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For those of you not following it. Chuck Hagel has been nominated by the President to be Secretary of Defense. His background is impeccable.
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He is a Vietnam Vet, and was an enlisted man (many of our Veteran Senators were officiers or pilots - he fought in the swamps). He was well thought of for years and was one of John McCain's best Senatorial pals. He is a Republican from the middle of the country (Nebraska).
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Now Senator John McCain doesn't like his nomination - because Obama could nominate Jesus as Interior Minister and John McCain would find fault. John McCain is a crotchety old fart who doesn't like anyone or anything Obama does - I get it. He hasn't really gotten over losing. But otherwise, what is the issue. Chuck Hagel is a Republican (yes a Republican) Vietnam Vet.
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Turns out there is a faux reason Republicans are opposing him and an actual, but unstated reason.
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The faux reason is that Chuck Hagel once said the Jewish Lobby has too much power over Congress when referring to Israel. First he was bar-b-qued by saying Jewish instead of Israeli and then he was bar-b-qued by stating (the obviously true fact) that the Israeli Lobby has too much power in Washington.
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The actual reason is because big donors are against Hagel because he has stated there is room in the Defense Budget to cut costs and lower spending. Defense Contractors (and there are a lot of them - a LOT) are pretty much dead set against lowering the defense budget. Yes, it is higher now that it was during the cold war. Much Higher. And donors run the country in large part.
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Ultimately Hagel will probably get the nod, but not before the Senate has filibustered him - which is a horrible new precedent that we have now set. And not before the new asshole Senator from Texas asked him to prove he never took bribes from North Korea. Not that there was any talk, innuendo or even gossip he did take any money from North Korea ever. It was just something Senator DumbShit from Texas decided to say on TV to make the news.