I waited to write about the senate approval of Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense. I wanted not to say anything in annoyance or anger; the facts ought to speak for themselves. So here are the facts:
1) Hagel had possibly the worst confirmation hearing of any nominee for high office in my lifetime. He was clearly unable to speak to most of the basic issues that affect the Defense Department. Even when he spoke about issues, much of what he said was either incoherent or laughable. There is no need to analyze the hearing again.
2) Hagel clearly lied on the disclosure materials that he put together to give to the senate. The lies were not blatant, but they were lies of omission. Hagel "forgot" to put down a whole series of speeches and other public statements that he had made in the years after he left the senate. Not surprisingly, nearly every one of the "forgotten" speeches and statements were made to groups that were controversial.
3) Hagel refused to say if he had received funding for his activities from any foreign sources in the last four years. For the person who is to be in charge of national security, this is extremely strange.
None of these items pertain to Hagel's views on policy. Many of those views are disgusting, but president Obama ought to be able to have a secretary of defense who follows Obama's policy prescriptions. I will just assume that Hagel fits that requirement. The problem is that Hagel is an incompetent ignoramus who seems unable to tell the truth, even under oath. On top of that, Hagel may have entanglements with foreign governments. In short, the senate ought to have voted against his confirmation.
1) Hagel had possibly the worst confirmation hearing of any nominee for high office in my lifetime. He was clearly unable to speak to most of the basic issues that affect the Defense Department. Even when he spoke about issues, much of what he said was either incoherent or laughable. There is no need to analyze the hearing again.
2) Hagel clearly lied on the disclosure materials that he put together to give to the senate. The lies were not blatant, but they were lies of omission. Hagel "forgot" to put down a whole series of speeches and other public statements that he had made in the years after he left the senate. Not surprisingly, nearly every one of the "forgotten" speeches and statements were made to groups that were controversial.
3) Hagel refused to say if he had received funding for his activities from any foreign sources in the last four years. For the person who is to be in charge of national security, this is extremely strange.
None of these items pertain to Hagel's views on policy. Many of those views are disgusting, but president Obama ought to be able to have a secretary of defense who follows Obama's policy prescriptions. I will just assume that Hagel fits that requirement. The problem is that Hagel is an incompetent ignoramus who seems unable to tell the truth, even under oath. On top of that, Hagel may have entanglements with foreign governments. In short, the senate ought to have voted against his confirmation.
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