Watchdog group files suit in federal court demanding document release.

There will still be lip-syncing, however.

Nothing like avoiding tough questions.

The Senate won’t be in session this week but returns on Jan. 21 to face a full agenda of new appointees for President Barack Obama’s cabinet and lesser administration positions.

Republican senators have plenty of reasons to oppose Hagel, but the question is whether they can overthrow his nomination.

Though Obama’s remarks dwelt primarily on Hagel’s honorable military service, calling him an “American patriot” whose leadership of the DoD as a former enlisted service member would be historic, he also suggested a Hagel Pentagon may signal a turn to a less aggressive military stance.

What did we get after four long years of expertly staged Kabuki-theater-meets-Potemkin-village productions?