Posted on 02/14/2013 2:13:03 PM PST by Bryan
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate failed to pass a cloture resolution on the nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) as secretary of defense, with 58 in favor and 40 against ending debate on the matter, with one senator voting "present." A 60-vote majority is required to end debate before the nomination can proceed to a simple majority vote, and it appears the Senate is going to come up short.
Hagel's nomination was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week in a 14-11 party line vote.
Although Hagel came under fire for remarks he made about Israel specifically the "Jewish lobby" during his confirmation hearing, Senate Republicans appear to have switched their rationale for opposing their former colleague. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has been one of Hagel's most outspoken opponents, and this week said that regarding the nominations of Hagel for defense and John Brennan for director of national intelligence, there would be "no confirmation without information" regarding last September's deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
The threat comes despite the fact that Hagel had nothing to do with the Benghazi attack, or was even employed by the U.S. government at the time.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) slammed his GOP counterparts earlier in the day. This isnt high school getting ready for a football game or some play thats being produced at high school, Reid said. Were trying to confirm somebody to run the defenses of our country, the military of our country.
Reid also acknowledged that the Democrats do not have the necessary 60 votes at this time. There are 53 Democrats in the Senate, plus two independents who caucus with the Democrats. Today's failure to reach 60 votes doesn't mean Hagel's nomination is finished. The Senate will reportedly try again after the Presidents' Day recess perhaps as late as a week from Tuesday, according to Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) in his floor speech on the nomination.
According to the fifth-column WaPost rag, it was Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) who stood firm from the beginning. Without Cruz’s substantiated demand that Hagel had not provided sufficient information, the GOP eunuchs would have folded like a wet washrag.
MSM Obamawhores will now be gunning for Cruz.
I don’t give a hoot whether it’s a filibuster or not. I’m just happy that the Republicans stood up for what’s right. They can use any tactic they want to as far as I’m concerned. The Dems do.
The Repubs are A) playing by the rules and B) doing the right thing.
What’s not to like?
Shut up and pass a budget, Reid. For a change.
No,of course not. The Senate is going out for a short recess and when they get back, Reid will be resurrecting this. I believe that eventually he's going to be the SOD, whether we like it or not. The only thing in doubt is how much truth about Benghazi we can squeeze out of Obama before enough Republicans cave in and vote for cloture.
The Democrats will probably yank Hagel at this point, and replace him with somebody even worse.
I doubt it. Like I said, Reid will resurrect this one after the short recess. They only have about 54 votes for confirmation on Hagel (meaning that if they can get this cloture vote passed, they'll get confirmation -- barely). But if they substitute someone who's substantially worse, they won't even get 50 votes.
Bingo!!
GO CRUZ!’
Thank God, they managed to do SOMETHING right for a change! Hope it holds and this un-American doesn’t become the head of our wonderful military!
Now I know why the cable news channels are only covering the cruise ship. They don’t want to cover Obama’s embarrassment.
“McLame was on Cavuto predicting Hagel would be confirmed just minutes before this vote. Hes such a loser!”
Facts are wrong.
Care to explain?
Who were the three RINO traitors? I will guess Murkowski, Collins and Chambliss.
See, Repubs??? Growing a spine isn’t painful after all! The world will still continue, the sun still comes up the next day... It’s really, truly OK to be brave.
You got one right. In addition to MurkCOWski, the other two were Thad Cochran, MS; and Mike Johanns, NE.
Now they have to stand even tougher against confirming the muslim John Brennan for CIA chief.
No celebration at all; merely a procedural matter. Confirmation is certain barring a major disclosure that we cannot anticipate.
Here. Here. Any victory is a plus. Now when this comes up again it will be around the time of the Sequester. Keep adding up the small victories.
Thanks Bryan.
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