This is what Chuck Hagel should have said to McCain at the confirmation hearing:

[Cali_Democrat]

Senator McCain, you're the person who selected Sarah Palin to be your running mate for Vice President of the United States. She was grossly under qualified and you had the audacity to select her for the sole purpose of appealing to the rabid GOP base to win an election. You did so even if it meant selecting the most pathetically under-qualified VP candidate of all time.

Had you won the election, Sarah Palin would have been one 72-year-old heart beat away from the Presidency of the United States of America. That woman would've had her hands on the nuclear button.

How dare you lecture me on US national security when you were so willing to put this country in peril in order to try and win an election. With all due respect, go fuck yourself.

[Scootaloo]

1. There's a drawback...

McCain reportedly would have tapped Hagel to be his secretary of state. So... Hagel probably wouldn't have wanted to call McCain's cabinet-choosing abilities into question, even if he'd thought of it.

[Inuca]

4. Hagel DID speak against Palin back in 08 n/t

[Little Star]

2. I swear I've never seen anybody so in love with war. He's truly a sick minded man.

[John2]

7. I got a different opinion of John.

I think he is full of you know what and inlove with himself. The POW fame went to his head.

[Little Star]

10. I agree. He is one arrogant ass.

[Journeyman]

3. Somehow, antagonizing the old coot who can potentially squash Senate Consent . . .

wouldn't be Hagel's wisest move at this time. But then, people approach their careers from differing angles.

[LeFleur1]

5. Agreed...But...

Isn't that what is so wrong with America today? No one dares tell the truth because it will affect his/her career. Once upon a time people were elected BECAUSE they told the truth to voters. Today they choose to lie or evade, or shut up because they are oh so afraid if they tell the truth they will damage their careers. This choice is not helpful in our government because once these people get the position they want they must continue to soft peddle, or lie, or vote against the best interests of the country because they fear losing their positions. So what good does it do?

[Agschmid]

6. Or just ask him "Yes or No"...

Did you say: "There's a lot of people that could do that, one of 'em, I think, is Sen. Chuck Hagel."

McCain went on the attack against Hagel during his confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense at the Senate Armed Services Committee, blasting him with a vigor Republicans generally reserve for communists and spree shooters.

...

But during his 2000 presidential run, who did John McCain suggest would be an ideal secretary of defense?

Now that's a "Yes or No" sir.

[TwilightGardener]

8. I think people forget this wasn't a debate.

Hagel did not and could not control the questioning or the amount of time he was given to respond. Republicans repeatedly cut him off whenever he tried to speak and explain his viewpoint, because they didn't want the explanations or full statements that he was prepared to say, they wanted damaging or fatal yes-or-no answers made FOR THE RECORD, which would have been key to sinking his nomination. I think he knew where it was going and adjusted accordingly--when they asked leading questions about his choice of words or gave him out-of-context quotes, he'd give them the answer that wouldn't damage his chances, no matter how it might have looked. His entire focus was on getting confirmed. But he wouldn't give McCain the answer he wanted on the surge, thankfully, no matter how much badgering he got.

[LiberalFighter]

9. That would had sunk his nomination imo

McCain is vindictive enough and still has enough power to hold sway over the votes of others.