It’s not clear if administration sources that leaked the story that Chuck Hagel had three practice sessions before a mock committee before his actual Senate confirmation hearing were trying to help or hurt the former senator. Hagel’s performance was so shaky that even some of his liberal supporters like Peter Beinart were lamenting on Twitter about his stumbling and bumbling answers to tough questions. That he flopped so badly after being rehearsed speaks volumes about how bad he was. Indeed, he had so many misstatements that it will be hard for news organizations to choose which of them to broadcast in their highlights of the hearings. But as much as his inability to speak coherently and present a plausible defense of his record while under pressure was exposed today, in what was probably the worst showing by a presidential nominee in a confirmation hearing in memory, it was his credibility that took the biggest hit.
Time and again throughout the day, Hagel bobbed and weaved when presented with examples of the contradictions between the voluminous record of votes and statements about Israel, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah and what he has been saying in public since President Obama nominated him to be the next secretary of defense. Under tough questioning from Lindsey Graham, Kelly Ayotte, Roger Wicker and Ted Cruz, Hagel’s pose as a consistent and ardent friend of Israel and foe of Iran was shown to be nothing but a hastily constructed façade that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
As I have written repeatedly since his nomination was announced, Hagel has been working hard to disappoint those who have always shared his views since he was so eager to discard principles that he had ardently supported. But one such supporter was unfazed by his reversals. Former Media Matters staffer MJ Rosenberg is a bitter critic of Israel and its supporters to the point where he is considered toxic even by many on the left. But as Twitchy notes, Rosenberg wasn’t particularly helpful to Hagel today since he tweeted:
I spent a couple of hours with Hagel a few years ago. Talked with him about Israel. Happily, he is lying today & knows it. He’ll be a good SeDef.
But you didn’t have to have that kind of inside information to understand that what was happening in the confirmation wasn’t particularly honest. Throughout the day when faced with offensive quotes or votes that were inconsistent with his current stands, Hagel rationalized about changing times or context. But the more the context of each incident was examined, the less truthful the Nebraskan sounded. It wasn’t just gaffes like his statement that his opposition to designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group was rooted in his belief that the Islamist regime was a “legitimate and elected government,” which he later walked back. It was his inability to explain why he refused to support Israel during the intifada or branded its defensive war against Hezbollah as a “slaughter.”
But his deceitful approach wasn’t solely focused on his views about Israel and Iran. His attempt to explain his role in producing a report about America’s nuclear deterrent was just as bad. He refused to own up to his views and the plain language of a document that he co-authored. His inability to be honest about his opposition to the Iraq surge when pressed to do so by John McCain was not so much outrageous as it was transparently weak.
By the end of the day, Hagel was reduced to saying something that shouldn’t inspire much confidence in his leadership when he said his opinions didn’t matter so much because he was not being appointed to a policymaking position. Hagel’s defense of himself as a mere bureaucrat may be in line with the Obama administration’s top-down approach to policy but it is a dispiriting exhibition for someone who is actually being tapped for one of the most important positions in the Cabinet.
Chuck Hagel demonstrated today that he isn’t fit for such a senior post. His incompetent testimony should have embarrassed the president and backers like Chuck Schumer, who gambled his own reputation on a man who has little credibility. That may not be enough to derail a nomination that is being rammed through on a partisan basis by the Senate’s majority caucus. But today’s disappointing show by Hagel shamed not just Democrats but a nation whose defense is being entrusted to an incompetent liar.
It doesn't really matter all that much. If Hagel can't be confirmed then he's just as useful as a sacrificial lamb. Planned or not, Obama will simply field another nonentity who will be a bit more acceptable to the House of Lords. Remember, Obama doesn't want actual talent in the office. Like all dictators and would-be dictators Obama doesn't want intelligent people working for him. He just wants an obedient servitor who will rubber-stamp anything he decrees.
Exactly. If not Shmagel, who? Obama is SecDef. Obama is Sec of All Things. It's good to see the Admin still must 'lie' however. Anti-semitism is not Pepsi. Not yet
particularly impressive was his lickety split walk-back of his heartfelt pledge to follow President Obama's "containment policy" towards Iranian nukes. n nooopsie! n nIf, unlikely, the Senate Dems were to abandon this tribune, who would be Obama's next pick? n nCindy Sheehan?
I'm sure it's crossed the mind of Hussein ,peace be upon him ,Obama.
What difference at this point does it make?
It's obvious that Mr. Hagel is just not up to the very high standards of lying and obfuscation set by other Obama appointees over the years. He would have been far better served by throwing up his hands and yelling "What's the difference?"
Basically he did by stating that he was not being appointed to a policy-making position.
Sounds like some Republican nominees to the Supreme Court who lied and obfuscated to a fare-thee-well. And still got in.
who?
Since you claim not to know, I suspect you wouldn't know them by name if I named them all. You CAN look it up, though. n nAny time you want to get back to the subject of Mr. Hagel, let us know.
n nThe agenda behind Obama's pick of Hagel is now confirmed, for it was clearly not Hagel's competence.
Obama's people might even welcome a hold by Ted Cruz. It could help them save face. They most likely want to withdraw the nomination. Republican assistance at this moment might be appreciated.
Obama can now feign support for Hagel and blame the rejection on Republicans in his ongoing political strategy of demonization.
Credibility has mainly to do with perception. Hagel is being faulted here for being an incompetent and unconvincing liar. Do we prefer a slicker, more artful and hence more credible liar like Clinton or Obama? n nDo we prefer Kerry who states during his confirmation with apparent sincerity and honest conviction that our problems in the Middle East, South Asia and the Maghreb are all flow from the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians? n nDishonesty is the least of Obama and his cabinet appointees' failures. Simple stupidity, incompetence and hidebound bigotry and prejudice are their far greater shortcomings.
regarding: n n"……Kerry who states during his confirmation with apparent sincerity and honest conviction that our problems in the Middle East, South Asia and the Maghreb are all flow from the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians? " n nI saw that in TV. I almost fell out of my chair. I am gobsmacked.I have no words. n nIsrael is in for a bumpy ride. n
We can only hope that the Jew-haters in the Middle East keep the Jew-haters in the Obama administration too distracted and off their game to succeed in their nefarious schemes.
I for one think it means little if Hagel's nomination is defeated, as, as you say, there could be a slicker enabler of the Obama agenda appointed. n nObama kind of screwed up with Kerry and Hagel, because they are both such dufuses no one will take them seriously, so their ability to change the standing of Israel will be limited. n nHis agenda to change America's role in the world will of course be enhanced, if his goal is a shrunken, dis-empowered nation of spendthrift clowns that sits back as Iran becomes a nuclear power. n nObama may in fact force Israel to spread her wings and become the regional superpower her success (in most realms) justifies. n nIsrael can move into the regional vacuum created by Obama as he 'nation-builds' at home. n nMany risks and opportunities, no?
I used to watch confirmation hearings when Hagel sat on the Senate Foreign Relations Ctte, with Lugar, Biden, Kerry, and Obama. n nIn this iteration, McCain really knew how to punch every one of Hagel's buttons. nAnyway, the dems were never so enthralled with Hagel, and he did give himself two possible outs at the end. The story of how he was not looking for a job when Obama called, and, that rather detailed episode when he asked to go to Vietnam, just as he was scheduled to go to Germany, and spent a few days being evaluated by chaplains, rabbis … and psychiatrists. n nTed Cruz totally astounded him. n nStill de-constructing Joe Manchin. n nHagel's new dilemma is that SecDef also has to be America's military to military Diplomat! n
and I just saw Pat Buchanan and that crook, Bill Richardson defending and supporting Hagel. n nHow are these two knaves coerced into supporting that dumbwad?
How? The great common denominator of losers and misanthropes everywhere – hatred of the Tribe.
Yea, verily yea.
lol
Does this mean they are going to throw him over a stone wall while he's in full armor?
Pat Buchanan coerced? He has long been hostile towards Israel. Buchanan destroyed Bush 41's presidency and essentially handed the presidency over to Bill Clinton. The former Republican loyalist was very upset that American troops invaded Iraq. He only focused on the tax issue because most voters supported the war. Buchanan thought the administration was a flunky of the Israelis.
Buchanan was right.
wait–Buchanan and Bill Richardson agree on something? n nJew Hatred: Bringing People Together Since 3000 BCE ™ n n
There were no Jews in 3000 BCE.
Okay, B'nai Yisrael if you prefer.
There was no "B'nai Yisrael" in 3000 BCE. Not for another 1500 years or so. n nBy 3000 BCE the Sumerians were chugging along. The Egyptians had just invented papyrus, hieroglyphic writing and chariots, and King Menes of Egypt had just founded the First Dynasty. n nYou need to learn World history. And knowing Jewish history wouldn't hurt either.
Well, wth Hagel at Defense and Bob Menendez holding down the fort at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at least the late night comics will be happy.
Canada looking good. . .
he is determined to do the maximum damage in every area he can identify n nit is like we are facing a dike, and every time one breathes, another break appears
"…a nation whose defense is being entrusted to an incompetent liar"? nwhat difference does it make? nafter all it's just an example of birds of a feather flocking together nseems that lying and incompetence are prerequisites for working for this potus/pos ncan't have the help showing up the HNIC(see urban dictionary)
An incompetent boob ignorant of the office who will blindly carry out a clueless defense policy directed by the Marxists president. n nA perfect candidate that matches most of the Obama cabinet. n nThere will likely be an unelected, unconfirmed "czar" that will direct Hagel anyway.
In Obamerica though the weaker a candidate appears the more he's elevated to the status of martyr at the hands of his supernal foes. In this case the Jews.
Your encomium of W is overdone.
A shame that a decorated combat infantry NCO is being attacked for putting America first. Hagel wasn't nominated to be Israel's SecDef there should have been NO questions about defending Israel only America.
you know csmallo, he is honored for his service but if that service left him with a resolute and irreconciliable contempt for the Pentagon officer corp and the Army as an institution due to his (now decades past) Vietnam service he won't be able to objectively "put America first" as SecDef. n nPlus he has a habit of putting Al Jazeera first. He is putting unilateral disarmament first. He is putting Iran first. He is putting all those organizations as yet undisclosed who fund his speaking gigs first.Perhaps, in part as a result of his take on his Vietnam service, he is on record saying that, yes, the thought that America is the world's bully is a "good obseravation.". n nBut hey, if you think Iran and Hezbollah, hated and feared by their Sunni neighbors are as American as apple pie, be our guest. n nHe has disowned all the statements you and the rest of the Billy PP Gramps Gumbo Pat Buchanan honky amen corner are still supporting him for, but hey, guess he's dissimulating. n nAnd if you just have to have someone as SecDef who will help Iran go nuke and put Israel in its place maybe you should try somebody who isn't as thick as a rock. n nA lot of actually competent all-American officers with actual administrative expertise also served in Vietnam and other American engagements, not in the Israeli Defense Forces, and they could be as all-American as you want and manage to walk and chew gum at the same time. n nand you know, you might want to think more kindly of Israel.Defend Israel? if you get this bozo as your all-American SecDef you may need those dam sh*tty Israelis to defend YOU
referring to America on al jazeera as a bully, is putting america first?
Dismiss not the incompetence of Shmagel. Today, competence is NOT our friend.
"smart, strong, accomplished" Just the words that come to mind when I think of D. Rumsfeld.
You should have a 1/10th of his brains and accomplishments.
Obana and Hagel are the very images of the Anti….you know who, and the False pr….you know who!!!They would sell out their uncle to make sure the Islamists don't hate them; 'what difference does it make if Israel gets it in the neck as long as sharia and madrassas can withstand the Mossad!!! Oh well, since Obama is Mussolini and his own SECDEF and SECSTATE, no one in the media cares if Chuck chuckles about another holocaust. We Dems have the Jewish vote anyhow.
What credibility? n nI lived in Nebraska when Hagel was originally elected. He didn't have any credibility then. Where did he get any in the meantime?
Hagel is a good fit for this administration. J.Kerry would have been a perfect fit for this admin. Incompetence and lies from top to bottom.
"Obama surrounds himself with preening imbeciles, long on vanity and short on brains, grateful to be elevated to positions for which they don't remotely qualify." nBiden reminds me of why people used to call Agnew "Nixon's life insurance." n n
The remorse of a litany of losers. The blathering of John Birch Society, a.k..a Tea Party radical extremists. The rediciouls "protect me against my government" crazies. If it is anarchy you want, hopefully it will not be in the United States.
It is difficult for me to say what I think that will be acceptable to your moderators
I like Hagel. What's right is about what just happened, is happening right now, and might be one's next action, nothing more. Lincoln agrees with me, 'inconsistency is the hobgoblin of small minds'. And who cares about the United States Senate or what they are told. Their function is to impede action and they are doing a fine job of it on this one.__A Secretary is supposed to be: (1) A willing accomplice of her or his President;
(2) An able manager, subject to point one, of whatever they are Secretary of. Dream on if one thinks that any President would ever allow any Secretary of anything do anything more. n nNo one can rationally say what to do about the myriad folks causing difficulties for the USA, from Israel to Iran. They have their interests and internal politics, we do too, and the way the four interact is not only a function of reality, but of the perceptions of locally important vested interests in all the concerned nation states. I respect the right of those with vested interests to defend the same but I don’t myself give a darn about anybody’s interests, only everybody’s. n nPeace and a potentially better future, I think most folks share those interests, but I doubt that a majority share even one more. So the heck with all other interests. n
Since we, in effect, have at present only one viable political party—the Democratic Party—and since though they are powerful they are also mindless, it's hard to see how Hagel will not be confirmed. n nNothing much is going to improve in the US until we either fix the GOP, or abandon it for a new and more coherent party, which could start fresh, free of the baggage of the myriad bad choices and policies—and people—the Republicans have come to represent over the last 50 years. Only this way can we hope to attract centrists, women, and anyone else whose hope is to rise into the middle class through hard work and education. n nI just don't see upwardly mobile blacks and latinos, or even Asians, choosing a party that opposed school integration, women's rights, and which made common cause with the Moral Majority and spent its time fighting the abortion wars instead of helping to rescue and reform our public schools. n nBut there is one other thing most of us cannot get over. Whereas the majority of Americans love our land, something about Republican politics gives off the sense of contempt for natural beauty, e.g., our national parks and seashores, our wilderness areas, and the animals and plants that live in those places. That has to change. What kind of a party makes jokes about the sea, the forests, and the creatures that inhabit both? There is something heartless, callous and cynical about this way of reacting to America's natural riches and environment. n nIt is one thing to let the Left over-regulate and drive us into poverty, but that doesn't mean all regulations are a bad thing or that all that matters in life is "business" (along with guns, religion and "free markets"). I am in favor of drilling for oil wherever possible, but not if it means scarring our land and polluting our oceans. Surely, there is a middle way. Surely, our technological prowess can address these problems and find solutions. Or, has America forgotten how to find solutions?
" I am in favor of drilling for oil wherever possible, but not if it means scarring our land and polluting our oceans. " n nThat is the job of the Chinese. The better we are at shutting down business the more business the Chinese get. That is the American solution. Pollute China.