Hagel may face filibuster after hearing bust

Jennifer Rubin reports that Senate opponents of Chuck Hagel’s candidacy for Secretary of Defense are nearing the magic number of 41 votes necessary to sustain a filibuster to prevent his confirmation. 

Democrats seem to be determined to vote for Hagel regardless, but the strong performance of the Republican minority on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Hagel’s weak and self-contradictory response to questions about his record and his views, may have convinced enough wavering colleagues to switch to “no.”

According to Rubin, the opposition already had 35 votes in hand. Six more votes should do it. Perhaps the president will get to nominate someone other than a white male to a senior Cabinet position after all.