Rumsfeld Expected to Quit Soon...Lieberman Anyone?

[kpete]

Rumsfeld Expected to Quit Soon
White House officials "are telling associates they expect Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to quit early next year, once a new government is formed in Iraq," the New York Daily News reports.

"Rumsfeld's deputy, Gordon England, is the inside contender to replace him, but there's also speculation that Sen. Joe Lieberman - a Democrat who ran against Bush-Cheney in the 2000 election - might become top guy at the Pentagon."

As for the Lieberman speculation: "The Daily News has learned that the White House considered Lieberman for the UN ambassador's job last year before giving the post to John Bolton."
http://www.politicalwire.com/

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. I could see Leiberman at the UN better than DOD

but wow, what a difference between him and Bolton? Not very consistent.

[Junkdrawer]

2. I guess they thought Bolton was a less radical appointment...

:crazy:

[AndyP]

3. He's already half on "their" team anyway

with half the stuff that comes out of his mouth. I'd much rather see him in there, giving Bush at least some sense of reality, than anyone else.

[emulatorloo]

4. lieberman turned them down in jan 04 -- why would he be dumb enough

to tie himself to the mast of the titanic now?

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/14/whitehouse.lieberman/

EDIT TYPO

[Skink]

5. Secretary Lieberman?

Yeah right:wtf:

[Stuckinthebush]

6. Lieberman is not that stupid

What a way to ruin your career....

Become the Sec. of Defense in an administration that is not from your party. Furthermore, this administation is caught in an unpopular, costly war that we can never win. Once in an administration you can no longer speak for yourself, you have to toe the administration line. Also, since the war is unpopular, costly, and a lost cause, the blame will fall on your head as the SOD, and the GOP can point to the incompetent Dem who couldn't win the war.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[SaveElmer]

7. Mostly correct...

Although your first point I think is not necessarily true. After all William Cohen became Clinton's Sec of Defense without ruining his reputation.

However, to become Sec of Defense now with what is going on would be the height of stupidity IMO.

[Stuckinthebush]

11. Yes, but Cohen was joining a moderate administration

Lieberman would be joining a very conservative unpopular administration which would kill him with his base (that's if he ever wanted to run for office again). He can forget about being on a Democratic presidential ticket ever again if that is his ambition.

[SaveElmer]

14. Yeah that is true...

I was just pointing out that a person of one party joining the cabinet of another is not necessarily a career kille. But for Lieberman to join this administration would be career suicide. Not that Lieberman would have any chance in a Democratic primary anyway. I don't have the intense hatred for him many here have, but he is not in touch in so many ways.

[Clark2008]

13. It didn't ruin William Cohen

but William Cohen, being the spiteful, arrogant prick of a Republican he is, ruined others' careers as Clintons Def. Sec. :grr:

[sofa king]

8. Lieberman is a political red herring.

Make no mistake, these guys are breaking the law and they are not going to put someone in charge who is not knowledgable of and complicit in those crimes. The new nominee will almost certainly be a Bush Pioneer, and likely a member of the PNAC.

I don't think Joe Lieberman meets those stringent qualifications.

I'll tell you who does, though: Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, Elliot Abrams, John Negroponte, Abram Shulsky, and various executives of defense contractor corporations. If Rumsfeld leaves, he'll only be replaced by someone as equally corrupt.

[Spinzonner]

9. What party would likely get his seat if he resigns to take SoD ?

[Lyle]

10. Lieberman is precisely that stupid

Based on his public statements regarding the war, he seems as though he is already on their team. He appears more and more like a Republican in Democrat's clothing. I believe he would accept this position, although I don't believe he would bring any additional credibility to this administration. If anything, I think Lieberman has erroded his own credibility as of late. Accepting this position would further that process!

[JDPriestly]

12. By naming Lieberman, the Bush administration

could shift blame for the embarrassment of having to leave Iraq in shame onto a "Democrat." They will say that Lieberman is making a mess of our exit, and they will point to the fact that the war was started with the approval of Democrats in Congress. They will claim the fiasco was as much a Democratic mess as a Republican one. Is there any way the Democratic Party can excommunicate Lieberman if he accepts that post? I'm serious. Can we just declare him persona non grata in the Democratic Party? I think that would be the wisest course. I would, of course, hope that any serious Democratic statesman starting with Gore would denounce him for accepting the post and playing the Republican game.

[Stephanie]

15. They can have him - we don't want him

I truly hope they give Lieberman the job so we can put a Democrat in his seat. When does his term end? I'd rather see Rell appoint an "out" Republican to the seat than the DINO Lieberman. He's all yours, George, and good riddance.

[mmonk]

16. No thanks, I'm allergic

[pdxmom]

17. Replacing Rummy with anyone else can only be an improvement

And if LIEberman gets the spot, that may be all it takes to make sure he never bothers the Dems again.

[The Whiskey Priest]

18. They will have to carry Rumesfeld out...

he is not going to quit, cannot afford to quit...to many secrets would be at risk.

[Norquist Nemesis]

19. Didn't Cheney just buy a mansion near Rumsfeld?

Maybe Cheney will suddenly have failing health and they'll be riding off into the sunset together. :puke:

Soon we'll be able to call him Don "Rumsfled".