P. Beinart - Why Hagel laid down

[Inuca]

Interesting analysis. Maybe I find it interesting because it mirrors my own thoughts as I was watching the disgraceful grilling. Worth sharing, so here you go.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/01/why-hagel-laid-down.html

Why did Chuck Hagel perform so poorly before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday? Perhaps because his Obama administration handlers urged him to be something he’s not. The real Hagel is a curious combination of raw emotion and international relations theory abstraction. On the one hand, he’s known for getting angry, especially when people who know little about the realities of war imply that he’s not tough enough on America’s foes. Knowing that, Hagel’s former Republican colleagues were clearly hoping to goad him into some kind of eruption. Tennessee’s Bob Corker had already warned that Hagel’s "overall temperament" would be an issue at the hearings.

[Pab Sungenis]

1. When you said "laid down"

I thought you meant did the honorable thing and withdrew his name from nomination.

[jenmito]

4. Why should he withdraw his name? n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

12. He's "openly, aggressively" bigoted

for one thing.

For another, we DON'T need another Republican in a Democratic administration Especially at the Pentagon.

[jenmito]

15. Not any more. He has "evolved" and will carry out Obama's policies.

And the fact that he's a Republican who is HATED by the likes of McCain, Graham, and the teabaggers tells me Obama made a good choice.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. He's a Republican, anti choice, homophobic hate speakers who voted for the Iraq War.

Why should he be nominated at all?

[jenmito]

16. He's a Republican who apologized for his homophobic comments, who turned strongly against

Last edited Sun Feb 3, 2013, 03:47 PM - Edit history (1)

the Iraq War, who testified he will faithfully carry out OBAMA'S policies, and who is hated by all the hawks and teabaggers. The fact that he's a Republican (who served in Vietnam) gives cover to the admin. when they want to get out of Afghanistan sooner, cut spending for the military, and other things Repubs. attack Dems. for.

[ucrdem]

2. Could be.

Or maybe he was sick. Glad he didn't blow up at Johnny but he really didn't seem himself. Liked what he had to say though.

[patrice]

3. Identifying and committing strategically to one's priority is a good thing.

[LiberalFighter]

5. When someone is the nominee the nominee must do as little as possible

to rile any of the Senate committee members. It is absolutely necessary to demonstrate composure no matter how stupid the questions or person asking the questions. Hillary was able to fight back a little this past week because she wasn't a nominee.

It is no different then when a person is applying for a job.

[SunSeeker]

13. Same thing as when you're in front of a judge. nt

[TwilightGardener]

6. Hagel did what he had to do--get the appropriate statements on the record

no matter how much they wanted to validate the smears they threw at him for two months beforehand. And maintain his composure and not lose his temper, which they were obviously trying to make him do. He'd already submitted his answers to the committee via his questionnaire (112 pages worth) which should be in the Senate record, so the hearing (why 8 hours, Carl Levin?) was just supposed to be more of the same of what he'd submitted--of course, they weren't. It was one GOP gotcha moment after another, and requests to keep the Ohio class submarine industry going. He looked very tired, but stoic and extremely careful, and didn't make any bad TV moments. (He did misspeak once, but corrected it for the record.) There were no headlines besides the exchange with McCain. I was disappointed that apparently someone connected to the WH complained about his messaging on Iran--fuck them, Hagel's been speaking on Iran for decades now, and his position is the same as Obama's and he made that clear. That's not the way to support your people, Obama administation.

[Inuca]

8. Did you see the other thread I posted

(have not done that in a while, and now two in a row , Charlie Pierce on the same subject? http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251283311
Great fun and a good way to let some steam out for people that, like you & me, are frustrated by the whole disgusting performance.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Thanks, didn't see that. Pierce has a pretty good take on it.

[Inuca]

10. BTW

just saw on the twitter machine that Sen. Johanns is a yes on Hagel. As somebody else put it, it's a BFD.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Hey, good--not a fan of Johanns, but he hasn't been too much of a nut.

Hagel helped him win his Senate seat, after all.

[Jennicut]

7. Maybe his bored by the 1000th question on Israel?

That hearing addressed very little about the actual military.