Because he can't "waste" political capital. His supporters, especially in the media, will support anything he does. Anything. And his detractors won't. He knows that so he'll whatever he wants at any given time. There's no downside.
Agreed. Obama is certainly in a privileged position, with infinite political capital.
I believe your post is really close.
Of course there is nothing Bi-Partisan about this pick.
There is nothing Republican about Chuck Hagel exceptthe party he chose to state that he belonged to.
It would have been hard for Obama to pick someone that is on a higher RINO scale than Chuck Hagel.
If he had picked Charles Manson the media would endorse it.