HAGEL FOR DOG CATCHER, NOT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

Sen. Cornyn: 'It would be a bad nomination'

I agree with my Senator, John Cornyn, who has done a good job representing the State of Texas and has been a reasonable voice within the Republican Party. Unfortunately, if Obama nominates Hagel as expected, his nomination will probably be approved by the Senate because its members tend to support their former colleagues.

CORNYN: HAGEL ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ AS SECREATRY OF DEFEENSE
By Stephen Feller

Newsmax
December 21, 2012

A prominent member of the U.S. Senate came out Friday against the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense — despite the fact that he has not actually been nominated for the position.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn told the Washington Post that he had problems with several positions Hagel has taken over the years, many of which will receive opposition from both sides of the aisle.

“It is not just an isolated problem. It is a consistent position in support of American weakness,” Cornyn said. “I can’t support a Hagel nomination if it comes . . . There are some points about his record that make him unacceptable.”

Cornyn said he has heard prominent Democrats raise concerns about Hagel’s position on Israel, and Cornyn himself offered a list of issues that give him pause.

The list included Hagel's view that a nuclear-armed Iran could be contained, and that direct negotiations with Hamas would be productive — both of which Cornyn vehemently disagrees with.

“It would be a bad move,” Cornyn said, continuing, “and one of the reasons I’ve taken the position [to oppose]. ‘Mr. President don’t do that. It would be a bad nomination.’”