Posted on 01/31/2013 3:42:34 PM PST by jimbo123
Its fascinating, actually, to see a nominee of this importance do so poorly. Chuck Hagel, nominated for defense secretary, has gone from awful to atrocious today, having to deny the obvious meaning of words he previously authored (on Global Zero), correct himself repeatedly (no, he didnt mean Irans government was legitimate) and find himself simply unable to explain himself. Forgetting about his views, he does not radiate the confidence nor project the intelligence the job demands. It is unclear whether he was not prepped properly, whether he refused to be coached or whether he simply isnt bright.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
>> It is unclear whether he was not prepped properly, whether he refused to be coached or whether he simply isnt bright.
They’re not mutually exclusive.
They shot Kerry through there like Grease through a Goose, now they attack Hagel.
Not that I like Hagel, but I cannot stand a traitor and a Glorifed Stolen Glory, band aid wounded, war criminal.
I’m beginning to think Hagel is a red herring. Obama has trotted him out knowing he would be shot down. By congress doing this, it will be much harder to shoot down whoever is next. That will be the person that Obama “really” wants in the job. Should be very revealing.....
So he and 0bama are a perfect match!
I was surprised at first that I saw nothing objectionable and, in fact, I thought he did quite well during (prepared) initial statement. The surprise appearance of John Warner and Sam Nunn with their seemingly sincere endorsement of Hagel touched me, as a fellow Vietnam Vet. I had to leave my boss’s office after the first hour to do some actual work, and apparently it went downhill from there. The media certainly are playing it as a failure tonight.
But you know what? I’ll bet he gets confirmed. This ad,imistration likely had every vote counted before they ever nominated him. That’s what they do.
TC
This way, Obama can blame sequestration on Congress because they didn't give him a cabinet member.
-PJ
He was a stumbling bumbling uninformed idiot today.
Hopefully he won’t become number two under Obummer in charge of the defense of our country.
“A long time Capitol Hill Democrat astounded by the hearing tells me ‘It is very clear from the testimony that Sen. Hagel will not be bringing the potato salad to the next Mensa picnic’”
LOL
Just about par for this administration. He’ll pass with flying colors because competence and experience are job none.

Freepers have been calling Hagel an idiot for years. Today he was good enough to prove us correct in that assessment.
He's a liberal...All of the above!
Hagel proves Reagan right: It’s not that our liberal friends are ignorant. It’s just that so much of what they believe is not so.
Ms Rubin needs a new editor...
So what makes Kerry acceptable and Hagel unacceptable?
Which other names are on the ‘short list’ ?
I still say he’s approved. 40 pubbies voted for that fool Kerry. Hagel is a bigger fool, so maybe 10 or 20 pubbies vote no along with half a dozen or so demholes. He passes with 60 I’d bet.
Now that's funny stuff.
You are so right, Hagel is a red herring. He’s way not communist enough
D. All of the above.
It is unclear whether he was not prepped properly, whether he refused to be coached or whether he simply isnt bright.
I think it’s all three!
I heard a rumor today that Michelle Flournoy is the administration’s backup nominee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mich%C3%A8le_Flournoy
Yes. And being that he's a "Republican", BO can also claim that he has paid his dues in attempts to be "bi-partisan" and "inclusive"
The man has a solid constitution but he looks worn down and out of it from what he looked like in 2007 when last in the public eye. He looks unhealthy with huge bags under his eyes. Like the male version of Hillary.
The man was in combat in Vietnam and has an amazing growing up tough life story with an abusive alcoholic father. Not that I like his anti_Israel attitude and his backstabbing GW Bush
I agree...He looked bad and sounded bad, the further into the session the worse it got. I was unaware of his father but was wondering if he has a drinking problem though have never read that he has.
I just can’t imagine him wanting to take a demanding job like SECDEF from the way he was today.
I almost want Hagel to get through just to see Jennifer Rubin break down in tears. Rubin is a pseudo-conservative blogger in the Washington Post who hates Hagel and accuses him of being anti-semitic. Although a disgusting RINO, he is certainly not that. Rubin totally trashes the Tea Party and despises Rick Santorum and social conservatives who accurately point out the moral cesspool America has become.
The Washington Post labels Rubin a conservative just like David Brooks is the supposed conservative in the New York Times.
Check this out about Hagel’s honorable life story http://www.salon.com/2007/04/30/hagel_brothers/
He’s the man! Just so long as you overlook his liberal backstabbing politics
Being Jewish and pro-Israel I don’t like Hagel but here is his upside http://www.salon.com/2007/04/30/hagel_brothers/
Your instincts are right on Hagel vs Rubin who also loves Marco Rubios immigration proposals which are bait-switch and end up with us being inundated by the 3rd world...same as now but even more
“”If the Democrats wont, Republican senators should save the president and the country from an unqualified and unsuited p(r)ick.””
I couldn’t read two of the last four sentences in the article without also seeing the “r” was left out!!!!
Sounds about right. Stupidity is no longer a bar to cabinet level appointment.
That was a really funny line, I told hubby and he loved it too.
I think this could become new code lingo: not bringing the potato salad.
Look--everybody has a sob story. At some point he has to be held accountable for what he has done and said himself, and what he might do in the future. This is a Senate hearing, not the f*ing Oprah show.
Wow. Brutal
I think this is Ubama’s Harriet Miers ploy - - throw somebody in there to make it look politically correct, and then shrug when the dupe is rejected and get your real nominee in there. I wonder who that would be?
I heard a couple of positive things about her, please don’t ask me where. The implication was that it was only Obama’s war on women that kept her from being nominated.
This assclown endorsed Ubanga over his old friend McCain in 2008.
That’s some real character right there, real loyalty, real intelligence...
Good riddance to Hagel.
Yep, a sad bringing up and he served his country well in Vietnam but that doesn’t qualify him to be SECDEF.
That’s how they got Kerry thru so fast. They trotted out Susan Rice and after that brouhaha, all Kerry had to do was sail thru.
I knew Hagel was dumb, but I was amazed at how stupid he was.
Not that I like Hagel, but I cannot stand a traitor and a Glorifed Stolen Glory, band aid wounded, war criminal.
I'm wondering if the U.S. Senate didn't have the same reaction to Kerry as his fellow Swift Boat officers.
They couldn't wait to see him gone.
It gets Kerry out of the Senate (finally!)...
Hagel is already out of the Senate.
Frankly, I can understand not endorsing McCain.
But endorsing Obama instead is kinda egregious...
Hagel has the classic bags under his eyes of a chronic alcoholic. If he got that three AM call, he would be passed out.
“This assclown endorsed Ubanga”
At least Hagel has the excuse of being a mildly retarded.
While Colin Powell is merely a shrewd, scheming, lying, traitorous racist.
I flush Colin Powell down the toilet every morning.
If he's on Hussein's team I vote for "not bright at all." But that never stopped any of the appointed clueless Obama bureaucrats to date.
...has gone from awful to atrocious today, having to deny the obvious meaning of words he previously authored (on Global Zero), correct himself repeatedly (no, he didnt mean Irans government was legitimate) and find himself simply unable to explain himself. Forgetting about his views, he does not radiate the confidence nor project the intelligence the job demands. It is unclear whether he was not prepped properly, whether he refused to be coached or whether he simply isnt bright...Still,Hagel filled his role, which was to draw fire away from the other nominee, the Manchukuoan Candidate, Joni Kerri.
Freepers have been calling Hagel an idiot for years.
I’d like to state per my own rule that rather than an idiot, I describe Hagel as an imbecile. As you say he lived down to this description.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.