The Dems will have 55 votes in the new Congress, and one assumes Hagel still has at least five friends left amongst his former colleagues in the GOP Senate. I can’t imagine his appointment being met by a successful filibuster.
And Dick Lugar got a job(s):
Lieberman might still be available(?)
Some of the Dems are not too happy about comments he’s made in the past about gays. Not sure that’s enough for a filibuster, but it might kill the nomination before it even gets officially made. Which is essentially the same thing.
Anyone heard anything about Energy? Folks in DC tell me Chu isn’t going to stick around, but I haven’t read anything to that effect.