Good news….Hagel nomination blocked, Brennan vote delayed.

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hapless hagel

Although I’m disappointed four Republicans voted for this awful nomination I’m glad they were successful in filibustering Hagel:

Senate Republicans in a 58-40 vote Thursday blocked former Sen. Chuck Hagel’s (R-Neb.) nomination as Defense secretary from proceeding to a final up-or-down vote.

Four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Mike Johanns (Neb.)— joined 55 Democrats and Independents in supporting the nomination. Sixty votes were needed to cut off debate, leaving Democrats one vote short.

The final 58-40 tally reflected a no vote from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who switched his vote from yes to preserve his ability to bring up the nomination again.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) voted present and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) missed the vote.

This gives us a few more weeks to work on those who voted for the man plus it’s on the heels of this news:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced a delay on the Senate Intelligence Committee vote for John Brennan, President Obama’s nominee for CIA Director.

The vote on Brennan was originally scheduled for Feb. 14 but has now been pushed back till after the “upcoming congressional recess.”

all this good news means that the Republicans have sent a clear message to Obama and the democrats. There will be no rubber stamping his cabinet nor his policies. Either be bipartisan, and choose bipartisan cabinet members or be prepared for a fight.

About time the Republicans found their backbone.

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Do the four republicans who voted YES expect their party to vote for them to run again when their term is up? I hope not.

@Smorgasbord: Why not? — I see several perennial names there — oh – and hatchie boy votes “present” – what now? — does he think he is presidential material?

Hope obie is enjoying his vacation

There will be no rubber stamping his cabinet nor his policies. Either be bipartisan, and choose bipartisan cabinet members or be prepared for a fight.

Hagel seems to be another republican who no longer counts as a republican—at least in the thinking of real republicans.

Maybe the DoD can function without a permanent director for 7 years, as ATF has had to do. Hey, it’s only the department charged with the defense of the nation.

@Budvarakbar: #2
I wondered about his vote too. My thinking was that for his constituents who wanted him to vote FOR it, he can say he didn’t vote against it, and for those who wanted him to vote AGAINT it, he can say he didn’t vote for it. Another POLITICAL vote to keep is office.