[lentulusgracchus]

Personally I’ll take a liberal Republican who was a grunt and decorated combat veteran over just about anyone else O would have nominated...

Granting you his decorated service as an enlisted man, nevertheless what should be in the foreground here is the reasoning behind Obama's nomination of him, and what Obama intends by it, and what he intends Hagel to do, if he's confirmed. What are Obama's policies that Hagel will execute, and what are the politics of the nomination? That's the point.

And none of it looks good.

[Vigilanteman]

Exactly. Hagel was picked to provide cover for further eviscarization of the military because BO thinks he can do it better than an avowed Marxist in his own party. It's that simple.

[Vigilanteman]

Exactly. Hagel was picked to provide cover for further eviscarization of the military because BO thinks he can do it better than an avowed Marxist in his own party. It's that simple.

[montanajoe]

What you or I think should be in the foreground is irrelevant. There is no one that you or I think should be picked for Defense Secretary that would stand a chance of Obama nominating.

In my view an enlisted combat veteran serving as Secretary of Defense in this administration is about as much as anyone could hope for.