U.S. President Barack Obama meeting with co-chairmen of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board former Senator Chuck Hagel at the White House in Washington, October 28, 2009. Photo by Reuters
Hagel Will Need 60 Votes To Get Confirmed As Defense Secretary -- Foreign Policy
The Senate Armed Services Committee was set to approve the nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense Tuesday, but several Republican senators told The Cable they will insist he receive 60 votes on the Senate floor before he is confirmed.
The committee debated the Hagel nomination in anticipation of a Tuesday afternoon vote that is expected to fall along party lines, with all committee Republicans voting against the nomination. After the committee acts, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to call for a final floor vote on Thursday, just before the Senate goes on vacation. Several GOP senators told The Cable Tuesday that they will not agree to a simple up or down vote on the Senate floor this week, including Senate Armed Services Committee ranking Republican James Inhofe (R-OK), Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX), John McCain (R-AZ), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
(UPDATE: The committee approved Hagel late Tuesday by a 14-11 vote that fell along party lines.)
Read more ....
My Comment: Will there be 60 votes? I personally believe there is .... but the vote is going to be close. As to how this nomination was handled .... to put it bluntly it was a train wreck. Chuck Hagel's confirmation hearing was a mess, his initial refusal to release financial information .... and when pressured only a portion was then released .... does not bode well in his future dealings with Congress. But what is striking about this entire process is how the White House has responded .... I could be wrong but from where I have been sitting I cannot help but feel that they are totally disengaged.