Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense

[Ted S]

I don't think Hagel has been officially nominated yet but it looks like he is going to be Obama's choice.  What do you folks think?  Seems like there is bi-partisan opposition.  I'd like to hear from cons and libs.

[clistensprechen]

It became official just a few minutes ago, as it happens.

There's bipartisan opposition from the extreme wings, and there is bipartisan support from the sane people who confine themselves to whether or not he's qualified and competent to do the job he'll be assigned to.  Obama clearly thinks that the cooler heads on both sides will win.

[Ted S]

As the old saying goes: Perfection is the enemy of good.

I can see why democrats should be opposing the Hagel nomination; he's a republican. But republicans should consider the alternatives before they toss out Hagel because Obama's not going to name anyone more conservative.

The wise choose their battles carefully and in my opinion, there is much more for the republicans to lose than to win by opposing Hagel. I predict he will be rather easily confirmed.

[clistensprechen]

Well said, Ted.  You'd think that the pro-Viet Nam War types like Romney was would be in favor of a Viet Nam vet in a position like that, but none of 'em care if ya notice that lot wears many pairs of flip-flops. Dem or Rep, he's the best man for the job, and that should be all that counts in this case.

[Ted S]

With 300M+ people in the US I'm confident that Hagel isn't the "best" choice out of that large group but he's the one that Obama nominated and he seems good enough.

[wbcoleman]

As the old saying goes: Perfection is the enemy of good.

I can see why democrats should be opposing the Hagel nomination; he's a republican. But republicans should consider the alternatives before they toss out Hagel because Obama's not going to name anyone more conservative.

The wise choose their battles carefully and in my opinion, there is much more for the republicans to lose than to win by opposing Hagel. I predict he will be rather easily confirmed.

In general, I think that any president should have a relatively free hand to make cabinet appointments.  With Hagel, however, there are two problems.  First, what sort of signal does his appointment send to Iran?  And, second, what sort of signal does appointing an apparent anti-semite send to American Jews?

[Ted S]

First, what sort of signal does his appointment send to Iran?

I don't know if it sends any signal to Iran.  Obama is the master signal sender and he seems to want to stay out of Iran's face so the Hagel pick seems fitting.  Elections have consequences and this is one of them.  Personally, I don't think poking a rabid dog with a stick constantly is beneficial.  Let Iran bark away but if Iran bites or attempts to bite then hit them with swift and deadly force.

And, second, what sort of signal does appointing an apparent anti-semite send to American Jews?

Is Hagel an anti-Semite or is he perhaps just a cranky old guy?  I've read a couple of the articles purporting to show his hatred (maybe mistrust) of Israel and the Jewish people and I can see where he might just be  the kind of guy who doesn't cater to special interest groups of any kind.  Maybe he doesn't have very good people skills or is more direct than your average guy.

I don't know much about Hagel but I don't like to label people "haters" of selected groups unless there is rock solid evidence.  If there is I haven't seen it.

BTW. If he doesn't have good people skills that's a pretty good reason for him not to be running the DOD because the last time I checked, there are a lot of people there.