Hagel Up for Defense Department, A Little Hurricane Relief Makes It Past the House: Daily Politics Update

Victims of Hurricane Sandy finally have their aid package approved by House Republicans, and a fight is brewing over the next Secretary of Defense.

That's right, after sinking Susan Rice's chances at replacing Hillary Clinton at the State Department, Republicans are turning on one of their own.

President Obama has indicated that he'll likely nominate former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense once Leon Panetta steps down.

But Hagel has been critical of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though as a senator he voted to authorize them. Hagel also ran afoul of the Israel lobby, after he referred to hardcore supporters of the state as "the Jewish lobby," which some took to be thinly-veiled anti-Semitism.

It's not the first time Hagel has pulled a Biden.

Back in 1998, he opposed one of Bill Clinton's proposed ambassadors because he thought the nominee was "openly, aggressively gay."

Hagel's backed off both statements since, and his official nomination will probably happen next week.

But with the fiscal cliff pushed off toward the horizon, and the taste of success still fresh in their mouths after knocking off Rice, Republicans may be ready to stand their ground on this nomination.

Of course, could the White House be playing politics with them? Hagel was a Republican after all, so maybe he's a sacrificial lamb?

If Republicans approve him, the White House is happy. If they insist he isn't fit for the office, they burn their ire out on a moderate, public support for their stalling wanes, and Obama can nominate the person he really wants at Defense.

No idea who that might be.

As for Sandy relief, legislators from New York and New Jersey didn't get everything they wanted, but the House did approve $9.7 billion for flood insurance aid.

That figure is far short of the $60 billion the area is estimated to need. The House takes up debate on the rest of the package on Jan. 15, but any substantial changes they make might mean it won't pass in the Senate, which had already approved the package as is.

In other news, Barney Frank wants to be a senator, just for a little while. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will need to appoint an interim senator to replace John Kerry once he moves to the State Department, and Frank made it known he wants in.

Of course, the appointment will only last around 150 days, until a special election is held, and Patrick has already stated that the interim senator should be someone who doesn't want the seat long-term, so even if Frank does get to join Elizabeth Warren in the Senate later this month, it will be a short stay.