When I start my re-education camp for Beltway pundits, whereby they are all marched gently into the Smokies to reclaim swampland and attend re-education lectures, Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post is going to be first in line every day for his bowl of rice. This is because, god love him, he is such a perfect combination of being-impressed-by-the-obvious and fall-on-your-ass centrism that I am constantly surprised that he hasn't yet been set in marble and used to adorn the tomb of David Broder.

Did you know, for example, that the Republicans are filibustering Chuck Hagel because some of them don't like him? Let Chris and some anonymous "GOP strategists" enlighten you?

"He's about as unsympathetic a character as you're ever going to see so the political danger is virtually non-existent," said one senior Senate Republican aide. Added another GOP Senate strategist: "Hagel doesn't have a natural base of grassroots support outside the president and Democratic leaders so it's difficult to see any real backlash developing."

Did you also know that Republicans (as they always do) Have A Point, which they will bravely share anonymously with Chris? And did you further know that politicians occasionally participate in politics? Let Chris complete your education.

[blockquote]Several operatives rejected the notion that the Hagel blockade is largely about politics. (Worth noting: ALL fights in Congress are at least 50 percent about politics and often far more than that.) "A number of senators have serious concerns with his lack of experience leading such a massive bureaucracy, in addition to his position on Iran and Israel," said one GOP strategist. "And in some ways, this is part of a broader debate and effort to draw attention to the administration's policies in the Middle East. The longer this nomination is drawn out, the more attention is given to those issues."

...
What the hell does it matter that the country is trying to extricate itself from the second of two wars, and that we don't have a Secretary Of Defense, and that the crops are going bad from inattention back on poor Leon Panetta's walnut farm? What does all that matter so long as Mitch McConnell's re-election is secured and Orrin Hatch gets his semi-annual hard-on? That Chris can't see the problem in front of him means that he's part of the problem in front of him. Here's your shovel, lad. There's the swamp. Let's get to work.