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| The Hagel hearing, Part Five (Sen. Graham takes Hagel to the woodshed) | |
| 2013-01-31 | |
Graham's next question is "name one person in Congress who has been intimidated by the Jewish lobby" Hagel can't do it. Now Graham wants to know one dumb thing Congress has done in response to pressure from the Israeli lobby. Hagel can't do it. Graham wants to know why Hagel was one of 12 Senators who didn't sign a letter affirming Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Hagel says that Senators shouldn't sign these kinds of letters -- it infringes on the president's prerogative. But then, why did Hagel sign a letter denouncing the treatment of Jews by the Russians? Hagel can't answer, at least not coherently. Graham asks if Hagel would vote today against designating the IRG a terrorist organiztion. Hagel hems and haws. Then he says he would, at least, reconsider the matter, since "times change." Now Graham is asking about a letter Hagel refused to sign denouncing the intifada. He wants to know if Graham will admit that not signing this letter was a mistake. Hagel says he will look at the letter and answer later. It must have been a letter than Hagel clearly should have signed the letter because liberal Sen. Blumenthal, who follows Graham in th questioning, tells Hagel he hopes Hagel will now say he should have signed it. | |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 Hagel has been a professor at Georgetown for three years. He probably thinks he got the job for his smarts. |
| Posted by: lord garth 2013-01-31 23:38 |
| #5 "Would learn a lot...if confirmed.." Sounds like a rehash of "..pass it to find out what's in it..." to me. Are we really that stupid THREE times??? |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2013-01-31 20:59 |
| #4 "whether Hagel can possibly be as dumb as he seemed or whether he was simply so high on self esteem that he didn't think he would get any tough questions and refused assistance" No reason it can't be both, lg. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-01-31 20:09 |
| #3 In a later interview Hagel said he "would learn a lot about the DoD if he is confirmed." |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2013-01-31 19:49 |
| #2 a lot of donks are wondering whether Hagel can possibly be as dumb as he seemed or whether he was simply so high on self esteem that he didn't think he would get any tough questions and refused assistance |
| Posted by: lord garth 2013-01-31 18:44 |
| #1 At the bottom of tipper's link: I’ve had all the fun I can stand with this hearing for now. Perhaps I’ll resume my coverage at some point in the second round of questioning. From what I’ve seen so far today, it looks like Hagel will win more than 50 votes from the Democrats, and quite possibly all 55 Democratic votes. As for Republicans, I don’t believe he’s done well enough today to win many over. He succeeded in enraging John McCain (not the most difficult thing to do) and Lindsey Graham was upset with Hagel from the get-go. Of those Republicans who have questioned Hagel so far, it seems to me that he has “charmed” nary a one. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2013-01-31 16:09 |