http://twitter.com/#!/NathanWurtzel/status/297012560992034816

You would think the absurdity could have ended right there. But, no. There was more. A lot more. Senators are reportedly in “shock” over Chuck Hagel’s bumbling performance during his Secretary of Defense hearing. Senator Cruz shredded Hagel with his own words. And Twitter users did the same. Next time, senators, just look to Twitter to avoid further “shock.”

Wow, Hage now saying that he led the fight to save the Haifa USO station. Chutzpah.

— DrewM (@DrewMTips) January 31, 2013

Some of his best trips are Jewish

— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) January 31, 2013

I’m just waiting to hear #Hagel announce we’re all invited to a Seder at his place this year.

— Melissa Braunstein (@slowhoneybee) January 31, 2013

Hagel: My favorite foods include kugel, latkes and whitefish salad.

— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) January 31, 2013

Heh. Like President Obama, he probably knows more about Judaism than anyone. Because he has read books or something. Alas, Hagel’s own words and actions “out” him.

Hagel has written chapters on Iraq and on the Middle East. So we’re cool.

— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) January 31, 2013

Obama believes the same. What’s the shock? RT @jeffreygoldberg: Did Hagel just call Iran’s gov “elected and legitimate”?

— Yossi Gestetner (@YossiGestetner) January 31, 2013

hahahah RT @philipaklein: Hagel says he knows of no other instance in which he used the “Jewish Lobby” term, “on the record”

— Joel Gehrke (@Joelmentum) January 31, 2013

Hagel translated: I didn’t say what it sounded like I said, & if I did I didn’t mean it. And besides I agree w/ the prez in any event.

— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) January 31, 2013

Wait… #Hagel now does NOT regret saying Madeleine Albright leaned too far in #Israel‘s direction… someone please hand him another note

— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) January 31, 2013

RT @zekejmiller: Jewish Democrat: “Chuck Hagel needed to put questions about Iran and Israel to bed today and instead he raised new ones.”

— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) January 31, 2013

Hagel: I’d like to go back “and change the words and the meaning” of his claims Israel treating Palestinians like animals #andthemeaning

— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) January 31, 2013

Shorter Hagel….everything I’ve ever said about Israel is unfortunate and I’d like to revise and extend my remarks.

— DrewM (@DrewMTips) January 31, 2013

Why does Hagel have such huge eye bags? Maybe that’s where he stores his antisemitism.

— Jon Gabriel (@ExJon) January 31, 2013

Chuck Hagel is a liar. The facts are against you, dude. You’ve said disparaging remarks about Jews and Israel. Disgusting. #tcot

— Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) January 31, 2013

Indeed. Senator Cruz called him out on that. And M.J. Rosenberg raised more questions today with his claim that Hagel is “happily lying” about his beliefs about Israel today. Will the media investigate those claims?

Aside from his atrocious beliefs about Israel, there is another matter: What about his utter incompetence?

Hagel-defenders, put aside not caring about his extreme anti-Israel views. How do you defend his sheer incompetence?

— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) January 31, 2013

Guys, give Hagel a break. Do you realize how confusing it is to remember what you used to believe and what you believe now?

— Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) January 31, 2013

Oops. #Hagel just re-introduced Global Zero, trying to defend past suggestion that “containment” on Iran was an option. @kellyayotte pounces

— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) January 31, 2013

Hagel seems to have given lots of speeches and written reports in which he didn’t take positions but merely laid out ranges of options.

— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) January 31, 2013

So was Hagel just binge viewing TV shows on Netflix for the past few weeks instead of preparing for this hearing?

— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) January 31, 2013

The #Hagel doctrine: “I think it’s always wise to try to talk to people before you get into war”

— Sara Murray (@SaraMurray) January 31, 2013

I don’t want any Israel hater as SoD, but a bigger problem is Hagel simply isn’t up to this job, period.

— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) January 31, 2013

The fact that @barackobama picked Chuck Hagel as Sec of Defense is further proof of his bizarre world view.

— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) January 31, 2013

Hagel: “I won’t be in in a policymaking position…” Not even defense policy, apparently. He said this to reassure Senators.

— Brit Hume (@brithume) January 31, 2013

If only senators had listened to you earlier, Brit.

RT @rickklein: so Chuck Hagel said this today: “If confirmed, I intend to know a lot more than I do.”

— Andrew Stiles (@AndrewStilesNRO) January 31, 2013

No, seriously. The bumbling buffoon said that.

SecDefs should be either bold visionaries, or BLATANTLY competent managers. Hagel is neither.

— RB (@RBPundit) January 31, 2013

Of course, some (including Chuck Todd) spin frantically for Hagel.

Shorter Left:All Hagel said was that the Jews were fundamentally no different than the Nazis.He didn’t say they were worse. #winthespin

— InnocuousPicGuy69 (@AceofSpadesHQ) January 31, 2013

Twitter user @NathanWurtzel sets them straight with one tweet.

Jooooooooooos RT @dmataconis: The neo-cons are against Hagel because they think he’ll stop their dream of another war.

— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) January 31, 2013

And these Twitter users try to come up with a positive side to this mess.

EXACTLY! RT @imao_ I never liked Hagel, so now I’m kinda glad he got nominated because this is hilarious.

— RB (@RBPundit) January 31, 2013

Good news is Biden will finally have a playmate. #Hagel

— S.M (@redsteeze) January 31, 2013

Hey, if we don’t laugh, then we’ll curl up in the corner and weep. Mockery, the best medicine. So, there’s that?

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2013/01/31/some-of-his-best-trips-are-jewish-incompetent-hagel-bumbles-on-iran-israel-and-everything-else/