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Was Chuck Hagel nominated out of spite?
Washington Post/Right Turn ^ | 2-15-2013 | Jennifer Rubin

Posted on 02/15/2013 11:42:15 AM PST by smoothsailing

Edited on 02/15/2013 12:12:24 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

 february 15, 2013

Was Chuck Hagel nominated out of spite?

By Jennifer Rubin

[Short excerpt from Politico]...The president feels personally invested in the nomination of Hagel. The Nebraska Republican is one of the few politicians he’s truly friendly with, and Obama plans to see the fight through, barring some major unforeseen development. Democrats close to the White House say the typically cool-headed Obama has expressed flashes of real anger at what he sees as a politically motivated GOP fishing expedition that already netted his first choice for secretary of state — U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice.

Obama — ticked off by Rice’s treatment and still emboldened by his convincing victory over Mitt Romney — courted confrontation when he tapped Hagel.

If true, this is outlandish. The president would imperil national security out of spite?

The lions may be lying down with lambs today, but on this Jonathan Chait is dead on: “I would argue that, if you’re really upset at the unfair attacks on Susan Rice, then nominate Susan Rice. Picking a fight on some other candidate is a pretty strange way of defending Susan Rice’s reputation.” It is also a darn irresponsible move considering the national security challenges we face.

 

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chuckhagel; cronyism; hagel; hagelthehorrible; obama; politicalappointment; rice; spite

The Petty Pretender and his Putrid Pick

1 posted on 02/15/2013 11:42:19 AM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Hagel was perhaps the highest ranking Republican in Washington who openly opposed the war in Iraq. That’s almost certainly a factor in Obama’s equation.


2 posted on 02/15/2013 11:45:45 AM PST by Bryan
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To: smoothsailing

He was nominated because Obama was patently aware Hagel would be willing to trade ANY association he once had with the GOP, any part of it, for his own political gain in showing how even a former Republican sees Obama’s magnificience.

In looking at this picture, Hagel looks like a morning-after drunk (very likely) who’s just looking for that next ride, and Obama seems disgusted that he’s hitched his wagon to this asshole. Hey Obama, do your homework! Next time, pick someone that at least looks sober.


3 posted on 02/15/2013 11:47:53 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: smoothsailing
Was Chuck Hagel nominated out of spite?

You called?


4 posted on 02/15/2013 11:50:14 AM PST by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Bryan

Another factor is Biden:

“If anything, Biden is even more emotionally invested than Obama in Hagel, a buddy and frequent travelling companion from their days together in the Senate. Biden was one of the strongest advocates for Hagel’s appointment, pushing for him over the objections of several Obama staffers who believed Hagel to be an overly provocative choice. On Thursday, the vice president was working the phones with a vengeance, imploring moderate Republicans — including Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) — to vote for cloture.”

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=96AE450F-F4CB-479F-BD10-B97D11E490E2


5 posted on 02/15/2013 11:54:58 AM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
He was nominated because of his ties to the software company that counts the votes. Can anyone say payback for services rendered.
6 posted on 02/15/2013 11:58:16 AM PST by Moonbug
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To: smoothsailing

I’m hard pressed to find ANYTHING that the Oba-Führer has NOT done out of spite...


7 posted on 02/15/2013 12:05:20 PM PST by EasySt (Time to build that gulch...)
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To: smoothsailing

GOP cover for downgrading our military


8 posted on 02/15/2013 12:13:39 PM PST by Sybeck1 (What has the GOP done today to gain your support in 2014?)
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To: EasySt

It would not be difficult to make the case that everything Obama’s done, every word he’s uttered since the reelection has been engineered to rub the GOP’s nose in it. Obama is the king of the end-zone dance, the victory lap, the dancing upon graves.


9 posted on 02/15/2013 12:25:10 PM PST by Cyber Liberty (Obama considers the Third World morally superior to the United States.)
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To: smoothsailing

Caligula nominated a horse. Obama nominated a horse’s ass.


10 posted on 02/15/2013 1:24:48 PM PST by Defiant (If there are infinite parallel universes, why Lord, am I living in the one with Obama as President?)
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To: Moonbug

heard that also, and kerry is the one who gets the troops upset. Anyone conservatives hate with a passion...


11 posted on 02/15/2013 2:26:40 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: Bryan
The president would imperil national security out of spite?

nobama is a crabby, petulant little child throwing a temper tantrum.

There's nothing new about that, of course. Just thought I'd mention it.

12 posted on 02/15/2013 4:11:55 PM PST by upchuck (America's at an awkward stage. Too late to work within the system, too early to shoot the bastards.)
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To: smoothsailing

No, I’ve a hunch Bagel is Obama’s scam to win on someone worse. They never turn down two in a row. Put up a stool pigeon first and then your real choice whose serious flaws will be whitewashed by both sides.

Who?


13 posted on 02/15/2013 5:29:15 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins

Michele Flournoy or Ashton Carter are names mentioned as backup in the event of a Hagel fail.

My guess is the original plan was for Rice at State and Kerry at Defense. At least we dodged that bullet.


14 posted on 02/15/2013 5:54:10 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: Admin Moderator

Thanks for the corrections you made to the original post. I learned a good lesson from it in reference to proper attribution. :-)


15 posted on 02/15/2013 6:03:13 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

No, Hagel was nominated by the quasi-Muslim because Hagel is an anti-Semite and hater of Israel.


16 posted on 02/15/2013 6:05:43 PM PST by expat2
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To: smoothsailing

You are most certainly welcome.


17 posted on 02/16/2013 2:15:30 AM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: EasySt

“I’m hard pressed to find ANYTHING that the Oba-Führer has NOT done out of spite...”

VOTE FOR REVENGE


18 posted on 02/16/2013 9:59:06 AM PST by A'elian' nation (Political correctness does not legislate tolerance; it only organizes hatred. Jacques Barzun)
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