# Republicans block vote on Hagel; WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364 "2013-02-15T03:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/61 "2013-02-18T22:21:55Z")
Can somebody provide some quotes that specifically indicate Hagel’s nomination will not continue to be filibustered? I see McCain saying “he shouldn’t be held up” and Graham indicating that he finds Hagel to have the potential for honesty: “as long as nothing new comes out”. Neither statement means anything like “he will get a vote to be confirmed and the Republican party will support a vote”. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/62 "2013-02-18T23:08:04Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Let’s take a moment to contemplate how mind-blowing it is that John McCain would criticize anybody for being disagreeable. Not only that, but has anyone asked McCain how Hagel could have been perfectly qualified to be his prospective Secretary of State but lost those qualifications in the intervening years? Seems to me, once you’re qualified for a Cabinet position, very little short of treason would then be able to disqualify you. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/63 "2013-02-18T23:50:24Z")
> [@article](#): > > “This is petty,” Gingrich confessed. “I’m going to say up front it’s petty, but I think it’s human. When you land at Andrews and you’ve been on the plane for 25 hours and nobody has talked to you and they ask you to get off by the back ramp . . . you just wonder, where is their sense of manners, where is their sense of courtesy?” > [@wiki](#): > > In response to Gingrich’s complaint that they were “forced to use the rear door,” NBC news released their videotape footage showing both Gingrich and Dole disembarking at Tel Aviv just behind Clinton via the front stairway. To be fair, Andrews is in Maryland (USA), Tel Aviv is in Israel. He had to use the rear door on his return to the US. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/64 "2013-02-21T16:30:40Z")
Since the Republicans don’t have the votes to defeat the Hagel nomination and can’t filibuster him forever, 11 Senators have asked the White House to withdraw the nomination. That’s definitely not a desperate ploy, it’s a way out of this mess. Yes, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/65 "2013-02-21T17:06:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Since the Republicans don’t have the votes to defeat the Hagel nomination and can’t filibuster him forever, 11 Senators have asked the White House to withdraw the nomination. That’s definitely not a desperate ploy, it’s a way out of this mess. Yes, that’s it. “Dude, you’ve GOT to stop letting us make ourselves look bad!” ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/66 "2013-02-21T17:11:07Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > Can somebody provide some quotes that specifically indicate Hagel’s nomination will not continue to be filibustered? Senator Shelby just announced he’d change his vote from his previous position of supporting the filibuster. Since they only fell one vote short last time, unless someone else changes their vote to voting against, it should be a done deal. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/67 "2013-02-21T17:54:47Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > To be fair, Andrews is in Maryland (USA), Tel Aviv is in Israel. He had to use the rear door on his return to the US. Let us please have no more discussion of Gingrich in connection with any rear door. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/68 "2013-02-21T18:25:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Let us please have no more discussion of Gingrich in connection with any rear door. [CCR]Newt! Newt! Newt! Lookin’ out the rear door.[/CCR] ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/69 "2013-02-21T18:36:07Z")
Well, there’s this whole “[Friends of Hamas](http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/friends-hamas-rumor-started-article-1.1268284)” debacle, which the Republicans took as fact, and even spread as truth, without doing any sort of due diligence to find out if it was actually true. Then have since made frowny-faced pronouncements about the seriousness of this ‘issue’ and called for further investigation. What fucking morons. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/70 "2013-02-21T18:41:48Z")
And now that they know they can’t block him forever, the Core Crazy of the Senate is [demanding that Obama withdraw Hagel’s nomination](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/02/21/14-gop-senators-call-for-withdrawal-of-hagel-nomination/). When even Grampy McCain parts company with you, you know you’ve crossed over into a mushroom trip. Poor Senator Pittypat…the things he’s forced to do to beat off (pardon the double entendre) a primary challenge from the Rubber-Room Right… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/71 "2013-02-21T22:35:59Z")
> [@chefguy](#): > > well, there’s this whole “[friends of hamas](http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/friends-hamas-rumor-started-article-1.1268284)” debacle, which the republicans took as fact, and even spread as truth, without doing any sort of due diligence to find out if it was actually true. Then have since made frowny-faced pronouncements about the seriousness of this ‘issue’ and called for further investigation. What fucking morons. **BENGHAZl!!** ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/72 "2013-02-21T22:49:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Well, there’s this whole “[Friends of Hamas](http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/friends-hamas-rumor-started-article-1.1268284)” debacle, which the Republicans took as fact, and even spread as truth, without doing any sort of due diligence to find out if it was actually true. They didn’t fail to do due diligence. They didn’t give a shit if it was true and haven’t slowed down after it was debunked. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/73 "2013-02-21T23:03:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > They’re thinking that **denying a Dem POTUS any successes** will get them a Republican next term. That’s been their strategy since Clinton’s first term. They think that way because all they’ve got is a hammer, as it were. Like the old saying goes, “When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a slaughterhouse cow’s head.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/74 "2013-02-21T23:03:34Z")
[Jon Stewart on the Hagel confirmation.](http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-february-20-2013-helaine-olen) He really **reams** Lindsey Graham – and McCain, too! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/75 "2013-02-21T23:51:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > They didn’t fail to do due diligence. They didn’t give a shit if it was true and haven’t slowed down after it was debunked. I guess when we finally abandon all reason and logic for the sake of personal gain and power, we’ll end up like all past empires: a faded, impotent and broken people. I’d like them to wait another 20-30 years, as by then I won’t be around to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/76 "2013-02-26T16:11:49Z")
We’ll see what happens, but the expectation is that the filibuster will end today and Hagel will be confirmed today or tomorrow. Some of the Republicans won’t let this end quietly but I think several of them have already agreed to vote for cloture. ---
**Author:** ![Kepler1571](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/db5fbb/32.png) [@Kepler1571](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepler1571)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/77 "2013-02-26T17:16:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > We’ll see what happens, but the expectation is that the filibuster will end today and Hagel will be confirmed today or tomorrow. Some of the Republicans won’t let this end quietly but I think several of them have already agreed to vote for cloture. It’s a good thing nothing else is happening right now that needs Congressional attention. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/78 "2013-02-26T17:38:42Z")
> [@Kepler1571](#): > > It’s a good thing nothing else is happening right now that needs Congressional attention. Give them a little credit: they’re capable of inventing and fucking up a bunch of problems at once. Anyway the vote is over, and with the Republicans having proved the point they definitely had for reals guys, stop laughing, the filibuster is over. There were 71 votes for cloture, which means about a third of the Republicans voted to end the debate and get on with this already. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/79 "2013-02-26T19:52:14Z")
The confirmation vote for Hagel is scheduled for 4:30. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364/80 "2013-02-26T22:08:58Z")
And Hagel is confirmed as secretary of defense, 58 to 41. That’ll show ya, ya terrorist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-block-vote-on-hagel-wtf/650364.md?page=5)