky.
Is any one as tired as I am of the current administration lying and covering up for Benghazi? I hope Graham stays strong and refuses to give Hagel the vote until Obama and his minions come clean. The American people deserve to know the truth and the families of those killed also deserve to know the truth just the same as Pat Tillman's family did. Shame on you Liberals for supporting this cover-up.
BCWC -- Sounds like you have had considerable experience in being sticky. Yeeeewwwww.
We got your back Chuck, with the stellar character you've got, you are more than a match for your former friends. We need more like you in government.
As Feisty says......give 'em hell!
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Anyone else as tired as I am from watching the hissy fits from "Dumb" (McNasty) & "Dumber" (Graham)!
Why does Awmerica have to watch these two chicken hawks wave their "hard-ons" at anything Obama?
Feisty, as a side note I don't watch the Sunday shows anymore because these two "Drama Queens" are on every Sunday droning up
Benghazi Svengali sequels of 'Obama Bashing". They want to remain relevant; especially McCain since he stillwalksroams the earth. I said it in a previous post. I believe the majority of Americans are tired of looking at that dinosaur; McCain and will start saying the same thing.Give em hell Chuck & Good Luck!
He will. I would love to see the "Party of No" trying to remove Hagel 's foot from their asses just like they had to with Hillary and Brennan.
@Jersey Girl #1.3: Shame on you conservatives for attacking innocent nations, $100 OIL, the tripling of Health Insurance costs, and the quadrupling of candy bar costs. Shame. Shame. Shame.
Ben-636050
I take it that you are an endangered species ... try to put a little more "Yeeeewwwww" in your life. If you need to pay for it, I will start up a wildlife fund.
Not as tired as reading your comments....Grow up. I understand you may disagree with and even dislike members of the Senate (believe me, I agree with you more than you might realize), but the playground name calling just makes you come off as a kook.
Try expressing yourself like an adult and watch how more receptive the audience becomes.
Tell us Essie, what did Chuck Hagel have to do with Benghazi?
It never ceases to amaze me, how the right wingers can scream about the deaths of 4 Americans while sitting silent at the loss of 10,000's of thousands compliments of W & his Dick!
Take your pious baloney sandwich and stuff it!
You don't give a @!$%# about them, they are only of use to you as a tool of propaganda!
And who is forcing YOU to read them? lol
Thanks!
But, I don't take unsolicited advice from keyboard warriors... not my style! ;o)
Hagel is a disgrace and he is done. All he can do is continue to show how incompetent King Obummer is. I don't know what is more pathetic, him or the stupid liberals that keep supporting this trash.
I am plumb tired of those who continue to cry cry cover-up on this topic.
There will be more hearings, more testimony and no end to the ginned-up claims of a group destined to join the Birthers and Truthers as the vanguard of 21st century conspiracy nuts...
Tillman's death was a real coverup, as opposed to faux coverup that is being touted here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Tillman
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And how long did the Tillman story, a TRUE story, take to get to the investigative stage? 2 years...
BCWC -- I guess I must have struck a cord close to home when it comes to your life experiences. Obama whores are a dime a dozen.
Jersey Girl: You, like any other right wing Obama hater, spew the same mantra every day about Benghazi and lies and cover ups.
Are you as concerned about the lies that killed six thousand american soldiers and one million innocent Irakis just to prove that war criminal Bush was a macho man? Of course you are not. You only source of information are the Tea Party, Fox, Limbaugh, Hannity and the rest of the scumbags that populate you empty brain.
Get informed, better yet, get educated.
that antisemitic muslim needs to find a diff job
Sen Graham is making himself seem the greater fool and don't know it because he is always on his own mind.
There are too many unanswered questions about Chuck Hagel's record:
Who was he getting money from for the last five years, and why has he refused to answer two letters from the Senate asking him to disclose information about foreign governments and organizations which have paid him?
Did he receive money from an organization called "Friends of Hamas"?
Has he received money from the Iran Lobby, which supports lifting sanctions from Iran?
Has he received money from the governments of Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and others?
Has he receive money from Lenanese groups?
Why has he suddenly changed his previous positions when it comes to Iran and sanctions? Is this a genuine change of heart, or is he just telling the committee what he thinks they want to hear?
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There were too many inconsistencies in Hagel's testimony:
He voted against, spoke against, and wrote against sanctions on Iran. Now he says he supports sanctions.
There is a speech on Youtube which he gave in 2008 where he said that sanctions won't work and that the U.S. should never use force in order to stop Iran, even if there was a nuclear exchange between Iran and Israel, implying that he didn't support preventing Iran from getting nukes in the first place! So which is it? Is he for containment or prevention?
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He had made accusations about the "Jewish Lobby" which he tried to explain during the hearing, but the question remains: why did he accuse the "Jewish Lobby" of intimidating people in the Senate, and what policies did he believe the Lobby pushed the Senate into supporting. He couldn't back his claims in the hearing, so what does that say about him? SO IS HE AN ANTISEMITE, OR A SNIVELLING LITTLE LIAR? Either way, he's not fit to be secretary of defense!
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Basically it comes down to this:
Who is the real Hagel? The one who attacked gay rights, and Jews, and opposed sanctions on Iran, and supported Hezbollah and Hamas?
Or this new guy who claims that he was just misunderstood?
Rasputin, you are forgetting something called H.J.RES.114. quit blaming everything on Bush will ya geeeesh will it ever end.
Jeeze, you'd think Benghazi was 911 the way the republitards are complaining. How about we investigate how we got into Iraq and see if those two idiots McCain and Graham have anything to say about that. What you morons are "plumb tired of" is losing to a black progressive and you don't have the balls to just come out and say it. Instead you'll turn every other issue into subterfuge over your stupidity and intransigence. The only reason the right wing whiners posting here hate Hagel is because he was one of the first republicans to recognize what a disaster Bush was and the GOP was becoming.
RTColorado
Not as tired as reading your comments....Grow up. I understand you may disagree with and even dislike members of the Senate (believe me, I agree with you more than you might realize), but the playground name calling just makes you come off as a kook.
Try expressing yourself like an adult and watch how more receptive the audience becomes.
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BlackKnight2Hagel is a disgrace and he is done. All he can do is continue to show how incompetent King Obummer is.
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Yeah RT...looks the BlackKnight doesn't subscribe to your line of thinking.
Best of luck to Mr. Hagel... we deserve to have a secretary of defense who is not sold out to the military industrial complex!
How Progressives (Liberals) argue:
Yep, fits right in with Hagel's confirmation......deflect, ignore, reject, no knowledge of the facts, and my way or the highway.
drano, I was wondering when race would come into play #1.20. Maybe a record on this sight though so congrats to all you lefties for controlling the urge this long.
stimulatingsolutions
that antisemitic muslim needs to find a diff job
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...and we think the intellect in the White House is what is holding the Country back....riiiight
Hagel's family were Republicans, no more - that will be history !!!
I don't think even God can help this party, the party is over - they burned all their bridges !!!
ozzieyo1-7277359
drano, I was wondering when race would come into play #1.20. Maybe a record on this sight though so congrats to all you lefties for controlling the urge this long.
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A little silly seeing the his race/color and background became an issue for a good chunk of the Country the minute he sealed up the nomination over Clinton back in 08...which has been on display every since.
Allen, on display by the left maybe. Why don't we discuss the President on his policies because that's what sucks about him, period.
ozzieyo1-7277359
Allen, on display by the left maybe. Why don't we discuss the President on his policies because that's what sucks about him, period.
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I'm not certain what honest discourse you expect to have with anyone if you are pushing the notion that the "left" is the part of the American electorate that have a problem with the race/color and background of this President. Between what was seen in 08, 10 and again in 12, I'm not certain your position is supported by much, if any fact.
@BCWC: Graham wears Ayotte's panties now. McCain fashions 'em better on Lindsey. All 3 of 'em are, for all intents, bigamists, who look and act like 3 camels sharing a wad of bubble gum.
Allen, I'm not saying they have a problem with it. I'm saying they wip it out like a "gun" (probably not politically correct but what the hell) everytime they can't argue a point/policy effectively.
I swear that if Obama nominated Adolph Hitler for the position, democrats would support it. Talk about a bunch of dim bulbs.
I hope that they successfully block Hagel's appointment. He has changed his tune in the last few weeks to try and get the job, but he has been outspoken against sanctions on Iran or doing anything at all to stop them from getting nuclear weapons. I would hoe that we would have a SecDef who recognize the extreme danger a nuclear armed Iran would represent not just to the region, but to the entire world. The fact that Hagel does not think we should stop them from getting these weapons is insane. Also, Hagel has made it abundantly clear that he would not back up Israel under any circumstances, including if they were attacked by Iran. This is one hell of a message to be sending to a long time ally, that our treaties and commitments do not mean @!$%#, we will just let you hang if we feel like it. Hagel does not seem to have a very good grip on the situation in the Middle East or what the implications are if the US takes, or does not take certain actions. Considering the volatility in the ME right now, we must have a SecDef that has a full understanding of the region. I also find it very disturbing that he is failing to disclose who he received money from. What is he hiding??? Has he been taking money from foreign governments and organizations to lobby for their positions. He needs to make a full and complete financial disclosure before his nomination is even allowed to come to a vote.
WOW Allen are you really that stupid to NOT understand that the left pull the race card WAY MORE OFTEN than the right does. I seen one time where OBlamer was saying if he had a son he would look just like the Trayvon kid(DEAD). I heard just about everything up to that point. How pathetic to bring what your NON EXISTENT kid might look like. Then force someone to come in and FILE charges against a man that saved his own life in the process of killing that little THUG WANNABE.
steve-1962
Saved his own life?
Shouldn't the eyewitnesses remain silent until they're called to testify?
Please cite that. I for one, have never heard Hagel voice support in favor of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
Another fake claim that cannot be sourced to a citation. Hagel has made it clear he is against Israeli aggression towards other nations. But hey, if you are for Israel arbitrarily nuking other nations for the fun of it, Hagel isn't going to be your choice.
Hang in there Chuck, The masses are with you. Just the fact that McCain and his side kick are against you, makes you ok in my books. As to the Nut cases crying about Benghazi. That hole business was a CIA operation. It was on the down low. But I kinda wounder if Romney might not have leaked the Info about us being there to start with. He sure seemed to know about the attack before the white house did. Sounds a little like Ron Ragun putting the fix in when Carter was trying to get our people back from IRAN. If that rescue would have worked, Carter would have been re-elected. All those choppers didn't just break down at the same time, they were sabotaged, and Regan had it done. Lindsay Gramam and John McCain know that the people they are grinding down about Benghazi, can not talk about it because its classified. Those people weren't even suppose to be there in the first place. That is the way the CIA works. My guess is that someone in the Romney camp leaked, that we were there. But it backed fired on Romney. That sick bastard would have done anything to become president just like Ragan did. Opp's I almost forgot, Mitt's son said Mitt never wanted to be President to start with. Well that is par for the course. Mitt taking all that money from others, like when he was at Bain capital. Mitt's son might just have gotten his dad killed. When people like the people that give money to the GOP, they expect to win. Now we know Mitt didn't care if he won or not....
steve-1962
WOW Allen are you really that stupid to NOT understand that the left pull the race card WAY MORE OFTEN than the right does. I seen one time where OBlamer was saying if he had a son he would look just like the Trayvon kid(DEAD). I heard just about everything up to that point. How pathetic to bring what your NON EXISTENT kid might look like. Then force someone to come in and FILE charges against a man that saved his own life in the process of killing that little THUG WANNABE.
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Gee, thanks steve-1962 for your riveting perspective. Lord only knows what Country would look like now w/o such critical thinking.
You've got to hand it to the republicans, they know how to work the system and put the buisness of corporate America first and the citizens second. They found themselves in the minority and without a mandate, and still are capable of gumming up the works when it comes to job creation and fiscal responsibility, with Lindsay Graham, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, and Eric Cantnor leading the charge they have thwarted all attempts to move the country forward in pursuit of their own political goals. In the case of Hagel, who had the misfortune of noting how much influence the Israeli lobby had in congress, and how stupid the invasion of Iraq was, along with the idiotic "Surge" that really did not accomplish its goals, he is now being hammered by the more regressive members of his own party.
The republican leadership in this country truly are not a part of any solution, they are the problem.
@chuck-2111043 I am with you on the fact that McCain and Graham are against someone being a very good indicator that the person in question is of good character.
Are you forgetting that Iraq had no WMDs?
We are an extra few trillions in the hole because President Bush and the rest of his Administration either flat out lied or were near-criminally incompetent about Saddam Hussein's non-existent WMDs.
The increase in national debt doesn't bother you? You should talk to some of your compatriots on the Right, then; they can tell you how awful all of this debt is.
So you have a problem with the tripling of health insurance costs? Yes, in the last 15 years, health insurance costs have tripled.
How's that free market working out for you? Enjoying it?
No one is stopping you. In fact, liberals are always trying to discuss policies. But when we point out that Obama's policies are what caused the economic recovery and it was his opponent's policies that created the problems in the first place, you go back to hurling abuse and evading the issues.
Byron/ I pointed out yesterday the same thing as you are doing.We are forced to be repetitious because the Rep/T.P. types keep on with the same obvious racism .We try to discuss policies and they continue to deny,or change or distort them to suit their rubbish statements and when even that doesn't make sense they come back with the old hat prove it.
Having served in our Armed Forces, it is my opinion that Mr.Hagel has never risen in stature to that required of his position in our government. I commend his service, but I doubt his ability to serve as THE HEAD of our Defense Department independently from the President. I see the destruction of our force structure and capability at the direction of the CIC in order to save the costly health care programs instead of making infrastructure repairs.
Whilst writing the above I realised that the next move from those crazy Rep/T.P. idiots is going to be that our own Government probably hired the attack on our own Embassy in Benghazi and that is why they have to continue with their so-called need to investigate to ad-nauseum and to the determent of this our U.S.A.
The Republican Party continues it’s ever increasing descent into obscurity. The people controlling the Republican Party do not care about public opinion or the consequences of their obstruction. Their goal is to stop our government from operating effectively in order to drag the economy into the dirt again. They know that if the economy suffers their real employers the Koch brothers make more money and that means more money will be transferred into their secret off shore bank accounts.
There’s a name for what the Republican/Tea Party is doing right now it’s called treason……… Let the arrests begin.
Although Dr Benjamin Carson does not point fingers, does not assign blame, does not espouse to be either Democrat or Republican, his speech at this years Nation Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC blew everyone away, and put Obama to shame. Watch Obama's face during the speech, as he goes from smiling to loathing. Take the time to listen to someone who is truly inspiring.
http://nj1015.com/dr-benjamin-carsons-amazing-speech-at-national-prayer-breakfast-video/
Chuck Hagel's confirmation hearing was an embarassment to America...
It's time to end the Republican threats of filibustering in the Senate. They need to be told if the try it this time Reid should make the rule change. I am so tired of these weasels holding my country hostage. I feel like shouting something similar to Henry II's famous quote,only changed slightly " is their none that will save us from these meddlesome Republican's".
Y U NO likey Hagel Republican man? He be good DODO man, makey no trouble. He tough guy, like Kung Fu Warrior! No RINO man like Romonee.
@ozzieyo and your right wing compatriots
You all may be tired of the race card being played
But you sure as hell aren't tired of practicing it and I'll never get tired of calling you on it.
Hve said before and will say it again.
The GOP owned lock stock and barrel by the Zionazies and AIPAC will do their utmost to see that Hagel wont get the job.
So Lindsay Graham isn't happy with the administration's answers on Benghazi so he will filibuster Hagel's vote. Let's remember that Chuck Hagel had absolutely nothing to do with Benghazi or its aftermath. How does Sen. Graham's behavior constitute "advise and consent" on the appointment? I think Sen. Graham ought to be impeached.
Ok, that is funny. I think we should also ask for his birth certificate and his college transcripts. His dialect hints of Southern Romania or Eastern Pakistan origination, and the color of his skin color screams of South African Dutch/East Indies Brit descent. I believe his mother was an anchor baby on a ship transporting tea from China to England.
I believe his education accreditation is from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_education
Impeached on what grounds LMAO. What an LIV uninformed remark.
"No confirmation without information," Joe Biden.
Hagel knows what happened, he was in the loop. So don't kid yourself thinking he is innocent.
Joe Biden was speaking about information from the appointee while Graham is speaking about information from our President.
Any answer from our President will be discarded by Graham as not the full story / truth.
No matter what answer, if any, that comes from the Whitehouse what does that have to do with the qualifications of the nominees?
Some of you sound just like McCain & Graham - running off about the same old topics: birth certificate and Benghazi! ANYONE who knows anything about foreign service knows that when a person goes to the state department, they are WELL AWARE OF THE RISKS they face! Death just happens to be one of those risks. It happens. It's happened before and it will unfortunately happen again. Let them rest in peace for God's sakes!
Can we get some proof about that?
*jeapordy music* starts playing...
Ben-636050
"No confirmation without information," Joe Biden.
Correction Ben, Confirmation with information. "The Party of No" gets what they got . There isn't anymore evidence to give.
Innocent of what???.........being a straight shooter. Graham and McCain would never know what that is.
This is all about politics, it is about partisanship but most of all it is about who happens to be the President at this time. They couldn't defeat him despite the millions they spent, they couldn't defeat him by the lies they told, they couldn't defeat by trying to make his record look bad by little or no cooperation from them in getting anything done.
Despite their 'best' efforts, the American voters saw things differently and they re-elected President Obama. So now, here we are again, round 2, more of the same obstruction, more of the same posturing and more, much more hypocrisy. When is Congress going to try to improve their ratings in the eyes of the voters? Certainly this type posturing wont help.
Suzq...having been part of that kind of security I can affirm that folks in the State Department understand the risks involved, but they also count on support and back up. Emergency interventions supporting US Embassies and consulates are not unknown or even unusual events...it's happened more times than we have space and time here to recount. What is different in this case is the absolute lack of any kind of responsible reaction on the part of the Department of State, Defense Department or the White House.
The fact that the direct representative of the United States and the President of the United States was under attack and unaccounted for for seven hours is unheard of...in all the modern history of the United States. The fact the President had one conversation and no follow-up during the seven hour event is very telling. Even more so, the fact that the Secretary of Defense nor the Secretary of State did not pursue the issue, press the issue with the President is also very telling.
Which brings us back to the salient point, what do we think Chuck Hagel would do? If Leon Panetta couldn't move the President to action during that crisis, you can probably make some serious money betting against Chuck Hagel doing any better.
Final point...just beacuse it's happened before, doesn't gaurentee it'll happen again and that flawed logic should never be used as an excuse for poor performance.
The only information you'll glean from that birth certificate is that Graham was inbred and his college transcripts will show why inbreeding is outlawed.
I agree with you that Hagel should not be subjected to the Benghazi debacle however if he should be accountable for anything, it should be for his responses during the confirmation hearings. I was actually a fan until that embarrassment.
Where were Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama during the Benghazi attack ?
*jeapordy (SP - jeopardy) music* starts playing...
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Must be those Wisconsin schools.
is it true that the fiesty redhead is really that cutter lady from obama's campaign that was found to be truth challenged?
Ido - Bush couldn't even tear himself away from the grammar school, while America was being attacked on 9/11 and you clowns worry about Bengazi. In addition, Bush and Cheney refused to testify for months after 9/11 and then only if done together and without cameras or even a transcript of the questions and answers. Only certain people were allowed to do the questing as well. The reason: Cheney was in 9/11 up to his ears, along with NORAD, some in the CIA, the Pentagon neocconservatives and the Mossad.
You people don't actually give a flying leap about Bengazi and neither does Graham. Your only concern is that Hagel isn't an Israeli lap dog. You people want another war and are afraid Hagel won't help give it to you.
The longer this gets drawn out, the more people are going to see the strangle hold Israel and AIPAC are trying to put on our nation. My hope is Hagel gets in and takes retribution on Israel, by cutting off the fire sales on F16s and other military hardware to Israel.
During the Bush administration, Dov Zakheim (dual loyalty Rabbi with Israeli citizenship) was the Comptroller of the Pentagon and saw to it that Israel was getting all kinds of stuff, which he would declare surplus, costing America billions. Those are the people Bush put in charge.
This fight is doing Israel no good. America and the rest of the world is watching this charade. I am loving it, especially if Hagel gets in. Every time Graham gets in front of a camera, Israel's image goes down.
Harry should just change the rules of the senate and let Gram try to block Chuck Hagle. I say its time we stop playing this game with the Rep's. Or at the very least make them go trough with the filibuster. All they have had to do is say they are going to. Hold there feet to the fire and make them hold the floor.
Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi, did Ronald Reagan have to suffer through the same BS when 230 marines died in Lebanon? No he didn't, we understood it was a terrorist attack, just the same as in Benghazi, but the republican bite down on this bone as if the next election depends on it, anything to disrupt and obstruct the business of putting this country back to work and on a path to prosperity, as long as things remain miserable they think they have a chance to blame it on the other guy.
Time to grow up republicans, your schtick is getting awfully old.
Steeler Fan, well said.
This is ridiculous, it makes the GOP look stupid and childish. Once again Lindsay Graham proves to America what a complete fool he is. As outgoing Secretary of State Clinton pointed out--these senators do not live in a fact-based reality. "Turkey"???
Don't forget, McCain couldn't be bothered to attend the Benghazi intelligence briefings because he and his fellow "truth deniers" were too busy standing in front of the microphones demanding answers about Benghazi. During Hagel's nomination hearing, the GOPers wasted time focused on things unrelated to the job of Secretary of Defense. McCain demanded an answer to whether or not the troop surge in Iraq worked yet we are no longer in Iraq so debating the merits of a differing opinion is no longer relevant, it doesn't matter if Hagel's opinion differed from McCain's. Graham appeared to have been intoxicated; Rand Paul repeated right-wing conspiracy theories he heard/read on World Net Daily, Drudge and then repeated by FOX.
What no body admits to is that the republicans are sore losers. They have been the party of no since Obama won..what they all miss is that the general public voted him into office..political pull and deep pockets did not work for them..nor did their sucking up to every wealthy person they could find. In reality however, we have a congress that is made up of millionaires....who have friends that are millionaires....who could care less about the middle class or anyone else. It is not just one party..it is both houses of congress who have their own agends..that so far have not done a thing for this nation as a whole..but..has put millions more into the pockets of their wealthy friends. IF you think this is false then check out financials of the wealthy compared to the incomes of the middle class.
Maybe he was reading "My Pet Goat...."
How can this possibly be a fact? Obama has a whole host following him around and pretty much all of them know where he is. How can he possibly be "unaccounted for for seven hours?"
Well maybe Fiesty is right maybe they do NOT share the INTEL that they should be sharing. Maybe these Demorats are just playing games in Washington instead of doing there JOB. I can see that happening. Charlie may NOT know anything, that would be a good reason NOT to appoint him as sec of defense. I want someone that know whats going on in Washington DC, not just somebody that Oblamer likes. I want someone that has the ability to prostect our Ambassadors & service men. Who else do we have to choose from. Let take a look at the rest of those that are QUALIFIED.
When did we become United State of Israel? Why do the Republican Senators want someone to kowtow to Israel to get the confirmation?
Time for old man McCain and his little elf muse (Graham) to go away. Why are they the only guys who's opinions keep being run over and over again? Can we hear from somebody else in the GOP - or does no one else have a voice!
No you would prefer to have that drunk, womanizer back who killed a woman and like the weak scum that he was ran and then had his daddy get him off. That is what you Liberals like. Hope he is rotting in hell.
Dr. Benjamin Carson as he dressed down the First Dick and First Bitch last week.
@Jersey: Quit blaming cheneybush for everything.
Dr. Benjamin Carson as he dressed down the First Dick and First Bitch last week.
Ben-636050, Only a right wing nut would conflate mythology such as you do.
Respect!!!
The "dick" is Cheney and the bitch is his psycho mealy mouth daughter
ben Stop trolling. You think your one liners are cool but in reality they bomb as much as you.
Are our employees in the House ever going to seriously try to return to the job for which we pay them? I personally do not consider that they should be payed a days wages for Their months work.
Why are you liberals such HATERS?
Filibuster the administration's cabinet nominees, what an excellent, popular idea!
This will be a big winner with the electorate for sure!
More to come tomorrow in the dueling "State of the dis-union" speeches from Sens Paul and Rubio (Right now it looks like a Rubio/Paul ticket in '16 might be a long-shot...)
where o' where can I watch Spring training instead ... other than catching a bus please? Who needs batters, half the game is pitch and catch, anyway I am running out of fan-based steroids.
Better to catch a bus, than to be tossed under one...;-)
"Chris Christie"
I may just throw myself under the bus. As to your post on First (Secondary) Thoughts, note that the more thought I put in to a long stand alone post the fewer responses I get. Say "@!$%# you moron" and the conversation can go on all day.
Dangerfield ... we Canadians never sleep ... if the video does not load at the end of the article I will post the link to it.
http://life.nationalpost.com/2013/02/08/app-takes-aim-at-male-fears-of-size-inadequacy-in-the-bedroom-by-providing-measurement-predictor/
I like how they feel compelled to tell you that Toronto is in Canada...
First app I am glad doesn't come in an iPhone version...yet...
No one who lives outside of Toronto believes that it is a part of Canada. Their idiots gave the CBC to the 'free' market and now we mostly get tripe ... the mantra was if the folks in TO don't watch it, then nobody does.
Why would anyone in the US care what you people from Canada think anyway. If you lived here then maybe we would care what you think.
Don't know if this would be proper in a Senate Confirmation Hearing.
But, the next time the "Shadow Riders in the GOP" question Hagel about ethics or procedure, he should ask them why they never demanded an audit of war costs to determine whether or not War Profiteering was rampant.
Maybe we should talk about Hilary's fake indignation of those killed. She is just so credible. She lies through her teeth just like she did when she said she was shot at when landing in Bosnia. She will say or do anything just like Obama to try to make herself look good. Pathetic.
blah-blah-blah - same song, different post!
Jersey: The only pathetic thing here is your ignorance and lack of arguments, you just keep harping at the same stupidities over and over. My dog has a better understanding of the situation than you will ever have.
She is just so credible.
-------------------------------
Yes, she is...Far more credible than any of her detractors, be they in the public eye...or their parent's basement...
She is just so credible.
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You got that right, Dangerfield. She immediately implemented all of the changes recommended by the review board who looked at what went wrong in Benghazi.
After everything that has happened in the past decades, around terrorism, that's a better reaction than we've gotten from some former officials. Say what you want about Rodham-Clinton, she holds herself to account, unlike some we remember.
jersey girl @ 5.1 Lets talk about your fake outrage. Like your posts are so creditable. You will lie through your teeth just to say anything to bash the President and the people who work with him. That makes you the Queen of Pathetic.
While conservatives refuse to listen to or accept the truth about Benghazi, these same Senators and House GOpers who now whine had no trouble cutting the State Department's embassy security budget and denying the request for additional funds made early in 2012. Instead of looking to blame the White House, the GOPers in Congress need to take a good look in the mirror and see who's looking back. Benghazi was a terrible tragedy but an even worse tragedy are the likes of Graham who choose to play political football with the deaths of four Americans there. Shame on McCain, Graham, Ayotte, Inhofe, Rand and the others who now pretend concern and express fake outrage when they didn't care enough to authorize more money for embassy security BEFORE.
I have no patience left for those republicans who play such petty, childish, ignorant and dangerous games. McCain/Graham and those attached to their hips were not interested in the truth about the Benghazi tragedy, they still are not. They deserve no respect because they have yet to show they have earned any.
WOW Libbies sounds like you whining about it being Bush's FAULT. We have heard it for over 4 years now WHEN ARE YOU going to grow up and take you own advise.
you just keep harping at the same stupidities over and over.
I see you IDIOTS are fine with what does it matter NOW.
If it was your son that got killed you would probably feel the same way I know. You just hate your own that much. You IDIOTS are really pathetic. You do NOT even care enough for your own family to get the INFO that is needed to get on with the GREIVING process.
I guess I would hate my kids to if they were to grow up and be as STUPID a LIBERAL
I guess I would hate my kids to if they were to grow up and be as STUPID a LIBERAL
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Presented without comment...
It is obvious that Hagel is a fighter, and his record in Vietnam proves this. Hagel has come to the conclusion that "Goofy Graham," and his silly sidekick "Insane McCain" are "Political Pukes." Hagel fought in the jungles of Vietnam, and now he must continue the political fighting in the 'jungles' of the Teabegger Congress. Just like the enemy Hagel fought in the jungles of Vietnam. He now has to fight the "Teabegger Terrorists" that hide in the political jungles in Congress. Just like the VC in Vietnam the Teabeggers are using the same tactics. Hiding in their political holes, and striking out to attack. "Insane McCain" likes to politically 'spew,' and then run back into his "Tunnel Of Terror." Then the other "Teabegger Terrorist" is "Goofy Graham" who likes to attack poltically like VC Suicide Bomber. So Hagel is very aware of how sneak attacks work in the Teabegger Congress, and he learned his lessons in the dangerous jungles of Vietnam. So bring it on Teabeggers! This time Hagel is poltically flying in on his Huey, and he is going to do a "Seek and Destroy Mission" on the Teabeggers. This is going to be very interesting to observe. This will be entitled. "Battlefield Teabeggers!"
But you Liberals had no problem demeaning McCain's record in Vietnam or his prisoner of war time. I've got news for you most Tea Party people I know are much more informed and know the Constitution better than most of the idiots in Washington.
What a jackass you are to not mention that McCain fought for his life in the Hanoi Hilton. You are the "Puke." Go somewhere else where you can make up your cutesy names to make your self FAUX intelligent.
Read about "hot-dog" McCain and the USS Forrestal incident! Hero my a$$!
Suzq...what's up with the childish playground commentary. This is the kind of comment that fires up the "..he wasn't born in the US", "...he's not native born", "John Kerry faked his Vietnam experiences...".
You really want to jam up message boards with twelve year old comments, because the other morons will happily pile on. Then the grown ups have to read through all the nonsense.
I suspect you're a lot smarter than you sound. You're losing the message in the delivery.
Post Script: adults post the reference related to the accusation (i.e. the book, the passage, the article), it helps with being credible, instead of coming off as immature.
McCain himself has soiled any respect he had. His record from the service has many questions surrounding it.............much of it he caused himself. From his birth, McCain has lived a privileged life, first under his father's auspices and later by his second marriage to an heiress for whom he cast aside his first wife. He has fed from the government trough all his life having generous pensions for service, disability, health benefits, salary for being a Senator and all the perks that go with his seniority. Its about time he earned some of that largess and do something positive for his country.
@Suzq: Thank you. Thank you. My cousin was on the Forrestal when that happened. If McCain's father would not have been an Admiral, he would have been discharged. Maybe courts-martialed.
Also, McCain was not beaten by the North Vietnamese. The dolt, in his haste to exit his doomed fighter-bomber, neglected to release the canopy. His rocket powered ejection seat blew him through it. He was lucky he wasn't killed. This man, who has no humility, owes his life to the North Vietnamese Doctors who patched him up, doing the best they could with the rudimentary equipment they had.
The only reason McCain wasn't grounded for losing as many planes as he did was that Daddy, like gramps was an admiral! He might have been spared the misery of the Hanoi Hilton otherwise----Yes, that was the one plane he was actually shot out of!
i am amazed at how the libbies get up each morning to pray at the alter of obama!
Let a comment by Grahm or McCain be stated, and the trash-talking begins.te
After the 30 minute briefing, what happened to the President, where did he go? and why wasn't this something that he and his team was involved with?
Is campaigning more importaant than attempting to save lives? Darn that video that created all this.
RTCO -
Anyone who would have considered John McCain for 2008 would have read the info on the USS Forrestal - my husband was on the Oriskany and tells the story (same as what's written and well known) - McCain was a hot-dog kid of an Admiral and grandson of an Admiral. If The Admiral hadn't saved his butt after the Forrestal incident - McCain would have been beaten by the sailors on the Forrestal after his stupid actions. And what, McCain is responsible for 2-3 aircraft losses - and he's all for cutbacks in spending! Ya, did he pay for those planes? Doubtful.
Suzq....I would suggest that you do a bit more "research" before you start that old "McCain started the Forrestal Disaster" line. Watch the videos and listen to the commentator. Notice that the aircraft are lined up on the outer edge of the flight deck, notice that NO AIRCRAFT are behind the ready aircraft, ONLY the South China Sea.
The Zuni missile flew ACROSS the flight deck, striking the fuel tank on another aircraft, rupturing that fuel tank and pouring JP-5 on the flight deck where it caught fire.
Read the OFFICIAL reports of the investigation, and look at the diagrams of the positions of the aircraft....kinda blows your "McCain" theory out of the water.
This had nothing to do with a "wet start", as the fireball created by a wet start would just have blown out over the open sea.
Please don't show your ignorance in an attempt to smear a true American hero. And before you, ask that stupid question that is on your lips, yes, I served my country in combat, as a United States Marine (1969-1975).
SUZQ...Okay, there's a story worth hearing. I'm not a big fan of senator McCain, the Keating's Savings and Loan scandal took care of that.
You know Jersey Girl I really doubt that you knowing more about the constitution. Me I am an independent, because I cannot stand the stench, the pond scum from either the Christian/Taliban/TeaParty/Klan from the right or the the ACLU/tax people to the death/take their guns people on the left. It is what I used to really respect about McCain to the point I once stood in line for 2 hours so he could sign my copy of his book. That was in the year 2000, before he became a bitter old man, when he sold his soul cause more than anything he wanted to be president and instead became a shadow of what he was. Lets be honest about Lindsey Grahm, he is frusturated and should have come out of the closet years ago. There is going to be serious downsizing of the military and we need someone tough enough to speak the truth. I think he is, now we need someone on social programs to be tough enough to say the truth and the truth is THERE IS NO MORE MONEY . We need Hagel and we need one more like him.
Phil -
The "Official Report?" - who would have orchestrated that? Daddy the Admiral perhaps. I believe what my husband who responded to the Forrestal aboard the Oriskany says!
Thanks for your military service.
Mr. Hagel's ultimate problem is that he is a Republican who decided to take a job with the Democrats. The GOP is responding like that girl in high school who just can't believe that she got dumped and her ex-boyfriend started dating someone else.
Remember...this is what the GOP USED TO THINK about Mr. Hagel...
Da Noid---I wonder why people like Sen. Hagel and Gen. Powell stay in the Republican party. The way they are treated is amazing to me.
noid -- i think you are correct and there is great similarity to what the democrats did to Lieberman when he chose to not follow the rest of the democrats in 2008. from VP nominee to persona non grata in a few short years.
Democratic legislators or President Obama didn't do anything to Liebermann after he campaigned with/for McCain. He kept his leadership/committee positions, etc--meanwhile, he tried to sabotage everything democrats were trying to accomplish. Liebermann's ultimate political demise was his own doing.
Liebermann was an Israeli Senator not a US Senator.
hagels perfect for the job. didn't you hear at least a little of his testimony? he is what kiberals are.... fail your way up the ladder.
He talks, errrrr, stumbles like he has no clue. Is that what we need in that office?
He doesn't stumble or stammer on the really important commands, like "Nuke the bastards." Had he told McCain this would be his first consideration in all matters, McCain would introduce the motion to confirm.
Yeah, Let the rad-republicans continue to tighten the noose around their own neck. Their is nothing to indicate Hagel won't make a good Secretary of Defense and the American people, by and large, want to move forward and want Congress to do the same, as regards the peoples business!!
I hope they confirm Chuck Hagel.
Me too. Nothing like taking us further down the crap hole we are already in.
I watched parts of Hagel's confirmation hearing and it made me change my mind about McCain. As of recently McCain behaves more and more like a sore loser. This started back when he lost the Presidency to Obama.
I felt bad for Hagel, the real patriot who speaks his mind and does not shy away from the truth, because he had to restrain himself from saying the obvious about the war in Iraq, the biggest disaster that this country ever embarked on for which all Americans have and are still paying a heavy price. I do not belong to any party, but feel the Republican Leadership in Washington have increasingly become out of touch with mainstream America. They seem to have fallen for the strong special interest lobbies in Washington, especially the strangle hold of the Israeli lobby. Sad!
Graham is a red neck troll obstructionist
art -- because he will not rubber stamp a nominee to an important position?
Angus King (I-ME) is precisely right - "filibusters" are entirely to easy to come by now - "dial-a-filibuster" by phone from your office, "tweet-a-filibuster" from your phone...
The chicken-hawks don't want to work for one (Graham, Inhofe, etc.) - I mean get up there and put yourself on display for your "cause".
If you want to obstruct business, then "man-up"to it.
Certainly Hagel "manned-up" to it by actually being on the in ground Viet Nam.
Certainly Linsay Gragham did not - "flying a desk" in Judge Advocate Advocate's corps in the Air Force after obtaining a law degree.
Nor did James Janes Inhofe who served 1 year in the Army from 1957-58 (not an era of "combat") and claims to be an Army Veteran.
More tiresome Republican theatrics, wasting time and money over fabricated drama. When will the people who put them in office wise up?
There is a reason Obama appointed Chuck. That reason is not qualifications. That reason is not to protect the country. That reason is not to improve the armed services. That reason is not because he is the most qualified to run the DoD. Chuck is not capable of doing any of those. So what is the reason?
who needs reason if you are obama the ass?...........
Why do you defer to others with this question? You know so much about Hagel's "disqualifications" ~ surely you know what drives Obama to nominate him. Does this mean you are not quite the sexual intellectual you profess to be?
Patriot - How did you like Bush's choice, Donald Rumsfeld, who stocked the entire Pentagon hierarchy with Israeli Jews, who planned and sold the war in Iraq. Imagine, placing Israeli Jews in positions critical to the defense of the United States and people wonder why we didn't figure out Iraq was not a threat. Here is a list for your edification:
Chairman Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board - Richard Perle
Deputy
Defense Secretary (Former) - Paul Wolfowitz
Under
Secretary of Defense - Douglas Feith
National
Security Council Advisor - Elliott Abrams
Under
Secretary for Arms Control - David Wurmser
Pentagon’s
Defense Policy Board - Eliot Cohen
National
Security Study Group - Edward Luttwak
Pentagon’s
Defense Policy Board - Kenneth Adelman
Defense
Intelligence Agency Analyst (Former) - Lawrence (Larry) Franklin ( the AIPAC
spy)
National
Security Council Advisor - Robert Satloff
Whats your problem Adolph? Progressives are todays Nazis.
Ben 636050 does not have to worry about the concept of intelligence. That ship left a long time ago! Progressive Think Tanks have be reading "Bonehead Ben's" so-called "Posts Of Puke." Nothing is based on facts, no research is done, and making up information is common place. Now what "Bonehead Ben" needs to do is to research facts correctly, read all material presented, and think before writing. These concepts are very difficult for Teabeggers. Give it a try anyway!
sounds like you are describing the loony libs who drink the obama kool-aid......
Lets see how Mitch McConnell "leads" his caucus when the vote comes to the floor ~ and how Reid commands the majority in getting Hagel's nomination confirmed. If the past dictates the future, Reid will have to ask McConnell's permission to bring the matter up for a vote. What a wimp. I still content Harry wears lace underwear.
I prefer Harry's lace underwear to Mitch's soiled underwear.
jim in texas What a statement. You folks in texas sure can call em. I'm glad to see that you contend that Mr Reid wears lace underwear. That allows me to contend that you wear soiled red lace underwear that your partner picks out and soils for you.
the most damaging issue facing hagel is that he was nominated by obama the ass......it is hard to take any suggestion from obama the ass seriously.....he is a fraud and should be impeached........
Then run for congress in 2014 ~ and introduce the Bill of Impeachment. Why sit on your ass and complain when there is a clear path for correction. Git 'er dun!!
Fortunately for us, the majority of the country doesn't believe your lies and hatefulness.
Just like the last election showed, all your repeated lies of hate of our president does nothing.
But as a woman if you wish to remain a first class citizen, vote for any republican at your own peril.
I hope the republicans pull thier head out of what ever hole they have it in and start being a part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Just when I think they can no longer surprise me with thier drival, they find more to put out. Senator Graham and Senator McCain need to get a life, even Senator McCain's daughter said the republican party is going the way of the whigs if they don't get into the twenty first century with the rest of us.
I hope the democrat socialists pull their head out of what ever hole they have it in and start being a part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Just when I think they can no longer surprise me with their drivel, they find more to put out. Senator Reid and all in the Democrat Socialists party need to get a life and do what's good for the country.
Ah...wonderful Senator Graham, G.O.L. (Grand Obstructionist Leader) in the G.O.P. (Grand Obstructionist Party).
You "Pubs" need to Post under your Bible..FOX news. That way you can beat each other up all you want. Dear McCain crashed 4 Navy Jets not counting the one he was supposedly shot down in. Two of those were from him hot-dogging and the only way he became a Navy Officer is because his Dad and Granddad were Admirals. 794 out of a class of 799 ain't nothing to brag about plus the trouble he was always getting into and his Dad again getting him out of that while at the Academy. He's still so PO.d he lost to Obama but actually he would have lost to a knot of wood if he had to run against it.
Duchess1.....What is your Bible.....the Communist manifesto? Or just any left leaning progressive news outlet? You are so brainwashed and misinformed it makes me laugh. Almost to the point of too far gone to be taken seriously. I hope you haven't procreated. I would be scared for our future if that happened.
Hagle wil get confirmed. The GOP will cave, like they always do. Or Obama will pull some unconstitutional stunt, like he always does. Obama is a radical and so his cabinet must be radical also. How else is he gonna get his socialist crap list completed in the next four years.
Sen. Hagel's facial expressions and body language showed how appalled he was at the behavior of John McCain and Linsey Graham. These were the 3 Amigos back in the day and now they seek to skewer the man who asked McCain if he was sure he knew what he was doing when he named Sarah Palin as his running mate. As for Graham, he should tread lightly....revenge is best served cold. My only concern with Sen. Hagel is, will he stand up to the Brass when he failed to respond back to the two jackals? I'm not sure but I will bet he was told not to lose his temper because he does have a fierce one and it probably would not play well on television.
Chuck Hagel is just surprised at being reminded of what a turncoat he's become. He looks like the man he emulates: Benedict Arnold. Leave it to a nitwit like Obama to choose as defense Secretary a traitor who belongs to a group that advocated for America to disarm unilaterally.
Constitutional scholar Nancy Pelosi:
Amendments are hard.