Rove, Trippi on Obama nominations

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This is a Fox News alert another shakeup in the Obama administration.

Labor secretary Hilda so -- submitted her resignation this afternoon.

Saying after spending the holidays with her family she's anxious to get back to her home in California.

The president called so -- a tireless champion for working families.

It's not clear yet when she'll -- the Labor Department or who may be in line to replace her.

As early as tomorrow President Obama is set to nominate White House chief of staff Jack Lew to be his next Treasury Secretary.

Meanwhile nomination battles will start on Capitol Hill soon after the inauguration.

Joining us now to discuss all of this are too familiar faces former bush senior advisor Karl Rove from Austin, Texas.

And democratic strategist stroke trickery here in Washington gentlemen thanks for being here.

Want to break down these battles won by 11 of all the one it's getting a lot of attention.

Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary.

How big -- battle Carl do you think this is in and where do you think that this will play out.

Well I think this will be the biggest of the five nomination fights we now know about.

Press reports indicate as many as ten Democrats may be disclosed to vote against table and a few Republicans none of come to his defense -- -- few Republicans who might vote form.

He's got a very contentious.

Personal background -- hard he's acerbic he's hard work with.

But more important -- that is his record on the issues he's opposed on Iranian sanctions imposed in an Islamic revolutionary guard -- designated terrorist organization.

At a time when they're IED's were killing our troops and Iraqi oppose Iraq surge.

He -- defended.

In dialogue with Hamas refused to -- -- in a letter calling on the you to condemn Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

And his relationship with a Jewish community is at best rocky -- Had -- about comment but a pejorative comment referring to the Jewish lobby and he's taking he's taken substantial us and said some things over the years.

That have indicated that he's less than supportive of our relationship with -- There are few key Democrats here Joseph who could factor -- -- how this nomination goes one of them being New York democratic senator Chuck Schumer.

Well right now he's staying pretty quiet on the up well on this fight but look I think Carl's right this going to be the toughest toughest and nominee.

But I also think and less real optimists have talked about opposition from a pack I mean real organizations -- it on.

That are important within the democratic constituency I -- -- -- I think there's going to be some.

Some tough hurdles -- over -- Republicans but so far I don't think there's enough democratic fight to stop this nomination and I think.

The for -- -- loyalty the president even some who don't we want an eagle point that are gonna vote for.

John Kerry fair to say that you think that he has an easy right.

Oh yeah I mean look I think he's gonna it's an opportunity.

To get some questions answered -- guys a year to put that front senator in terms of how the future of this State Department will be be run.

But no I don't think there's -- be any problem with them and you agree Karl.

I think it's -- Be an interesting hearing night I -- at the end of the day senatorial committee will mean that he gets approved but he will be asked not only about Ben Ghazi.

He'll also be asked about there's there's some of the basic tenets of the of the Obama foreign policy.

But he's also gonna have to go on the public record about his infamous comments as a young Vietnam veteran which he accused his fellow soldiers of quote re being in pillaging and I'm in a manner reminiscent of game it's gone he'll be forced revisit those but -- at the end of the day I think he gets approved easily.

We had senator Lindsey Graham on special report last night he said he's going to put a hold on John Brennan's nomination for CIA director until he get some answers on Ben Ghazi.

And the attack in in Libya.

Carl what about John Brennan some -- Well it's going to be interesting because he's gonna have criticism from the left and the right and simultaneously from the left and right together.

The left is going to be interested in his role in the drone program in which he.

Has been depicted as the guy sitting there behind the council the only console fly -- -- drone of led the missile -- picking and choosing targets.

He's gonna have criticism from the right.

Over whether or not he's participated in leaks and there was this moment remember the underwear bomber he was sent out by the administration to castigate those.

Who -- questioned whether or not the underwear bomber should have been read his Miranda rights so quickly.

So left and right -- Chad they're running out of and then left and right together will ask who will will be asking -- tough questions about.

His support he served in the bush administration and they'll be asking about his support for the enhanced interrogation.

Programmable -- Lindsey Graham and John McCain from the right and then a variety of characters from the left but it's going to be interesting I suspect at the end of the day he gets confirmed but there will be lots of serious questions asked.

And this has huge ramifications for intelligence community question is is he going to be a steady.

Solid operator or is he going to be sort of the publicity hound dog he's been for the last couple years in his position as -- counterterrorism director worries.

Been the principal source for good movie and and and a and a and a little bit of a political attack dog for the administration.

And the question about leaks also may come up and -- this nomination hearings well by the way I write no absolutely no question it I think -- actually the second toughest one but I think it's gonna get through -- through -- But I I think you know it's mostly going to be leverage I think this is going to be leverage to get the questions -- answered did Republicans want to answer on being Ghazi again.

On the left wants answered on -- -- -- some assurance.

Of where he's gonna -- lead on on that moving forward but I egg again think this is one where the president will get his way.

End -- -- size -- enough votes on both sides to it.

Confirming our Jack -- now White House chief of staff former budget director here at the Obama administration also the Clinton administration.

That some Republicans have a problem with how he's negotiated on the debt ceiling before.

Your thoughts on this -- How Republicans.

We thought institute tough nutrients Ian does some of some call -- -- During those negotiations on the debt ceiling last primary on 2011 so I think there's some some bad feelings there and Democrats may say that's a badge of honor yes exactly that people like me think yes so I don't know I think -- -- -- I think this is one and I think everybody is expected this this choice I I don't think it's gonna have much trouble going through -- been.

Looked -- series are what's important here getting concessions out of these nominees.

It and really trying to figure out where -- not -- the the administration wants to go moving forward and how those policies are going to be carried out.

Carl let's just put the umbrella on this I mean every one of these nominees besides hagel which you you both suggest could be a bumpy ride and and frankly.

Could be a close vote.

Both of you are suggesting that that all of these nominees are likely going to get the votes necessary to get them to get through.

But there's a broader policy discussion that happens in these here.

It's a look every administration when they go through this process of nominees either the first or second term.

You -- an essence paying for it you pay in terms of political capital to get people to vote for it.

You pay in terms of concessions because this is the point which.

Members of congress from both -- your party and the opposition party are able due to extract concessions.

He spent a lot of time on in the president's got a lot on his plate and the more time you spent on these contentious nominations.

The -- time we spend on other things and then there are always interesting questions it popped up during here to require the administration either call a quick audible on policy.

Or crates -- drama let me give you one example Brennan is going to be the first time that that anybody Democrat -- Republican.

Is going to be able to ask the question about what did the president know and what did he know on the night of September 11 2012.

And what did he do what did -- order be done and was -- -- done in response the attacks on our embassy and Ben Ghazi.

An out of these moments of drama we have 55 we -- defense.

Treasury EPA state.

And the CIA there's going to be some unforeseen moment in -- these five -- it's gonna pop up and I think that -- the Brennan nomination may be the one that has the I'm -- drama.

Last thing -- hey is there an element.

I'm going to pick this fight I won this election.

And I'm going to take it to the Republicans and I'm going to win and cannot -- Well look I think he -- keep whining and usually the president gets to have the cabinet he want so I think he's this is the cabinet he wants he wants fatal.

And I think I'd look at I think this goes back to some sort of the the blue -- rivals kind of -- Kapanen put we put Hillary in the air in the begin the units in the first term for secretary of state.

The key PPE you know -- he wants table -- I think -- goal is actually another way to look at is legal somebody who's gonna told his party no on Iraq.

And stood up to and he's a stand up to the president -- things he doesn't -- -- hear I think the president wants that kind of cabinet.

And I think you'll get it okay Joseph Carl as always.

Thank you.

And at some point soon we'll get a labor nominate.

That'll be added that in.

Also those hearings will be again.

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Rove, Trippi on Obama nominations

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