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Subscribe to RSSEven as one of their members, Richard Shelby of Alabama, now says he will vote in favor of not only cloture for Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary but for the Hagel nomination itself, 15 other Senate Republicans are calling for President Obama to withdraw his nomination.
"While we respect Senator Hagel's honorable military service, in the interest of national security, we respectfully request that you withdraw his nomination," the Republicans wrote to Obama and announced in a press release from Sen. John Cornyn's office. "It would be unprecedented for a Secretary of Defense to take office without the broad base of bipartisan support and confidence needed to serve effectively in this critical position. Senator Hagel's performance at his confirmation hearing was deeply concerning, leading to serious doubts about his basic competence to meet the substantial demands of the office. While Senator Hagel's erratic record and myriad conversions on key national security issues are troubling enough, his statements regarding Iran were disconcerting."
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Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee engage in a sharp discussion regarding Chuck Hagel's nomination as defense secretary and his disclosure of personal income.
Cornyn of Texas is up for reelection this cycle and has a Lone Star State freshman, Ted Cruz, rising as the new darling of the right. The signers of the letter include Cruz, James Inhofe (R-OK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), David Vitter (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dan Coats (R-IN), Ron Johnson (R - WI), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Tim Scott (R-SC).
Notably not signing on, however, were Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), two-thirds of the Graham-McCain-Ayotte grouping.
Shelby becomes the third Republican to voice public support for Hagel, giving him 58 public yes votes. The other two Republicans to come out in support of Hagel are Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Mike Johanns of Nebraska, who filled Hagel's seat in the Senate. (Johanns announced Monday that he would be retiring when his term ends in 2014.)
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images file photo
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)
"Sen. Shelby intends to support the Hagel nomination barring any unforeseen disqualifications that come to light before the vote," Hagel spokesman Jonathan Graffeo told NBC. "That is not a change of heart. He has always been inclined to support Hagel, but he voted against cloture as a courtesy to members who said they needed more time to examine Hagel's record."
Several Republicans have indicated they would likely support at least cloture after the Senate gets back from its break next week.
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Another GNOP misadventure .These idiots need a reality check. The sore losers have now decided since they couldn't have their way with the electorate, they will now do everything in their power to disrupt Obama's last four years. Oh by the way, is it true our do nothing for pay members of Congress have worked less than 12 days since coming back???? What do we pay these clowns for..? What a racket!!!
We want all the answers from Hagel or we're filibustering until we get it.
Are we clear, Democrats? ARE WE CLEAR?
Clearly tubesteaks.
Are you telling me that the 3000 pages of documents released were not enough. At the same time the Affordable Care Act was too big. I doubt you Republicans have read either one.
Chesty is still upset that Mittens got blown out in November.
The GOP fails to understand that the "advise and consent" clause in the Constitution does not mean they have veto power over a Presidential choice. And they certainly forgot that the SecDef DOES NOT SET POLICY.
Chesty,The GOP already has the answers.....just not the answers they want.
nope, the admin's stonewalling on Gop Requests. And it's no go, until you lefty sleazebags provide more info on your incompetent, bumbling nominee for Defense.
Ubdubdubdubdub, I can't talk good in this hearing, it's so tough.
True. Even McCain couldn't elicit a desired answer from Hagel about the 'surge' in Iraq. But in the final analysis, there is no answer that will satisfy the Rabid Righties so with that established, why give one at all? I wonder if McCain will lie a second time. He said he would not support a filibuster but he did. Both he and Graham say they will vote for cloture after the recess (unless there is some 'bombshell' of information). Reid can force the nomination to the floor if he has the guts to do it ~ but Harry hasn't exhibited any intestinal fortitude in the last two years. Obviously Reid caught several Democrats in compromising positions with small farm animals ~ otherwise, there is no way he could remain majority leader.
Both sides of the aisle are so full of B.S. liars, cheats and hypocrits that i say say F-it all and let the lefties have their way. Cuz the lefties really do know that Iran, Syria, Iraq, North Korea, Russia, and all the rest of the world are really our very best friends and being tough with them is what aggravates them. Let's get someone in office that will let them do whatever they want without any concern about what it means to the people of the rest of the world cause that's the leftie's way. We'll be sitting around the commune fire drinking watermelon wine and eating rainbow stew comfortable in the fact that we are safe from any harm cause we did away with our strong military and personal protections. Hell, our Constitution was a bunch of crap anyway, written by a bunch of neanderthals that never should have left the warm, comforting protection of the King and serfdom to form these ridiculous colonies in the first place. Let's just give it all back to England, France, Spain, Italy, etc.... Pass me another one of those Phat ones and pour me another glass of that watermelon wine.....
Small problem with that idea ~ after the way we have phuked it up, they don't want it back. But I've got a flash for you, Cootie. If carving less than $60-billion out of defense will render us vulnerable then we were never safe and secure. Of course, re-learning the art of WINNING a war might go a long way in reducing the costs of operating a national defense system.
If wingnut idiots stupidly sound off in the forest and there's no one to listen and call them out, are they still idiots?
This is one of the sillier messes the GOP Senators have gotten themselves into. They know Hagel will be confirmed, and they know that they don't have a leg to stand on. So they double down with this letter as though that will have any impact.
If there was a real concern here, that would be one thing. But that hearing was just an example of multiple Senators getting in personal and petty shots, and a nominee being genuinely surprised at the vitriol being thrown at him. And to what purpose? So they could delay his confirmation by a week? What good does this accomplish? It seems that the real intention here was just to gum up the works and make what is a fairly routine procedure as difficult as possible. The same way the House GOP deliberately mucked with the debt ceiling discussions in 2011 and continues to try to find brinks to man today.
your loser candidate bumbled and stumbled thru a hearing, and the opposition wants more info.
Has happened a hundred times in Senate history. Nothing new. Now...please provide the requested docs, testimony, etc; and if you don't like it, well, next time pick someone who can handle himself in a Senate confirmation hearing--------duhhhhh.
So it's more about style than substance? Typical GOP philosophy.
Not really Chesty. But that was a nice try.
It's a shame that the GOP is so blinded by their hatred of this president that they'll even go after a GOP Senator if they can score some cheap points from it.
What will they have to say after he's confirmed?
Maybe someone can write a letter to John Boehner and ask him to stop GOP obstructionism in the name of national security. Maybe someone can write the 15 senators a letter asking them if they care about the needless deaths resulting from the lies that resulted in the Iraq war....
Maybe someone can ask Obama why the survivor-witnesses of the Benghazi attack are not allowed to speak, or why during his Inauguration ceremony, we had F-16's escorting Soviet nukes out of our airspace and no one reported it.
If it wasn't reported, where did you hear it?
It wouldn't help, Drano -- every time I write my Republican senators I get the same stock answers: GOP good, Democrat bad... It's nauseating ... and soooo predictable.
If Hagels performance as SOD is like his performance at the hearings then I dont blame the Republicans for not wanting him as SOD.
So you equate style with substance?
(wrong article)
Hagel
left the Senate because of this bunch as a whole loves the gridlock. Then
again, the republican senators could be against him because HE DID SERVE in the
military, unlike 90% of the party who loves war...for others. I don't consider
being part of the reserves as REAL military service. The NBA has 13 players and
the 13th player rarely gets to play, same with baseball having 25 players and
the NFL with a 53 man roster, those high numbered players rarely get into a
game. How many active members of the military are there currently? Hundreds of
thousands would be my guess. Reservists are on the bench WAY, WAY down the
line. That's where you'll find republicans and those pontificators of ADOLPH
Murdoch's bunch on FOX, and the other windbag, Rush.
The redumblican party is not fit to govern period.
John - ever wonder why with over 30+ survivors of the Benghazi attack, the media has not interviewed a single one? How's that Hope and Change working for you? Idiot.
Since Fox News is so obsessed with the story, where's their interviews? And the "Hope & Change" is working far better than the "Pillage & Destroy" policies of the last so called president.
This is payback for his calling G. W. Bush the worst president we've ever had. Also, he endorsed Obama over McCain, his old buddy. But I admire him for doing that since who could vote for McCain with Sarah Palin a hearbeat away from the Presidency? I am disappointed that Marco Rubio would sign the letter.
Jennifer. I dont know why you are surprised that the little punk Rubio would sign something against Hagel and Obama. If you or anyone else thinks that my Senator Marco Rubio is the Saviour of the Republican Party, Please go to google and type in Marco Rubio Scandals. After you read all about what and who Rubio really is, you wont like him, unless you like criminals. Rubio is going to end up just like Jackson real soon. Maybe they can do prison time together.
I find it absolutely astounding how all of you liberal morons can believe every piece of drivel served to you by this site. Chuck Todd would get on his knees and open wide in front of Obama if he had the chance. And the rest of you would be right behind him in line. Your Phuquetard-in-Chief is looking right into the television screen and lying to you on a daily basis. I have a question for you all: With over 30+ survivors of the Benghazi attack, how come the media has not interviewed one? Where are they? Have they been threatened into silence? Do your job Chuck Todd. Stop schilling for the White House.
Opps, almost forgot the Benghazi "incident". Hang it up. You are off topic and the rest have moved on. Enough!
Thanks for the insight genius!
enuff. You still cant get over a Black man beating the old men Republican Turd Party twice. can you? It is going to be a long time before the Stupid Party gets any real power again.
Hagel, aint it!! Give it up Nobama...
Nobama, that's cute.I blew milk out my nose when I read that. Good one.
This Republican obsession with infantile behavior is sooo tedious! You must admit though, it serves as an excellent distraction from inaction on that whole sequester thing that looms.
comfirm hagel; exile the cited 15 republicans as agents of a foreign government.
hahahahaha, Marco Rubio thinks that signing this letter is a good political move. hahahahaha, "thirsty" for the presidency there Marco?
Yes it seems like an AAO (against anything Obama), and I was inclined to initially think Hagel a good choi ce until his poor congressional hearing. Now I'm wondering if there weren't/aren't better options. And an idea comes forth: Hillary Clinton. Successful secretary of state. Would be first woman SecDef.
Other options less toxic than Hagel could include: Howard Berman, Jane Harman, Michelle Flournoy, Sam Nunn, or perhaps Lindsey Graham himself? Or what about just being back Stanley McChrystal or even Petraeus? People have done worse things than the last two and they are smart military man whose talent should still be harnessed.
This is actually the 2ND cabinent post rejected by the Republicans. Susan Rice wasn't nominated for Sec of State because everyone knew she would have been filibustered. I'm not a big fan of Hagel but I believe the President should have his choice. Benghasi has nothing to do with the Hagel nomination but they keep bringing it up. At least Hagel is not a big war monger like Rumsfeld. The Republicans think the only way to change the world is to kick everyones a$$. We are tired of war being the solution to every problem.
To those that want to take our weapons away there's an old saying;
F**k with the bull, you get the horns. Remember that.
Just look at the people Obama has surrounded himself with.Its not hard to be critical of any more of his choices.
I have heard that Hagel dosent want to talk about drones on our soil.The government has already done much damage to our freedoms in the last 15 years.
Bush with the patriot act(funny name for such an freedom stealing act) and Obama has just increased the loss of our freedoms.NDAA and increased executive powers and more.
These bitter rich old white men that inhabit the republican party, just can't get past someone disagreeing vocally with, what they call, the SS establishment! This is just another dig at a black President, who was re-elected, much to the chagrin of the old white 'bagger establishment, by the whole of the United States of America! White people were not the original inhabitants of the Americas, we were an also ran, immigrants onto a continent founded by, OH MY, GOD, brown people. Get a grip on your lives, we share this country, that at this moment in time, you are hell bent on driving into the ground, so you think you can swoop in and save, after a republican destruction. Hagel is just a front for your "hatred" of America. People see this, and they are the younger generation. The republican party is dying, I hope it is a short, but painful death!!!!!
DOD, think about that. If you are unwilling to disclose information requested, you are hiding something and I don't want that something to be a surprise down the road and then everyone will say - he should have been investigated, he should have disclosed the information blah blah blah. If you do not have a good feeling about a person, then it is what it is, but if your requested to disclose documents and do not, well then a NO VOTE should be there. If you went for a job interview and they requested information from you and you did not supply it, would you expect to get the job, I don't think so. This guy looks way too stressed already, job will probably put him way under. Trust is a factor here, I don't see how this man could possibly be trusted from his answers he gave at his hearing. AMERICA, you can bend down and kiss your butts good-bye. I don't think republicans are any better than the demos, they are all a bunch of blood sucking leaches.
Then that is that; this makes vote number 60. So cry all you want tea baggers in the Senate, Hagel is likely going to be confirmed and you will have to find yourself a new Obama punching bag via proxy.
Geo,
I am glad Hagel is getting a vote as he should. In terms of punching bags, no worries there. As long as Obama, Biden, Reid and Pelosi are around there is enough incompetence to keep that proxy going for awhile. LOLOLO