Smooth Sailing?

10:50 – James Inhofe’s questioning of Hagel was quite a bit softer than I’d expected. GOP senators had once promised to do everything they could to block the Hagel nomination and said they thought they might have the votes to do so. If Inhofe is any indication, they’ve pretty much thrown in the towel. Inhofe just made a point of praising Hagel as a good friend and said “if you are confirmed” in a tone which suggested that that was precisely what he expected to happen.