Sen. Chuck Hagel: "From now on no smart people can ask questions."

[Bucky]

I'm sure he meant it sarcastically. And yet, the rest of his statement goes on to prove why he might want such a rule. From yesterday's Washington Note:

Steven Clemons: Senator Hagel, thanks for a very inspiring and unfortunately very sober (given these times we are in) speech.

Yesterday you were unable to attend the foreign relations committee hearings on John Bolton. And it occurs to me that Ambassador Bolton probably does not share the same level of concern you do that the "world's trust and confidence in America's purpose is eroding." And I'm interested -- while I agree with virtually every word that you said in your speech -- I'm interested in how you maintain support for Ambassador Bolton's confirmation when he seems to be so at odds with the spirit of what you talked about today?

Senator Hagel: From now on no smart people can ask questions. It's a rule senators usually follow.

Let's take first the question on Ambassador Bolton. I was not there. And I think your analysis of where he would be in regard to my observations and thoughts presented in the speech I suspect are about right.

I've never engaged Ambassador Bolton on some of the specifics that I have presented here this morning.

But get to the heart of your question, which is a good question, I would answer this way: I have not decided, if Mr. Bolton comes up for a vote, how I will vote.

I have supported his nomination in committee prior which as you know was reported out and never got a vote on the floor because the votes weren't there. And I have generally taken a position. I've done this in the 10 years I've been in the senate where it's a democratic president like when I first came to the senate president Clinton was in office or a republican president, that presidents deserve their people and if the president has confidence in that person and that person is qualified and not under indictment or detox or any other considerations, then generally I would have supported the president's nominee.

And I think there's only maybe one or two times in ten years I've not done that.

In this case I want to revisit Mr. Bolton's performance...

I don't doubt Hagel would dodge his own standards and prop up the boy dictator's UN puppet if he weren't being grilled by good journalists like Clemons. Good work. This might be a good time to start pressuring Hagel to put the good of the country ahead of party loyalty. It would mean a lot if we could knock out this national embarrassment.

[JI7]

1. i don't have much faith in Hagel

as you say, he has a history of being critical, but when it comes time to vote and decide on way or the other on whether to continue doing what he is so critical about, he always sticks with the party.

at this time, i would be he votes for Bolton. i would be surprised if he did otherwise.

[vickitulsa]

2. Whatever the analysis of Hagel, those statements he made, even if

sarcastically, ought to be repeated again and again like a boxer's jab.

"From now on no smart people can ask questions. It's a rule senators usually follow."

Whenever an opening presents itself, in future press conferences where the Chimperor or any of his wicked minions appears, in articles where it can be mentioned and then a serious question about the "questions policy" posed ... EVERYWHERE.

It could turn into a running joke -- and a possibly devastating one if it prompts the public to think about how consistently those in this administration dodge "smart questions" on the rare occasions when they are asked directly. This mob of thugs is so adept at setting up speaking situations where no smart questions can be asked in the first place, and THAT's something that hasn't gone unnoticed by many commentators. I wonder if the hardcore-crazy, fanatically dedicated 23 percent base who refuse to see the flaws, the wrongdoings, and the evil nature of the current pResident could EVER be shaken in their devotion, and of course I doubt it.

But it couldn't hurt to at least point out the way he and his cabal members squirm their way out of responding to smart questions. Best just to avoid the problem altogether, they have decided, and simply keep the smart questioners from having a shot at the microphone! But at least they can't stop writers and reporters from asking good questions in articles and when making comments on the teevee.