Hagel was a cipher and everybody knew it. Obama can now say he gave a Republican a shot and now he bring in a ‘Cleaner’ to continue the DOD demolition.
Frankly, the Democrats have NO serious candidate for Defense. They do not seriously believe that there should be a Defense Department.
After all, if the physical borders of the territory once known as “the United States of America” are NOT to be defended, what’s the point?
That would be “Republican” in HUGE quotes.
Hagel publicly supported Obama in 2008 and publicly stated that he - Hagel - would accept the nomination for Vice President if Obama offered it.