Chuck Hagel Camp: He’s Not Dropping Out

[Purveyor]

By TIM MAK | 2/8/13 5:37 PM EST
Chuck Hagel’s camp pushed back forcefully Friday against the notion that he might remove himself from consideration to be secretary of Defense.

“There is absolutely no truth to the notion that Sen. Hagel might consider withdrawing,” a Hagel aide told POLITICO. “He's continuing his prep work and getting up to speed on the issues he will deal with as secretary of Defense.”

Online commentators began to speculate that Hagel might bow out, as more than a week had passed since his widely panned confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee with no word about when its members might take a vote.

Author Thomas Ricks floated the idea in a post on his blog Friday, arguing that the odds of a withdrawal were 50-50 and would increase two percent for every business day the Senate Armed Services Committee doesn’t schedule a vote. The conservative Weekly Standard — run by Hagel arch-nemesis Bill Kristol — immediately picked up that post.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/chuck-hagel-camp-insists-no-thoughts-of-withdrawal-87402.html#ixzz2KMCETj1Q

[babylonsister]

1. Good. The rethugs are going to do this to every person Obama

nominates. I sure don't want them to get away with it.

[jenmito]

2. Today, Andrea Mitchell reported that Obama called Sen. Levin today and told him to schedule a vote

for Hagel for Tuesday, and that the WH is 100% committed to Hagel's confirmation.

[freshwest]

4. Looking forward to his being confirmed. America is tired of the warmongering RW.

[jenmito]

5. Same here. n/t

[Inuca]

10. Obama also strongly supported Hagel

in the speech at the farewell for Panetta http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-08/news/sns-rt-us-usa-military-obamabre91800d-20130208_1_chuck-hagel-bin-laden-operation-fond-farewell

Some Republicans have said they will not vote for Hagel, even though he is expected to win confirmation. Obama again gave Hagel his full-throated support.

"Keeping us prepared will be the mission of my nominee to be the next secretary of defense, a combat veteran with the experience, judgment, and vision that our troops deserve - Chuck Hagel," Obama said.

Also, unrelated, but this quote from Panetta about his dog Bravo made me laugh out loud

Panetta quipped that Bravo was in all of the meetings where the United States planned the bin Laden operation, as well as sensitive discussions at the Pentagon.

"And I want you to know that (Bravo) has never told a soul what he heard," Panetta said. "He is definitely not a leaker - at least according to that definition of the word."

[jenmito]

12. Thanks for that info...

and that story about what Panetta said made me !

[TwilightGardener]

3. Thomas Ricks = WaPo, who leads the charge of "reputable" papers trying to sink Hagel's nomination--

sounds like a deliberately planted story based on nothing, to give Sunday commentators material to suggest the nomination is "troubled" and "in doubt"--I would put money on it. This is how these things always play out--create the drumbeat and push the narrative.

[Inuca]

9. Disappointed in Ricks

I thought he was better

[Cha]

6. Yeah, bloggers just love to speculate rumors to

pieces. Sometimes it might actually be true but how many times has it NOT?

The White House stated it was happy with Hagel's statement("the one that was panned&quot .. having an arch nemesis such as Bill Kristol can only give one bona fides in the real world.

[freshwest]

7. I think the phrase 'paid by the word' applies to these guys. It takes a lot to pay the bills.

[JBoy]

8. I was concerned until I read about Bill Kristol picking it up.

[Icecream man]

11. McCain doesn't want Chuck

But McCain said that he won't support a filibuster and expects a vote. Pretty poor performance by Chuck at the hearing.

[budkin]

13. I wasn't a supporter at first but after this obstruction I'm all in

Screw these crybabies.