Chuck Hagel, first-ever filibustered defense secretary nominee

Chuck Hagel, first-ever filibustered defense secretary nominee

Sen. Lindsey Graham has apparently decided that he's done enough by instigating the first-ever filibuster of a defense secretary nominee in blocking Chuck Hagel on the first vote, so he's moving on and taking Sen. John McCain with him. They've made their point. Carrying it further will be pretty impossible because there is no substance to their opposition, just the same manufactured outrage against anything President Obama does in order to keep the base happy.

The unprecedented filibuster of Hagel makes an absolute mockery of the watered down filibuster reform the Senate agreed to less than a month ago, an outcome that was entirely predictable. It also demonstrates how much of an opportunity Senate Democrats let slip away. Majority Leader Harry Reid said this filibuster is "tragic."



"It is tragic that they have decided to filibuster this qualified nominee," said Reid. "It is really unfortunate." [...] "This isn't high school getting ready for a football game, or some play being produced at a high school," said Reid. "In less than two hours, our country will be without a secretary of defense."

That's Reid's first—and biggest—mistake. It's hard to believe that he hasn't realized by now that the governing of the nationa game for Republicans. Maybe this episode will be enough to finally convince him otherwise. Just in case, let's make it very clear for him: It's time to revisit real filibuster reform.

Please sign our petition urging Harry Reid to re-open the process of filibuster reform in the Senate.

