Hagel Filibuster, Obama Concessions: ‘3 Amigos’ Are Back

Defense News: WASHINGTON — They brought the typically plodding U.S. Senate to a virtual standstill. They pressured the White House into releasing information that could politically harm the president. They led the first-ever filibuster of a defense secretary nominee. Then, they boldly vowed to continue their struggle.

As recently as last fall, Democratic sources and longtime Washington observers regarded the Amigos — GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire — as an isolated faction that lacked very much political sway within their own caucus.

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