Defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel’s reputation fared nearly as badly on the Sunday shows as it did in his confirmation hearing. Obama administration representatives gave a perfunctory thumbs up to his nomination but refused to declare his hearing a success... A truly responsible nominee would understand how badly he let down the president and would relieve him of the obligation to go forward with an unqualified nominee. I suspect, however, that Hagel– whose massive ego would not permit him to admit error on the Iraq surge, his past opposition to unilateral sanctions or anything else – will have to be pushed off the stage or defeated. He isn’t going gracefully.
Despite being humiliated by Hagel (Schumer looks downright silly for having accepted private assurances from the inept nominee), Schumer and other liberal Democrats will line up behind Hagel. |