Posted on 12/14/2004 2:18:26 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
President Bush is courting Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., a former Democratic vice presidential can-didate, for a Cabinet post, presumably sec-retary of homeland security.
Lieberman couldn’t be reached for com-ment Sunday, but an aide said that if Lie-berman were asked to accept a nomination, it would most likely be the homeland secu-rity post.
The Washington Post, citing two anony-mous sources, reported Sunday that Bush wants Lieberman for a Cabinet position.
With former New York police Commis-sioner Bernard Kerik’s unceremonious with-drawal Friday from consideration as the nation’s next secretary of homeland secu-rity, Lieberman’s name has popped up again among a half-dozen others as a candidate for the post.
In recent weeks the New Haven Demo-crat said repeatedly he has not been con-tacted, nor did he expect to be, but that if he were asked, he would consider any re-quest.
As the top Democrat on the Senate Gov-ernmental Affairs Committee, a panel charged with oversight of the executive branch, Lieberman co-authored both the bill that established the Department of Home-land Security, and pending legislation that would reorganize the U.S. intelligence com-munity. The bill is awaiting Bush’s signature.
The latter legislation, passed last week in Congress, would specifically place U.S. in-telligence operations — civilian and mili-tary — under a single director of national intelligence.
The four negotiators that shepherded the bill to passage, Lieberman, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and U.S. Reps. Jane Harmon, R-Calif., and Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., were all asked after votes last week whether they had been approached about that job.
"We’re still waiting for the call," Collins said.
It’s been speculated that once Bush signs intelligence reform into law, former U.S.
Rep. and current CIA Director Porter Goss would be tapped for the intelligence post.
(Excerpt) Read more at nhregister.com ...
The governor of Arizona would appoint a replacement for McCain. And she's a democrat.
Lieberman is one of the few sane Democrats, but I don't believe there is such a shortage of qualified candidates for the Homeland Security director position that we need to put a Democrat in that position.
On the one hand we get another Republican Senator (even if it is slightly RINO)
On the other hand we remove one of the more conservative voices from the dmeocrat party, pushing the rats even more to the left.
Seems to me to be a gift that keeps on giving. Immediate increase in the senate and accelerates the long term decay in the rat party
One thing President Bush should never do is nominate a republican office holder for a cabinet position. We can't afford to give up what we already have. The lone exception to this is in states with Republican Govs who can be pressured to name the right person as replacement. Getting a rino on the cabinet for a conservative in office would be good
Exactly right.
I don't see how it would hurt much, and it would put him in good stead with some wavering American Jews that have been tempted by the Republicans to vote for them but are still wavering!
I watched the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations when Duelfer testified. Lieberman had actually read Duelfer's report and was highly appreciative of Duelfer's efforts, as opposed to Levin, who kept trying to equate the US role in the UNSC as equivalent to France and China's wholesale theft of OFF dollars.
No, I don't like Lieberman's performance in the Gore campaign (who could?), but, as opposed to social issues, Lieberman has never wavered on security issues since 9/11.
I believe he could do the job, depending on whether he can be trusted to hold loyalty to country above partisanship.
Lieberman wrestles with his conscience every day. And never loses.
He may be considering CT Governor anyways in 4 years.
liebermann knows where the dead bodies are in washington and will do well.
How would that be different from now?
Y'all need to remember that the two senators that supported the drivers licenses for ILLEGAL ALIENS in the intellegence reform bill were LIEberman and that RINO Collins. Bush agrees with their position. He won't appoint any homeland security chief that will enforce the laws on ILLEGAL ALIENS.
Lieberman is a Patriot, and he's one of the few democrats who gets the war on terror, and what its about. I think if the President calls, he'll answer.
Of the two, she is the obvious heavyweight.
That said, I have never liked Lieberman's stance on the RKBA, and we could be looking at reinstated or upgraded versions of the AWB popping out of the woodwork in the name of "Homeland Security". IMHO, something stinks.
Lieberman couldn't’t be reached for comment Sunday, but an aide said that if Lieberman were asked to accept a nomination, it would most likely be the homeland security post.
Congressman David Dreier of California has said that Lieberman was instrumental in keeping the Sensenbrenner provision out of the the recent 9/11 bill. How can a man who won't put pressure on states to keep drivers licenses out of the hands of illegal aliens and terrorists be considered for a Homeland Security post? Seven of the nineteen hijackers boarded their airplanes with drivers licenses that were obtained with first or second hand assistance from illegal aliens, exploiting lax regulations set in place for the benefit of illegal aliens who desired drivers licenses.
A little more on Senator Lieberman:
Joseph Lieberman on Immigration Democratic Jr Senator (CT), ran for V.P. with Gore, ran for president 2004
Q: Should it become easier for undocumented foreign workers in the US to gain legal immigration status?
One-time earned legalization for undocumented immigrants A: As president, I will create a new one-time earned legalization status, improve family reunification laws, create a work visa program, and partner with the private sector to create a new 'American Dream Fund' to help all immigrants learn English. We've also got to face the fact that immigrants haven't been treated fairly in America since September 11th -- and we can do something about it. When I am president, I will protect the civil rights of immigrants -- right to counsel, timely notification of charges, guaranteed bond hearings, humane conditions, and much more.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, "Immigration" Jan 25, 2004 Q: How would you encourage those who are eligible to apply for citizenship?
Make sure immigrants are treated fairly A: I am for earned right of legalization for undocumented immigrants. I'm for temporary worker permits for people coming over. I'm for lifting the cap on family reunification which keeps immigrant families apart and I'm for lifting the cap on political refugees. We're one nation under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all. And that means making sure that our immigrants, new Americans are treated fairly.
Source: Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum Jan 11, 2004 Q: How do you separate the good guys from the bad guys? How do you separate the immigrants that come to this country with a legitimate interest in working and contributing and those potential terrorists that are here?
Unacceptable to allow Mexicans to die trying to immigrate LIEBERMAN: Let me begin by saying this. Immigration for me is not just another issue. It's me, it's my family, it's mi familia. My grandparents came here as immigrants seeking opportunity.
It pains me, and it outrages me that every year hundreds of Mexicans coming to America for exactly the same reason that my grandparents did die in the desert because of our current immigration policy. That is no longer acceptable.
This can't go on any longer. I have offered the most comprehensive, aggressive immigration reform plan. Yes, earned legalization. Yes, temporary worker visas for workers from other countries. Yes, let's lift the cap on people coming here for family reunification or to seek refuge.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003
Notice that Lieberman never answered the question about how he'd separate the terrorists from the "good guys," but he'd blow the immigration caps and give amnesty ("earned legalization" is the Democrat euphemism).
He also talked about right to counsel, guaranteed bond hearings, etc. That's in regard to our immigration courts, which can't even handle the current caseload. In many cases we're talking about slam dunk deportation hearings. Lieberman wants to grind that all to a halt.
Lieberman clearly has emotional issues regarding the subject of immigration. That's what anyone would want in a DHS Secretary?
Not much worse. See #75.
No he isn't, see #75.
Lieberman is alright on foreign policy, but would be a disaster at DHS.
See #75. Lieberman help block the Sensenbrenner provision in the Intelligence bill.
Lieberman would be lousy at DHS. See #75 above.
I like Lieber-poodle, but I can't see him taking this slot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.