one letter legible [ laughter ] in order to debase our currency, should he be confirmed as secretary of the treasury. all kidding aside, president obama s second-term cabinet is very much in flux now in dwindling diversity. hil hilda solis is out. homeland security will stay. some others, though are in limbo. there has been no official word of some of them, one way or the other. let s focus on what may be the big confirmation fight. former senator chuck hagel is out there now personally lobbying for support in his bid to become defense secretary. yesterday visited the pentagon and thursday making calls to old senate colleagues. one problem with that. of the senators who will sit in judgment of hagel s confirmation, 42 of them never worked with him. with me now, moderator of meet the press, david gregory, had an exclusive interview with colin powell there to make the
charges, majority of them on the final vote wednesday the vote that he cast. he didn t whip him to vote with him but he voted for the final bill that came through. owe is in no possession to give ground any time soon. he won t do it. taxes are as a political practical matter only thing that would extract new taxes at this stage of the game would be major concessions on entitlement spending which is exactly opposite what the president wants to do. bill: i got 20 seconds. i don t care about chuck hagel the former senator being defense secretary. i don t think it means much. does it mean anything to you? well, it s a good question whether he is the best nominee. i think there will be a confirmation fight. bill: he the get in. a lot of drama. because the senate majority democrat he will probably get in. bill: it doesn t matter. i think it matters. you really do? the votes are there to pass him. brit hume, everyone.
charges, majority of them on the final vote wednesday the vote that he cast. he didn t whip him to vote with him but he voted for the final bill that came through. owe is in no possession to give ground any time soon. he won t do it. taxes are as a political practical matter only thing that would extract new taxes at this stage of the game would be major concessions on entitlement spending which is exactly opposite what the president wants to do. bill: i got 20 seconds. i don t care about chuck hagel the former senator being defense secretary. i don t think it means much. does it mean anything to you? well, it s a good question whether he is the best nominee. i think there will be a confirmation fight. bill: he the get in. a lot of drama. because the senate majority democrat he will probably get in. bill: it doesn t matter. i think it matters. you really do? the votes are there to pass him. brit hume, everyone.
charges, majority of them on the final vote wednesday the vote that he cast. he didn t whip him to vote with him but he voted for the final bill that came through. owe is in no possession to soon. he won t do it. taxes are as a political practical matter only thing that would extract new taxes at this stage of the game would be major concessions on entitlement spending which is exactly opposite what the president wants to do. bill: i got 20 seconds. i don t care about chuck hagel the former senator being defense secretary. i don t think it means much. does it mean anything to you? well, it s a good question whether he is the best nominee. i think there will be a confirmation fight. bill: he the get in. a lot of drama. because the senate majority democrat he will probably get in. bill: it doesn t matter. i think it matters. you really do? the votes are there to pass him. brit hume, everyone.
confirmation fight. he apologize for about the gay appointee. i think it s going to be an argument about israel. this is really where the heart of the matter is. jen, answer this criticism. i heard this from the left. why is it obama now had three shots at the pentagon and twice he turned to a republican. this is just playing into the stereotype that democrats can t handle the military? i think that s an entirely separate issue he chose chuck hagel because he likes him personally, which is important to the president. and because he has the right combination of toughness and experience. you know, he s a guy, they have to make tough cuts at the pentagon. he is the guy i think the president who thinks can do that. three of the last four defense secretaries appointed by democrats have been republican. what does that say about what democratic presidents believe he does want to have a republican in his cabinet, no question about that. this is a person who he felt was a right fit. t