Talk Of Lieberman As Mr. Secretary

Hartford Courant ^ | November 17, 2004 | DAVID LIGHTMAN

[West Coast Conservative]

Joe Lieberman respects the presidency and likes being wooed. And so, he said Tuesday, he's not ruling out a Bush Cabinet appointment.

"I am a traditionalist," the Connecticut Democratic senator said. "If the president ever calls, you'd have to consider it. But I am very happy to be in the Senate."

At the same time, said Lieberman, "I don't expect an offer, and I have no indications that it will happen."

There's no opening the door a crack in Washington; you're in the game or you're not. And while there's no firm - or even flimsy - signal from the Bush team with regard to Lieberman, there is talk among the connected class in Washington that he could be in the mix for several positions.

There's a certain logic to considering Lieberman to join the GOP team, because he was a strong backer of the Iraq war and Bush's faith-based initiatives.

The senator's position is a change of sorts from just 10 days ago, when rumors popped up that Lieberman could be considered for secretary of state.

His office scoffed at such reports and issued a firm denial, saying he was running for re-election to the Senate. "It's never gonna happen," said spokesman Rob Sawicki of the State Department idea.

Well, it didn't happen, but there could be other jobs available, and Lieberman's not ruling anything out.

The most logical post, sources say, is homeland security, where reports have current Secretary Tom Ridge stepping down soon. The department was largely Lieberman's brainchild. He pushed it even as a reluctant Bush White House tried to thwart him - and finally got it through Congress.

[OldFriend]

Joe LIEberman continues to this day to insist that President Bush stole the election in 2000.

He was a willing participant in the effort to disenfranchise the military vote in Florida.

Joe LIEberman is also a religious hypocrite not fit to be in our President's cabinet.

[Grampa Dave]

"Does CT still have a repub gov? Good way to get addl senator on the repubs side !!!!!!!!!!!!"

GW should offer ambassador ships to France to Moi Kerri, to Ireland to the drunk Kennedy, and other wonderful ambassadorships to any rat senator with a Republican governor.

[Dienekes]

Al Gore betraying Lieberman is only a plus for Joe, IMO ;-)

[newzjunkey]

He's a genuine human being, a rare and endangered species of Democrat. He continues to support the WoT. His own Democrat Party tossed him aside without any due consideration during their primary process. I'd welcome him into the Cabinet in a position suited to his abilities.

Homeland Security would be an interesting place for him but the critical thing for me would be how he is on immigration. If he supports Bush's backdoor amnesty, I'd have to object.

[TheBigB]

We shouldn't automatically assume that a Republican Governor would automatically appoint a Republican Senator to replace Lieberman in any event. Especially if it's a Gov from a mostly liberal state who might want to run for re-election. I could see one saying, "The voters of this state elected a Democrat to the Senate, and if they wanted a party change, it will have to come from the people in an election." FYI, many republicans were yelling this very same logic to then-Gov. Roy Barnes of Georgia after Sen. Coverdell died.

[Alberta's Child]

Any U.S. Senator who voted to acquit Bill Clinton at his impeachment "trial" in 1999 shouldn't receive any consideration for any kind of GOP post no matter how inconsequential.

This goes for Arlen Specter as well as Joe Lieberman.

[rang1995]

a good choice,will mess the Dems heads bigtime

[DM1]

I understand your concern but the R governor in CT is pretty much done
Scandal hangover from Rowland is her undoing and i dont even think she wants to run (though i could be mistaken).
I think that she will probably appoint one of the moderate Rs like Shays or someone like that

[mnehring]

Isn't Governor Rell a Republican? If she appoints a replacement that could widen our lead in the Senate.

[Republican Wildcat]

She's an R -- the appointed replacement would probably be someone like Nancy Johnson, though.

[Dawgreg]

Well considering that Joe is but one of only a handful of Democrats I like I hope there's a place for him in the cabinet.

[Republican Wildcat]

I understand your concern but the R governor in CT is pretty much done Scandal hangover from Rowland is her undoing

She is very, very popular.

[MozamFreepinBique]

I support his appointment to a cabinet position. It would add relevance to my decent nasally-voiced Lieberman impersonation.

[byteback]

Surprised nobody has posted the obvious!! LOL!

[DM1]

"She is very, very popular."
No kidding? huh i heard (now this was when the Rowland thing first started) that she was a lame duck or some sort.
Is she a Rino or decent?

[NeoCaveman]

Liberman to Homeland Security
Nelson to Agriculture
GOP Senate goes from 55 to 57. I love the smell of strategery in the morning. Smells like victory.

[John Lenin]

I think Joe would be terrible. He's a big Kyoto supporter and a devout marxist.

[Republican Wildcat]

The last poll I saw her approval numbers were around 80%. I did not bookmark the thread, though, and I can't find it.

[Finalapproach29er]

Bush needs him in the Senate as a broker.

Breaux might get energy, but we won the election for pete's sake.

[quant5]

"Joe gets it on several levels. I was just telling my wife what a basket of idiots her party was for presenting the most liberal idiot in the Senate as their candidate, when they had Joe Lieberman to run against Bush."

Joe does get it and is one of the few Democrats I admire. He is a conservative Democrat so he really had no chance in getting the support of his party and winning the presidency.