The Senate, in the end, is a Go Along, Get Along club. Hagel is “one of their own” and that’s all that matters.
I guarantee you if Bush had put up this a weak candidate Reid and Schumer would not have “gone along to get along”. That right there is the problem. Dims brawl while the GOP plays by Marquees of Queensbury rules. Guess who wins?
I'd be happy to at least see the GOP fight to MoQ levels. They won't even do that. And when Obama nominates Van Jones or some other hard-core radical to tip the balance of the Supreme Court, the Gelded Old Party will cave just as easily.