panetta brought to the post and still does is the fact he hadn't spent time running the c.i.a. in countries like iran where intelligence is scarce, and we're looking at turmoil in syria as well, especially with russia getting involved by bringing in assets, that's something that he doesn't have. so what do you think chuck hagel would bring? what will be president obama's argument to congress in terms of these hearings that chuck hagel uniquely can bring to that post? >> at one point it was thought that what president obama was seeking was a republican who could help sell difficult defense budget cuts to fellow republicans but that's gone by the boards. i don't see any visible evidence of republican support for their former colleague in the senate. and one of the things that's awkward about this is that we