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President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Pentagon, former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel, will likely be confirmed next week, one of his most dogged opponents said Sunday.
"I'm confident that Sen. Hagel will probably have the votes necessary to be confirmed as secretary of defense," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."
After Senate Republicans voted to sustain a filibuster and block the former Nebraska senator's nomination from advancing toward confirmation, McCain acknowledged that Hagel will likely win confirmation once the chamber returns from its recess.
Arizona Sen. John McCain visits Meet the Press to discuss the ongoing battles in Washington over Chuck Hagel's defense secretary nomination, the sequester and government spending, and the Benghazi incident investigation.
"I think it's a reasonable amount of time to have questions answered," McCain said of the week-and-a-half-long window which Senate Republicans demanded to pore more thoroughly over their former colleague's records.
Democrats and the Obama administration have complained that a filibuster for a defense secretary nominee is without precedent. Moreover, they argue that filling the defense post is particularly urgent given outgoing Secretary Leon Panetta's plans to leave the Pentagon, and the looming "sequester" of automatic spending cuts, which fall heavily upon the defense budget.
The administration publicly shrugged off, though, the notion that the delay had damaged Hagel's ability to serve effectively.
"No, he's not going to be a weaker defense secretary," said Denis McDonough, the president's new chief of staff, "he's going to be a great defense secretary."
Wrapped up into the GOP's objections are the desire to ding the administration, a demand for fuller answers to the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on the diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, and personal quarrels with Hagel over his criticism of President George W. Bush and the handling of the war in Iraq. McCain denied, though, that Republicans' attacks on Hagel were personal in nature.
"99 percent of it has to do with the positions Sen. Hagel has taken," he said.
The Hagel fight has consumed Congress in recent weeks, threatening to expend Obama's political capital as he enters a second term. It's yet to be seen whether this fight, and the looming fight to replace the sequester with other equivalent savings, would affect other elements of the Obama agenda — including gun control, and immigration.
Amid a New York Times report that suggested the White House had pushed ahead with its own immigration bill, McDonough said it was consistent with Obama's promise to simply be prepared with his own alternative plan. Obama, McDonough said, was still hoping that a bipartisan Senate group would be able to produce its own comprehensive immigration reform proposal.
"I believe we're making progress on a bipartisan basis," said McCain, a member of the eight-member, bipartisan Senate group working on the immigration proposal. The Arizona senator said, though, that Obama had had no communications with the Senate group.
"Does the president really want a result?" asked McCain, reflecting Republicans' concerns on the politics of immigration. "Or does he want another cudgel so he can beat up Republicans to get an advantage in the next election?"
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Republican's grabbed one last chance to self-inflict another wound before bowing to the inevitable. Next thing you know, they are going to be taking up for millionaires and billionaires while denigrating teachers and fire fighters. The GOP....the gift that just keeps giving.
Chuck. What happened? Even Ben Carson is BEGGING this Nation to stop the name calling and start a dialog. If you disagree fine but being an a hole helps no one.
its the truth
As you see it. As the Press Reports it.
The real truth? You two have no idea. Neither do I. As we in-fight they pick our pockets.
no i watch fox..and you on the blog..but have quit down now...haahhahaha
You know I have changed my mind. I'll support Hagel. Just too many compelling points made by interested people without the drama! Maybe fewer wars for us. Too all excellent points. I have changed!
Once again, the GOP stupidity has been defeated.
There is a word out there that I wish the people of the United States would learn. It's NO.
At this point the President is running around and THREATENS this and that. Hagel/Guns/Immigration.
He's a damn pain in the Butt.
Has anyone noticed the Republicans have gone underground. They are embarrassed. Have you noticed the lack of staffers responding??
yes i do
This is how a false Prophets speaks they give you 95 truth...and the other 5 is the lie...so you people believe it as the whole truth....if you do not read.your bible you are jeopardizing your soul...because you will think truth is lies and lies as truth....look at the tea party..they won with lies..and now your angry...do you see people.how easy you can be deceived..you wish you could get your votes back now
?? WHAT DOES a two thousand year old book of parables and fables have to do with government? WE DO NOT HAVE A THEOCRACY. Please keep the bible out of the US government.
have you notice who runs the country???
I want the bible the book i read out of the government...but not this new party..Tea party..they want Church and state..they are making sure to elect..only SO called Christians in the white house now..get it
All that will be remembered is Republicans inexplicably stood in the way - trying to ruin Obama - wasting time - making accusations they could not prove - and in the end Hagel will be voted in anyway. Republicans are self immolating.
what more do you expect from conservatives?
Tiffany - I do not have a problem with conservatives. I have a problem with far Right. I have a problem with far left too, but don't think they have enough power to be as bad as neo-cons.
I have an issue because the world is constantly changing and conservatives by definition are unable to change with it.
Gops roll on square wheels
More evidence that the Republican Cartel is unable to govern in a Democracy
It is time to mothball the Republican Cartel and eradicate obstructionism
Those who can no longer accept the Republican Cartels inability to govern in a Democracy, should form the new American Party with leadership whose governance will compliment Democracy and a strong, healthy United States of America
Government and democracy are repulsive to the gops and when they are elected, do as much damage as possible before they are thrown out
It just been another round of the Republicans putting on their diapers and throwing childish temper tantrums to appease the tea baggers.
I think we should be docking their pay for for refusing to work on anything but their egos.
GOP is a fragmented Party. Domestically split between the Tea Party and Corporate interests; foreign policy split between neo-conservatives and Libertarians.
Until they get their act together and new effective leardership emerges, they'll never win another national election.
.
All those years as a POW are catching up with McCain. It is time for him to retire.
Republicans are being petty over Hagel while the sequester arrives in less than 2 weeks.
They are obstructing while the country faces economic disaster.
.
We need good people in our Gov. Incompetents are bringing in idiots.
And we wonder why nothing gets done. Both sides are to blame. But we are the most to blame for we keep electing the same people and expecting a different result.
I wonder if Jesse Jr. has to give back the 43K Rolex he purchased with campaign money.
Probably not.
have you notice he says both party..but only names the democrats all the time..@Both
The POW part I could not have done! Just terrible and I respect him for the ability to endure it. I don;t agree with his thoughts and constant bashing of Obama. My god can the Republicans ever give an answer??
To answer your question in one word, super x: NO.
Elvis I know I am off the point of this discussion but this pertains to the State of the Union when Obama recognized the 102 year old woman. Everyone stood but Boehner. Why did he not acknowledge her no matter the politics. Hell even Graham stood. It will always bother me. I respect the Human Beings on this earth. She was still here and voted. Hell I would stand for all Americans! We are in this together! OK I am through but had to get this off my mind. Did anyone else see this??
Tiffany where are you on this?
yes..no respect..and that day a tea nut on the vine said the only thing she is messing is a banana in her hand
Imo Boehner is pretty much brain-dead, has no idea of what's transpiring around him 99% of the time anyway......
It is hard to stand when you are dog-drunk...
McCain is just an old disgusting lying Repug, that hurts this country and needs to be fired.
Gops cannot be trusted to follow the path of probability for it's a better bet they will do the opposite of what is expected or probable. They, like the Kardashians love the lime light, drama and attention they receive as the party of child like chaos where the truth and facts are their #1 enemy
thats the truth
I do think that the Military must be strong. Don't want to reduce them too much. Need the revenue to keep them whole. I also think that the SS age could go to 68 and that the Obama care thing could be reduced by 200 billion. Stop the wars and get another 500 billion over the next 10 years of money not spent. Legalize the immigrants and have them pay taxes another 500 billion of revenue!
The Republican Party has yet to get over the Palin pick! Limblote , and winner Henrieta just puppets!
Damn! When are you right wingers going to get a little more choosy about who you give a platform and a microphone to? I'm becoming convinced that every single last one of you is either senile, retarded, or evil. Say goodbye to winning any seats in the near future.
Well enough this is not getting much play
raise revenue by legalizing pot and taxing it. END most tax breaks to corporations except for green energy ones and ones for bringing jobs back to US.
Never ever watch Meet The Press anymore. David Gregory is a totally incompetent and pathetic host that continues to have the hate-filled, ignorant, disgusting "Songbird" coward John McCain, the man that wanted to put Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency, as his main guest. Next week it will be Lindsey Graham, the closet homosexual, no doubt. Why would anyone of even modest intelligence watch that pitiful show?
The Trapper, more people should read about the "Songbird" when they are feeling sorry for him! His daddy was a high ranking military officer. He got the best treatment of any of our POWs! He is not a war hero... He is a traitor!
While a filibuster for a defense secretary nominee is without precedent, the stupidity of the modern Republican party is also without precedent.
What is left of "the maverick" Senator concedes that the moderate republican cannot be destroyed by the Far Right, yet.
Thank you for your service Mr. McCain; but at this time you are now just a bitter vile POS who is just this side of treasonous. Get over the fact that you lost in 2008, and stop being an enemy of America.
Revenge is not an excuse to filibuster a cabinet appointment. This is highly wrong and no one should put their personal feelings before the security of the United States.
The acquisitions that have been hailed at Chuck Hagel are corruptly absurd by the far right wing Republican Party; and they have no shame in their game. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are sick and neither will never be President. They are damage goods and the American people, especially mainstream American, they are too far right for their liking. In addition, the disrespect that they have shown for are military men and women is a disgrace to our country. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz should be relieved of their duties as Senators because of their lack of civility towards Hagel.
Hagel is a man that served honorably during time of war. He is a recipient of two Purple Hearts while an infantry squad leader in the Vietnam War. He is a former Senator and so forth. Hagel is more than qualified to take the head of DOD. This has been a truly disaster attempt to show some muscles that blew-up in the face of the three amigos, McCain, Ayotte, and Graham to filibuster Hagel. Their actions made the Republican Party in the American people eyes more of a laughing stock and damage the GOP brand even more so by attacking Hagel in this manner.
The backlash against the Republican Party for their dumb-founded actions against Hagel is way too over the top for the American people. The American people see that the GOP goal is to do nothing but obstruct and no attempt to work in a bipartisan fashion for good of the United States. The GOP needs to realize that they will never earn the respect of the American people or be rewarded for failure to do the peoples’ work.
The GOP constant hail for extreme austerity does no good for the immediate economical growth of the United States. A prime example of extreme austerity does not work are the actions of the European governments. The Republican Party wants to portray themselves as the Party to cut deficit that could not be further from the truth if it hit you in the face. President Bush was left with a surplus from the President Clinton. During the reins of President Bush came with mounting debt by unpaid tax breaks for the rich, two unpaid wars, and stimulus money because of a deep recession since 1929.
President Obama has been left with the challenge of cleaning-up President Bush mess and he is doing a great job. President Obama has been reducing the debt that has been bestowed upon him regardless of what the Republicans are claiming. President Obama has been reducing the debt and growing the economy in a responsible balance manner and this is what the American people expect.
The GOP will never win a national election with this behavior and refusal to address mainstream America stance on policy. The GOP ideologies of the 1850’s are gone. The Republican Party need to realize that we are in the 21st Century and we are not going back.
The Republican Party is underestimating the American people.
Mccain, based on your past experiences you have screwed up on most all of your endeavors.Quit go back to Arizona and get a job from the present Governor, then you and she can sit around and tell each other how great you both think each other are. That will last a life time, in the meantime the country will get a repreive from the likes of you two and your idiotic ideas,that will be a blessing to the rest of the country.