Posted on 12/04/2005 11:26:02 AM PST by wagglebee
Will Sen. Joseph Lieberman be tapped next year to become Secretary of Defense as a reward for his support for the Iraq war?
That's the prediction from former New Republic magazine editor Andrew Sullivan, who told NBC's "Chris Matthews Show" on Sunday: "Before the next congressional elections, Joe Lieberman will be asked to be Secretary of Defense to succeed Don Rumsfeld."
"That's the back story behind Lieberman's amazing defense of the administration this week," Sullivan insisted.
Asked if he thought the Connecticut Democrat would accept the appointment, Sullivan said: "I don't know - it depends on how things are going in Iraq. But I think he's being lined up."
On Tuesday, Lieberman confounded war critics within his own party with a stunning editorial in the Wall Street Journal arguing that the Iraq war is being won.
"Progress is visible and practical," Lieberman wrote upon returning from his fourth trip to the war zone.
"People are working their way toward a functioning society and economy in the midst of a very brutal, inhumane, sustained terrorist war against the civilian population and the Iraqi and American military there to protect it," he explained.
Lieberman also endorsed the Bush administration contention that the Iraq war has made America safer, warning: "If the terrorists win, they will be emboldened to strike us directly again and to further undermine the growing stability and progress in the Middle East."
Maybe in the Allen administration.
Is he left or right of McCain? Even with binoculars it is hard to tell at that distance.
George Allen has gotten to know a lot of the military brass very well as Virginia's governor and senator. I think he will probably go with a retired general or admiral, possibly Tommy Franks.
Yes.
I was unhappy with Lieberman's performance in 2000 though I think he did the minimum on the military votes, etc--and in 2004 when he was sent to campaign in Fla for the Dems he pointedly contended that he agreed with the administration on foreign policy.
I think he will reun for the Senate again and win, but if he chooses to retire, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Bush appointed him to something--just not SoD--Maybe the Supreme Court.
I don't trust anything the unhinged Sullivan has to say. He's been throwing the world's longest hissy fit ever since President Bush came out against Gay 'marriage'.
Well said....that pervert has no right to talk about anything else. I rememebr how he published a picture of Cheney's covered "you know what" after the election. The tile of that story was "You know you wanted to see IT."
Stopped going to his wretched site after that.
Senator Lieberman is just about the only 'rat left that doesn't make me queasy on sight. He has my lasting respect and gratitude for doing the right thing on Iraq but is still way too liberal on every other issue.
Remember that arch dingbat Norm Minetta is the current democrat in the Bush administration and well...uhm..enough said.
No, Carl he isn't.
Putting "gay marriage" ahead of the other issues that face this country - like a war for our very survival - shows that Sullivan is a single issue thinker that can't be trusted to see the big picture.
If Lieberman would switch to the Republican party, he may have a chance of getting the Presidential nomination in '08. He obviously can't get it as a Democrat. If he did switch, I would vote for him against any of the other tentative candidates I've heard about.
Lieberman was mentioned for cabinet positions back in 2004. He made it clear that he wasn't interested then and I see no reason to believe his position has changed. Especially since the governor of Connecticut is a Republican and would no doubt appoint a Republican to replace him.
The ONLY area where Lieberman is in agreement with conservatives is defense. He is anti-gun, pro-abortion, pro-tax, etc. The view is that he could be SecDef, because it doesn't involve any of these other issues.
He's the only Democrat I'd vote for for anything. I think if he really pulls out the stops and does "damage control" for the Bush Administration re: The Iraqi War, then a reward might be in order. Yeah, I could see it.
MoveOn.org is probably going to actively recruit and support a leftist to challenge Lieberman for his senate seat next year. If Lieberman loses the nomination (which I assume would be next spring or early summer), it may be enough of a catalyst to persuade him to leave the 'Rats.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532828/posts
I'd bet a lot of money that Lieberman won't lose, assuming a serious candidate can be found to run against him in the first place. Moveon.org would find better use for their money running candidates against moderate Republicans like Chris Shays and Jodi Rell.
I think that George Soros will give them as much money as they need to go after whoever they want. However, I have a feeling the left will see Lieberman's support of Bush as a monumental betrayal and will try to make him suffer for it.
And the first person the Bush administration (or one of their few leakers) told about this monumental change is Andrew Sullivan?
That's believable.
Who writes crap like this other than some has-been.
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