Am I the only one watching Hagel's confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Comm?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

Now airing on C-SPAN Washington Journal.

[babylonsister]

2. No. Levin is introducing him now, on m$nbc... nt

[riverwalker]

3. I'm watching n/t

[TwilightGardener]

4. No, I'm watching Chickenhawk Cruz and Inhofe complain that Hagel hadn't submitted all speeches

he's made for the last five years.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. Yep. I'm listening, mouth wide open

[FSogol]

7. Why the $%*# is Cruz on that commitee?

What credentials does he have?

[TwilightGardener]

9. He's an "ardent" fan of the military, unlike Hagel and Kerry. Didn't join up, but

ardent nonetheless.

[Mass]

11. The fact that he has none is what makes him qualified, by GOP standards.

[Mass]

8. Two of the three NO votes for Kerry. They continue to distinguish themselves. Inhoffe just called

Hagel out for changing his position.

[TwilightGardener]

12. Well, they sort of are misrepresenting his positions, they made him into a peacenik hippie.

When he tries to correct that, they will scream that he's flip flopping.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

70. Exactly. They are twisting his words, making him into a John Kerry. They're swiftboating him.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Inhofe is an ass. Let's just get that out of the way now.

[madokie]

13. LOL

peace

[FSogol]

15. Indubitably!

[Auntie Bush]

92. So's McCain and Lynnnsie

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. My former senator, Sam Nunn.

[TwilightGardener]

14. He's doing a good defense.

[TwilightGardener]

16. They can bring out Warner, but remember that the GOP Senators shoved

Bob Dole's wheelchair out of the way in a rush to vote NO on his disabled treaty deal. They respect no one, anymore.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. Yes. Makes me very sad.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. John Warner giving them hell for failing to pass the Reauthorization bill. He says that until now,

the Senate has always passed the bill. Hmm...wonder why, senator. Wonder why...

[TwilightGardener]

19. The guy's doing great. I am impressed.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. He almost has me in tears. His reference to the Band of Brothers: Hagel, Kerry, McCain.

Sadly, McCain's hatred for the president has clouded his judgement and betrayed his brothers.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Max Cleland there for Chuck.

[Mike Daniels]

24. John Warner was one of the relatively decent Republicans

He singlehandedly pretty much kept Oliver North out of the US Senate by encouraging another Republican to run as an independent candidate.

The independent candidate gave enough cover for people who didn't want to vote for North but who couldn't bring themselves to vote for Chuck Robb due to political policy differences.

[TwilightGardener]

25. Yep.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. I am impressed with his resume. He is one of the few moderate Republicans left. Pro-choice,

co-sponsored the Brady Bill, co-sponsored the ban on assault rifles bill with Diane Feinstein. He was a reasonable Republican. There are no more of those currently serving in the halls of government now.

[FSogol]

38. John Warner is no longer in the Senate.

He didn't seek reelection and was replaced by Mark Warner in 2008.

Yeah, John Warner was a good guy until he rubbed stamped all of W's policies. He left when he realized he should have stood up to Bush and Cheney.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

40. Yes, I know. He retired. I'm saying that he's the only moderate Republican left. None

in the halls of government right now.

[TwilightGardener]

21. "You're on your own, good luck!"--LOL.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. Max Cleland!!!!!!!! Now I'm in tears!!

[TwilightGardener]

27. One of his brothers behind him, didn't realize it--they look related.

[Purveyor]

28. Just tuned in. Running a bit behind this morning... eom

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

29. Saxby Chambliss has the gall to show his scummy face after what he did to Max Cleland!!

Maybe he can redeem himself somewhat by supporting Chuck Hagel.

[TwilightGardener]

30. Since he's leaving anyway...plus he's not the tea-partiest.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. But he is a scumbag. In Georgia, he's "Saxby SHAMELESS". Good riddance. The bad news is that

there is a Teabagger running for that seat, and best bet is that he'll win.

[TwilightGardener]

31. Equal benefits to LGBT servicemembers' families.

[Pab Sungenis]

39. And I'll believe that

from this "openly, aggressively" bigoted man when pigs fly.

The last thing we need after DADT's repeal is a Defense Secretary who will push them back up against the closet door.

[TwilightGardener]

41. OK...

[TwilightGardener]

32. How the fuck long is this day going to be? First round, second round? Jeezus.

[babylonsister]

33. And now for the fireworks...

yep, I hope Mr. Hagel is braced.

[Mass]

37. Inhoffe is totally incoherent as usual

[JustAnotherGen]

34. At work right now

I always miss all the good stuff in real time!

[TwilightGardener]

36. Inhofe bringing up Jennifer Rubin--she's a one-woman jihad against Hagel.

He almost needs a restraining order against her.

[TwilightGardener]

42. Jack Reed is giving Hagel a hand--they are best buds.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

43. God, I hate John McCain!! He disgusts me!!

[babylonsister]

44. gramps aka McCain trying to justify Iraq? Ugh. And

he's being really rude about it.

[TwilightGardener]

45. Sessions...I just know there's a question in here somewhere.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

46. Claire McCaskill is very thoughtful. Very intelligent.

[TwilightGardener]

47. Yes--her questioning impressed me. And she helped him out with simple yes-or-no, for

the most part.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

48. Totally disgusted with Saxby "Shameless".

[TwilightGardener]

50. He didn't hurt Chuck, though--it was a softball.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

58. I was surprised. As I said earlier, he can redeem himself by voting for Hagel.

He's still a scumbag, though.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

49. I really like Mark Udall. He turned out to be an outstanding senator when people weren't really sure

about him in the beginning.

[Graybeard]

52. Udall is new to me. Very impressive.

Looks like one of the young 'up-and-comers' in tha Democratic party.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

55. He was one of the champions for filibuster reform.

Here:

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/275553-udall-merkley-and-harkin-unveil-resolution-to-overhaul-filibuster-rule

[Hard Assets]

87. My senator

And he has done VERY well. He will be re-elected with ease in '14.

[AndyA]

51. Had to leave the room during McCain and Inhofe.

Both thoroughly disgusting people who should not be in the positions they are in.

[fadedrose]

53. I am, on msnbc

but will probably switch off and on to CSpan

[TwilightGardener]

54. Here's where Wicker the Assclown tries to make Hagel looks anti-Semitic.

[TwilightGardener]

56. Hagan with Israel. This hearing is 60% Israel. What country are we in, again?

[MrYikes]

57. Yes this is proving to me that we need to wash our hands of this.

[Auntie Bush]

95. I was wondering the same thing. Israel, Israel, Israel

All the war mongers care about is Israel. John McCain & Lindsey Graham are 2 of the worst. I do hate them with every fiber.

Been rotating between C-Span and MSMBC. Can't believe it's still going on & on. Hagel is going to sleep tonight...must be exhausted. I like his answers!

[TwilightGardener]

96. I'm exhausted just watching it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

100. More like 80%!!

[TwilightGardener]

59. "Where'sTheGirl" is up, now. She seems out of her depth.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

61. Who? Kay Hagen? Edit: I'm watching again. You meant McCain's girlfriend who can't think for herself.

Kelly A.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

60. Since when did Republicans become so concerned about the plight of the Jews?

(That's a rhetorical question.)

[TwilightGardener]

62. 1) War spending. 2) Crazee Christians who want end times to happen.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

63. Yep. It's all about (a) the non-Christian fundamentalist Neo-cons on one side and (b) the Rapture

wingnuts on the other.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

64. Fucking Deb Fischer!!! UGH!!

[TwilightGardener]

65. Hagel endorsed and campaigned for Bob Kerrey, so she's going to have a bug up her ass.

[TwilightGardener]

66. Gillibrand extracting promises for Israel. It never ends.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

67. McCain's boyfriend now. What a despicable asshole!

[TwilightGardener]

68. Now Graham is here to browbeat.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

69. You know, why does Hagel even bother with idiots (I'm

watching Graham now) he knows are not going to vote for his confirmation? I would tell Graham and McCain (and the rest of the neocon chickenhawks) to go pound sand.

[TwilightGardener]

71. Blumenthal's state must build subs. He wants subs.

[TwilightGardener]

72. Roy Blunt (R) actually asked decent MILITARY-RELATED questions.

[Mass]

73. Yes, it was refreshing.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

84. Yes. He was actually good.

[Mass]

74. Is he going to be Sec of Def for the United States or Israel?

If Hagel needed an illustration of his statement that AIPAC intimidates the Senate, this hearing is certainly a good one.

[TwilightGardener]

75. Even the Dem Senators constantly bring it up. It's nauseating. Of course Hagel has been

intimidated--we're watching it happen.

[Jennicut]

78. Super disturbing. The questions asked pertain to Sec of State and the President

more then the Sec of Def as well. It's ridiculous. Hagel would not make policy on Israel and Iran anyway, Obama would.

[TwilightGardener]

76. Chickenhawk Cruz being a little smarmy bastard.

[JoePhilly]

77. I bet he tries to sell Hagel some insurance or a used El Camino any second.

[TwilightGardener]

79. More "gotcha".

[ChisolmTrailDem]

80. Why is he hung up on Israel? eom

[TwilightGardener]

81. Israel has a vote on our cabinet. Quite a few votes, actually.

[TwilightGardener]

82. Levin was blindsided by Cruz using bits of tape out of context.

Dishonest and slimy, as all chickenhawks are.

[narnian60]

83. I will depend on comments here to tell the story.

I am a real wuss when it comes to Republicans grilling & hating.

[kristamonroe]

85. me

interesting post!

[Sunlei]

86. Thanks for posting the reminder, enjoyed watching!

re-annoyed at some of those dangerous Republicans, especially McCain,Graham and Cruz.

[TwilightGardener]

88. Is the hearing on yet? I put CSPAN back on, it's a rerun.

[TwilightGardener]

89. Never mind, the Israel hearings are back on. I mean Hagel.

[Mass]

90. Sickening. The first question is about Israel

[TwilightGardener]

91. They are asking him more Israel questions than Kerry--and Hagel does not control foreign policy.

It's insane.

[Mass]

93. And, with a couple of exceptions, the GOP are ignoring defense issues.\nt

[TwilightGardener]

94. Their job is to trip him up, provoke him into an angry display, or force him to make a

statement that either disqualifies him, or refutes the Obama administration's positions. They are not winning so far. Edit to add: they know he's well-qualified, they have no intention of actually using their time well.

[TwilightGardener]

97. WOW--Vitter using Iranian propaganda and making Hagel answer it. New low.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

98. David Vitter? Really? Vitter??@?@?

[TwilightGardener]

99. Angus King asking good question--thank you Mr. King.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

101. Asking more administrative/management type questions. I like it. He's thoughtful and intelligent.

[TwilightGardener]

102. Thank you Carl Levin--those assholes didn't even ask him for certain financial things until

yesterday--AND he doesn't have copies of some of his speeches, and he gave them under contract to private parties. What dishonest assholes the Republicans are.

[TwilightGardener]

103. Inhofe cutting Hagel off whenever Hagel answers well. That's what they've been doing all day.

Edit to add: just did it again, in regard to Obama being a strong supporter with Israel. Hagel defended Obama well, time to cut him off.

[TwilightGardener]

104. Global warming denier Inhofe trying to get Hagel to agree to anti-environmental fuel policies.

Sounds like Inhofe thinks Hagel will be confirmed--asking him REAL defense questions now.

[TwilightGardener]

105. Canada Cruz taking one final swing at the pinata. What an assclown.