Chairman Wicker wasn’t wrong that they followed “precedent” — Biden SecDef nominee Lloyd Austin’s hearing was the same length as this one to within five minutes. But Lloyd Austin was also the former CENTCOM commander and was very well-known by almost all the committee members.
And there was almost zero controversy to Austin’s nomination —…
Chairman Wicker wasn’t wrong that they followed “precedent” — Biden SecDef nominee Lloyd Austin’s hearing was the same length as this one to within five minutes. But Lloyd Austin was also the former CENTCOM commander and was very well-known by almost all the committee members.
And there was almost zero controversy to Austin’s nomination — only his being separated from the military for just five years, requiring a special waiver, was unusual.
The reason for a longer hearing is obvious: because Hegseth’s controversial and his vetting was incomplete. But Republican senators can’t admit either fact since Trump denies it.
So it’s a small example already, a week before Trump takes office, of how being beholden to the strongman’s lies impact policy in Kafkaesque (or Orwellian) ways. Clearly he needed more questioning — but it’s only clear if one accepts reality.
Chairman Wicker wasn’t wrong that they followed “precedent” — Biden SecDef nominee Lloyd Austin’s hearing was the same length as this one to within five minutes. But Lloyd Austin was also the former CENTCOM commander and was very well-known by almost all the committee members.
And there was almost zero controversy to Austin’s nomination — only his being separated from the military for just five years, requiring a special waiver, was unusual.
The reason for a longer hearing is obvious: because Hegseth’s controversial and his vetting was incomplete. But Republican senators can’t admit either fact since Trump denies it.
So it’s a small example already, a week before Trump takes office, of how being beholden to the strongman’s lies impact policy in Kafkaesque (or Orwellian) ways. Clearly he needed more questioning — but it’s only clear if one accepts reality.
All true. I accept reality, but I still have trouble realizing how much worse it will get.