It is ironic that the Hagel drama is playing out just as the national commentariat is debating whether Barack Obama’s national security policy truly differs from that of his predecessor, George W. Bush.

As the Hagel story has played out, we’ve focused on tactics and gambits than on just why there’s such intense opposition to this nomination — Cruz/McCarthy, Infofe, faux LGBT groups and the constant drumbeat about Iran and Israel from groups tied to Bill Kristol.

Many assume that what is behind all of this is Israel. But I don’t think that’s quite right. At least it’s not the core issue. And neither is Iran. Israel’s been the focus because it’s the most inflammatory and cross-cutting foreign policy driver of US politics. But it’s only part of the equation. Read More

This would be a candidacy really worth getting excited about. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) says he’s considering a run for the US senate seat of retiring Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Holt has represents his central New Jersey district since 1999. Prior to that he was the Assistant Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab at Princeton University.

Mayor Cory Booker and Rep. Frank Pallone have already signaled they intend to run.