For the very first time in American history, a cabinet nominee was brought to the Senate floor, filibustered by a minority of members, and came up short of 60 votes.
Former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, President Obama's choice to lead the Defense Department, faced fierce opposition from members of own party, and ultimately earned the support of 59 senators, which was one shy of what he needed to advance. (The Senate Majority Leader, for procedural reasons, had to switch his vote, so Hagel technically ended up with 58 votes.)
It appeared as recently as last week to have the necessary support to be confirmed, even in the event of a filibuster, but several GOP senators who said they'd allow an up-or-down vote changed their minds in recent days.
Indeed, as recently as Monday of this week, for example, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said a filibuster, if it were to occur, "sets a wrong precedent."
And then, today, McCain voted against cloture on Hagel anyway.
All 55 members of the Senate Democratic caucus backed Hagel, and they were joined by four Senate Republicans -- Johanns, Cochran, Collins, and Murkowski -- some of whom were prepared to oppose the nominee's confirmation, but each of whom opposed the filibuster.
Asked about her decision after her vote, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski said, "I said I was not going to support a filibuster and I stuck by my word." It's more than we can about some of her colleagues.
The fight is not, however, over.
Some of the Republicans who have blocked Hagel said this afternoon that they'll allow a vote on his nomination if the White House provides them with additional information about the Benghazi attack at some point over the next week. This is, in other words, the latest example of extortion politics -- Senate Republicans will be gracious enough to allow the institution to meet its constitutional obligations, permitting a possible vote on a Pentagon chief during a war, but only if they get something they want in return.
The Senate wasn't designed to work this way. For about two centuries, it didn't have to work this way. But the radicalization of the Republican Party has led to a political environment in which we end up using the word "unprecedented" an awful lot.
GOP obstructionism has reached epidemic levels in recent years. Today, to a historic degree, it got worse.
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Senate Republicans have declared war against the American people who voted overwhelmingly to reelect President Obama!
To filibuster the President's choice for a Cabinet position is an act of war against us, Senatorial comity and common sense!
Hey Mitch and all Republican senators up for reelection in 2014 and 2016 - you're toast! We will organize and deny you your current positions as soon as your name appears on the next ballot!
You have crossed the line of institutional decency, and we are watching! -Kevo
This is a fight for liberalism itself, because there will be 20 red states for the foreseeable future, and by Reid's acquiescence, that is all that is needed to block all liberal policies or nominees. Never mind how small the populations are in some of those red mountain and plains states.
It's time for a coup against Reid if he does not invoke the Merkley rule change due to the GOP's abrogation of their gentleman's agreement.
So much for any sense of decency. This crap during a war?
Disgusting
The intent of the GOP is to destroy our government unless it will bow to their will.
Exactly....it's all ego, point making, bluster, time and tax payer wasting BS
This is treason against the American people! So much for Harry Reid's gentlemen's agreement with McTurtle.
Don't like the results, too bad. Blame Harry Reid, not Republicans who reacted badly to Hagel thumbing his nose at his former party. Worse his performance in hearings was moronic.
Maybe you people will finally pressure Reid to do something worthwhile.... nah.
this is such garbage! i'm sick and tired of them and maybe we can start doing things to them. if they don't want to work for us then lets do things to them. we need people to start looking for holes to nail them into.
I just wish we could see into all of the finances and records of the congresscritters we elect like they are demanding of Hagel. That would clean out most of Congress, including the teapubs and dems.
outrageous! i support Hagel .Who are the 40?
Some GOP senators – led by Sens. John McCain, Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, S.C. – said that they just needed a little more time to thoroughly vet Hagel’s background, despite having served with the former Nebraska senator during the bulk of his two terms in the Senate. They are retaliatin because he disagreed with McCain regarding the surge during the Iraq War, he never voted against our Policies on Israel and now you got Rand out there doing a character assasination on him. Do the Republicans eat their young too?
This is the consequence of trusting a gutless, senile fool like Hairy Reed.
Hairy Reed: Traitor Democrat.
I love the feigned outrage.
I always think there is some reason behind things no matter how confusing they appear on their face. Perhaps Senator Reid remembers Les Aspin, President Clinton's feckless Secretary of Defense and sees Chuck Hagel as an avoidable replay. By looking the other way on the filibuster, Leader Reid has John McCain do his dirty work for him and stays good with the President. Incidentally, this plot is now under copyright and will soon appear on FX.
What despicable Little Lindsy Graham is doing is EXTORTION! kick him out.
can't wait to vote these ReThuglicans out in 2014/16.
Meanwhile, Penetta should take Hagel with him to Brussels.
Harry Reid is the lowest form of pond scum. Get him and McConnell out!!!
There is more to this than Republican/Democrat. This guy could not answer questions in his hearing. He hesitated way to long on numerous occasions, which a lot of experts claim is a sign he is lying. If it were purely bias against a man for his political beliefs then why was John Kerry confirmed almost unanimously and very quickly. This guy Hagel comes across as lying or having a bad memory. Panetta should stay on. And BTW, try making your points (all of YOU who do it) without out all of the useless name-calling which proves nothing but the inability to make a rational argument.
OK, and then I read that the Senate is going on a 10-day recess. This would be a real recess, right? Not like the one that court held unconstitutional for Richard Cordray.
So all Obama has to do is a recess appointment of Hagel while the Senate is away. It wouldn't really be thwarting the will of the Senate, since Hagel already has a majority. And the screams from the Republicans would be sweet music . . .
He may want to make a few other recess appointments, such as re-appointing the people (including Cordray) who were the subject of the recent court ruling.
Yeah- I believe the court ruling was that recess appointments could only be good for the time frame until the legislature is back in session. So, Obama could use a recess appointment for Hagel, and he would be Secretary, for 10 days- then the appointment would expire.
How about those handshake deals, Senator Reid! You know what they say the definition of insanity is, right? Trying the same thing over and over and over again and expecting different results!
I think it's time for a new segment on the show: Dysfunction Junction. (Or, perhaps, a mascot - Filibuster Phil, who would, of course, be a honey badger!)
Rachel (and Steve), I hope your people are calling Harry Reid's office every day to ask him to come on your show and answer to why he caved on filibuster reform.
Progressives and the American people deserve to hear an honest answer from him, or at least to be disgusted with his mealymouthed excuses.
But, but, but...
But Harry 'Spineless' Reid had a handshake agreement with Bitch McConnell that this would never happen.
Which is worse, a 'leader' who continues to believe a repuke to never lives up to his 'word' or a 'leader' who is afraid to upset repukes?
i am sorry to say i agree with you. i don't understand the man. i just don't get it?
We have no way of knowing whether Harry backed down himself or whether "moderates" in his caucus refused to go along with real reform. Either way, though, it's clear someone got played.
Reid probably didn't check to see whether or not McConnell had his fingers crossed behind his back when he made that "handshake deal." I'm betting Mitch did.
Sedition.
These Republicans, like Graham and Cruz are preventing Hegel from going to a very important summit in Brussels next week. This is so dangerous for our country, to have our enemies across the globe see how divisive and fractured our government is today. They seem oblivious to the danger of this path they chose to take. They are literally blinded by their hatred for Obama.
This is nothing but political posturing. They lost the election, but not their hatred for the president, and so now they are doubling down on their ignorant and dangerous ways to hurt our (and their) own government, their own country. It is treasonous.
Our enemies across the world are watching this. We cannot allow these ideologues to make us so vulnerable in this climate of worldwide terrorism.
Couldn't the president do a recess appointment while the congress is on this coming ten day holiday?
Can't say "both sides do it" on this one. But, I'm sure someone will try.
Well, the Democrats would do it if they got the chance!
Do what? This has never happened before. You can't possibly think that democrats have never had the option.
Interesting how McGrumpy was one of the "gang of 14" who prevented then Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist from using the "nuclear option" to break a filibuster of judicial nominees. Now he votes FOR a filibuster.
Time for McGrumpy to retire. His mind has gone.
Congress is a joke and a embarrassment to the United States. When will the games end and WORK begin ....jobs...jobs..jobs.... I don't hear any job bills ...lets get to work or get out.
"When will the games end and WORK begin "
When the Republicans decide to actually govern and do something.... like their jobs require.
Now they are going off for a ten day holiday, having blocked Hegel's nomination. That's the holiday before the Easter holiday!
When I think that we pay these people and pay them well, it just makes me sick. After this Hegel mess is over, we have a debt ceiling to deal with.
How could Harry Reid let that filibuster rule go.........how could he!?
I am frankly disgusted with the president's lack of leadership here. To me, he has hung Hegel out to dry, just as he did Susan Rice.
pissants
i can't wait until the next elections. if the republicans get more than 40% of the vote, i will be incredibly shocked.
I won't be shocked. They'll get 40% and then some. They did this for Obama's first 2 years and they were rewarded for it in the 2010 midterms.
We have an ignorant, uninformed and apathetic electorate. We're getting the government that we deserve.
Romney got 47%. We know that 33% of the electorate is totally ignorant. That's those that still believe Obama was born in Kenya and is a Muslim. Then we have the super rich who are sitting in their ivory towers reaping the benefits they have made by crawling over the backs of the poor working stiffs that made them rich. We have the gun lovers, gay bashers, KKK types that hate everyone that is not lily white. Let's not forget the fact that Republicans know they can never win without cheating and they are gearing up to do just that. They are intent on destroying this country. Would someone tell me why?
Rollo, #12.1
No, we are getting the government that THEY deserve.
They will vote IF they get more information about Benghazi? What else is there to know, and what on God's green earth does it have to do with a cabinet appointment. I have never in all my years seen such a petulant and immature group of people in positions of power.
What does Benghazi have to do with the senates ok of Hagel. It is nothing more than a political ploy. Congress needs to get back to the business of running this country and quit playing politics for money reasons for reelecion.
When hostage takers keep getting paid off for their hostage taking, the hostage taking will never end. Between The Obomination and Harry 'Spineless' Reid, there is ample history proving to the repukes that hostage taking works.
The White House should agree to give republicans more information on Benghazi after Hagel is confirmed. Then, they should follow the republican example and once the confirmation is final President Obama should give them a very big middle finger.
When I was in grade school, oh so long ago, I learned about "logrolling" -- the cooperative give-and-take to accomplish something. Republicans in Washington have taken it to new levels. Call it "extortion".
It's time to stop worrying about "someday" when the Republicans might wrest back control of the Senate. Mr. Reid, fix the Senate rules to prevent such idiocies.
Thank you Harry Reid for not fixing the filibuster...this is all on your back now. Did anyone find out who payed off Reid yet??
I am almost angry enough at Harry Reid to move to his district, so that I can vote against him. This kind of obstructionism is unconscionable.
LOL! And here I though I heard Senator Harry Reid say just last week that Mitch Mcconnell promised him that the filibuster would not be used in this way. Ole Pinky will be eating crow tonight folks!
When a see any Senate Dem on the tube I tune out now. I don't want to hear anything they have to say. Especially as it relates to Republican obstructionism. They had the chance to fix things and they punked out.
So, until they change the rules, they can really just STFU.
Al Franken, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren would be well worth listening to on the corporate media stations. If they could ever get invited on!
Even better is Lamar Alexander explaining that this is not a filibuster at all!
Mr. Reid. There are consequences for not doing your job. Don't complain because you had the chance to change it. Tweet Harry Reid @SenatorReid to let him know how you feel.
I'm embarrassed! This is no longer the greatest nation on earth. I want to move to Australia!
It hasn't been the greatest nation on earth since at least August 2, 1964. Get Nick Turse's book "Kill Anything That Moves" and after you read it tell me you're still proud of America.
Melissa - You are welcome here in Australia but be warned we have an election this year and it's likely that we will have an extreme right wing government which will make the Tea Party look like The Greens. Careful what you wish for.
Ever since 2008, we've become a weak, spineless and apologetic country. We are viewed as a media driven country. Governed by the cancerous Liberal Media.
So, according to O'Donnell, the GOP crybabies got the information they wanted about Benghazi in a letter from the White House counsel but still participated in the filibuster against Hagel. What am I missing?
A brain...
This Obstruction has to stop. First time in history, lowest ratings for Congress and we are w/o a Sec. of Defense while these clowns go on vacation for 10 days. It makes me sick. They are trying to destroy our country. They should all be impeached. Kick these clowns "The tally was 58-40, with almost every Republican voting no, falling short of the 60 needed to pass a motion in the 100-seat chamber to stop debate and allow a vote by the full Senate on confirming the former Republican senator to the post." out.http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/14/us-obama-nominations-hagel-blocked-idUSBRE91D1KJ20130214
I hope they block Mr. Hagel from being a dog catcher. And they still haven't coached him up to spin and finagle like a professional politician. It takes a guru of doo-doo to go out and splain stuff for this administration darling.
Same people who were unanimously in favor of Rumsfeld. What do you expect? Traitors.
Let's see your proof on this claim.