voting former nebraska senator chuck hagel into the defense post he s nominated for in president obama s cabinet and yesterday they left town for nine days. joining me now jake sherman, congressional reporter, molly bald, national political reporter at the atlantic. molly, today s new york times california democrat barbara boxer likened the block that republicans like texas senator ted cruz have put on chuck hagel to mccarthyism. what was the point of prolonging this hagel vote until after everyone reconvenes? well, i think that republicans started out with some legitimate questions about this, and they would say they re just trying to get those answered and need more time. it was harry reid who called this vote as sort of an attempt to call their bluff saying this is enough, you re delaying this for no reason but i don t think this is going to help the republicans image especially when they re going around saying we re not actually trying to