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.
We have a few questions for you, and we expect answers.
Hey, the Republicans grew a vertibrae - now let’s see if they can manage a whole spine.
Kabuki Theater.
The Muslim Marxist will just bypass congress and appoint fellow Jew-hater Hagel by executive order. The Muslim Brotherhood is calling the shots in the White House now.
Alexander is saying it’s not a filibuster. It sounds to me that he almost promised an up and down vote in twelve days. The Dems are arguing it is a filibuster.
Good news!
The Commie, Muslim-loving traitor has to wait a little while longer before he can help Obama run our military into the ground.
Bump.
Good!! One less A$$hole in government to worry about. We already have many more than we need.
All GOP speakers said it isn’t filibuster, not just Alexander. And, unfortunately, it isn’t. It’s meant to DELAY the vote until more info is forthcoming. I say unfortunately...we could only wish they would stop Hagel’s nomination, period.
Reid is lying and knows it.
But that’s Harry...it’s who he is.
This parenthesis after the headline that calls it a filibuster is exactly what Reid wants. He wants media headlines to scream “filibuster!” because that’s spun as a bad word.
Please understand, if it really was a filibuster I would say call it that. And it wouldn’t bother me one bit to use the word. Perfectly good word, but has a bad rap.
One caveat, IF more info arises that is scandalous enough against Hagel, the GOP could still choose to ACTUALLY filibuster and stop this insane nomination.
But if what we already know isn’t enough against him, color me doubtful that even worse would stop him.
Yep, just watch. Obama will headfake, the R’s will fall for it, and Hagel will be confirmed within the week...
And mumble-mouth McConnell will come on the Sunday shows telling us about how the GOP is moving forward doing the bidness of the Senate.
Yeah. If this were definitive Hagel would fold up his tent and head home. Doesn’t sound like that’s happening.
Graham: Ill put a hold on Hagel, Brennan until the White House coughs up Benghazi info.
McLame was on Cavuto predicting Hagel would be confirmed just minutes before this vote. He’s such a loser!
He ain’t folding his tent because he as heard McLame and a few other RINO’s say when they come back from their break that he would vote for him.
Hagel will be Defense Secretary. Or it will be someone worse. The R’s are stalling.
Actually, McCain announced against Hagel as did some other RINOS such as Graham. They are going to give Obama his up or down vote on Hagel, while voting no. However, if McCain says it will ultimately pass, then he knows that certain GOP WILL join the lockstep Dems and vote yes.
Were trying to confirm somebody to ruin the defenses of our country, the military of our country.
Fixed it.
Obama will wait until the Senate goes home for the weekend, declare them in recess and appoint whoever he wants.
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