Obama picked Hagel to be torpedoed

[Bigbluebrush]

Most of what is happening with the confirmation was foreseeable from the beginning, so I assume Obama wanted this to happen. Unless Hagel is irreplaceably awesome, which I doubt, then the "real" nominee may be the next nominee.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Nope.

[spanone]

2. some assumption.

[Agschmid]

3. Eh... I don't agree really. n/t

[OldDem2012]

4. Zzzzzttttt!! The judges will NOT accept your answer!! Next! nt.

[DURHAM D]

5. wrong

[Poll_Blind]

6. More 11-Dimensional Chess explanations in lieu of simply facing reality. nt

PB

[Angry Dragon]

7. ..............

[TwilightGardener]

8. There is absolutely no sense to your post. None. Obama wouldn't put Hagel through

this process (which included an ambush and beat-down on national TV) as a lark. This is a serious nomination, Hagel is qualified, and more than that, he and Obama are friends--he stood by Obama in 2008.

[elleng]

9. Doubt it.

Repugs torpedoing ANYONE PrezO nominates to ANYTHING.

[Control-Z]

10. Rich imaginaton.

To be nice about it.

[0rganism]

11. maybe so, but please explain how the next nominee will be treated differently

The senate republicans have shown their intentions quite clearly, they'll filibuster a nominee for defense secretary if it suits their agenda. What qualities would the "real" nominee need to have to transcend this hurdle?

[Skip Intro]

12. I think Obama wanted Hagel. But why did Obama want Hagel?

That's the obvious question to me.

[DonCoquixote]

14. Someone who could criticize Israel

and be credible,which is exactly why the GOP will NOT let him in. It is NOT Anti-Jewish to speak of tel Aviv as a rogue state, and you know the wine is being poured tonight.

[TwilightGardener]

15. Combo of resume, experience, integrity, and he bucks pressure better than most.

[Auntie Bush]

13. Ridiculous suggestion and reasoning.

[graywarrior]

16. D'oh!

[Isoldeblue]

17. President Obama doesn't strike me as the type to play those kind of games

I find him to be straight-forward, pragmatic and still too idealistic, sometimes. For him to be doing what you're suggesting, would be beneath him.

What I think he didn't count on was Reid bailing (woosing out) on the filibuster. That's who I hold responsible for the usual, expected reaction from neo-cons. Someone needs to tell the guy that rattlesnakes bite, because that's what they do.................... DUH! To expect the right to do differently, is insanity.