Rummy exit rumored; Lieberman eyed for job

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Rummy exit rumored; Lieberman eyed for job



BY THOMAS M. DEFRANK and KENNETH R. BAZINET
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON - 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, sources said yesterday.
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.

That's not as farfetched as it might first appear.

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, a Bush adviser said. "He thought about it for a week or so and finally said no," the adviser recalled.

http://nydailynews.com/front/story/372921p-316984c.html

[Ignacio Upton]

1. If Lieberman takes the job, then I'm drafting Lowell Weicker for Senate

The only good thing about the CT Senate race would be that we can throw our support behind Weicker and not worry about dividing the field (we could refuse to run a candidate like VT). However, if Lieberman becomes Defense Secretary, then the RW will blame US for anything that happens.

[NanceGreggs]

2. And what's the catch?

Now that the war is KNOWN to be a 100% disaster, they want to hand its conduct over to a Democrat, so they can point the finger of blame at a Dem as things continue to escalate downhill.

Memo to WH: That AIN'T no Democrat.

[sui generis]

3. That would be so bad

I'm going to have to qualify this as non-anti-semitic, but a rational statement.

I think that although we as Americans hopefully don't think of Senator Lieberman's faith as relevant to the discussion, muslims might have a problem with a devoutly pro-Israeli policy man of the Jewish faith being in charge of the armed forces that are attacking muslims.

I think if you want to throw fuel onto a fire, this is probably a great way to do it. Is Georgie really trying to bring about the end times after all? We're already talking about irrational opposition of U.S. military policy; I don't see how this could make things better in any fashion ever, and I would say this even if I LIKED Lieberman. I just don't think it's a realistic well considered idea.

[MemphisTiger]

4. No way

no way bush would appoint a democrat to the post Lieberman or not. Bush rewards loyalty and it would always be a question with Lieberman. This is about as credible that McCain was going to be Kerrys running mate.

[bigscott]

8. so what's not loyal?

lieberman has been *'s biggest war supporter all along

[MemphisTiger]

10. True, but I wouldn't be money on this rumor

If he gets rid if Lieberman, look for someone else in the republican party(crony) to get the spot. Also, this is not meant to be anti-semitic, but would it be wise for an Orthodox Jew like Lieberman to be in a position to destroy Muslims. I don't think he would be objective in the middle east peace process. I say bring back Cohen. He was a republican after all.

[longship]

5. That means a Repug replacement.

Republican governor in Conn. M. Jodi Rell will appoint a Repug to replace Lieberman. If they appoint Lieberman to Defense, this is a shrewd move by the WH.

Unfortunately, this is bad news all around.

[President Jesus]

7. not necessarily

Rell herself is a replacement and is obviously not in the strongest position to put in a GOP party hack.

[Inland]

6. Not a chance.

The next secretary's job is going to be burying bodies and getting along, much as Rummy does now. There's a shitload to cover up.

Besides, who says' Rummy's leaving? If incompetence were a factor, Rummy's resignation would have been accepted two years ago.

But if Rummy does resign, the appointment will go to an intensely loyal person with no record aside from the trust of the President. Think Condi Rice.

[President Jesus]

9. Honestly, I'm in favor of this

It's win-win for us.

Rumsfeld, easily the most evil Defense Secretary in our history, is out.

We get Lieberman out of the Senate and therby giving CT a great shot at electing a real Democrat.

Lieberman, for all his flaws, is worlds better than any arch-conservative or neo-con that we are likely to get instead of Joementum.

I hope it happens.