Lieberman meets with Rumsfeld amid retirement speculation

[cyberpj]

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld hosted Senator Joe Lieberman for a breakfast meeting today amid speculation that the Connecticut Democrat could be in line to succeed him.

Lieberman, who has emerged as President Bush's staunchest Democratic defender on the Iraq war, has bucked his party as a vocal advocate for Bush's Iraq policies.

He did not talk about the morning meeting with Rumsfeld and General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Lieberman aides provided few details about the breakfast, saying that their boss does not discuss private meetings.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--lieberman-rumsfel1208dec08,0,120808.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

[MadisonProgressive]

1. Anyone think LIEberman struck a deal?

You side vocally with us on the war and we'll make you SOD?

[cyberpj]

2. Anyone think LIEberman DIDN'T strike a deal?

Although he always WAS a hawk.

They give him this because he knows he won't be elected again.

[Sadie5]

3. Wonder what Al Gore thinks of Joe?

I can't imagine Gore condoning his switching to Bush policies.

[Canuckistanian]

4. Is this really The Onion?

Joementum Lieberman for Defense Secretary? What a bizarro world this has become. (slaps self) This is just a nightmare, this is just a nightmare... everything wil be all right

[panader0]

5. Lieberman reminds me

of that Zell Miller fool. (Did I remember his name right?) Why doesn't he just switch parties? Please Joe, get out of our party!

[Benhurst]

6. In Zell's defense,

I think he is senile. What's Lieberman's excuse?

[Lyle]

7. Lieberman comes off looking like a putz

I don't know WHAT exactly to make of this. From the republican perspecitve, it is probably a good PR move to plug a Democrat into the SOD slot. That much I understand. Where I fall off the trail is where it comes to Lieberman. Is he just simply acting in a purely self serving way by sucking up to the adminsitration to further his own career? Or does he truly stand behind the administration's policies?? If this is the case, he faces isolation within his own party and he might just as well switch parties. I'm just having trouble connecting the dots on the Lieberman side of this equation. I've never viewed him as a particularly strong politician, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I disliked him - until now. I just think he comes off looking like a putz here by supporting the Rupublican party's policies - escpecially now that we have the benefit of perspecitive to take in the sum of thier actions over the last several years in aggregate. Anyone!?! I must be missing something.

[cyberpj]

8. I think he knows he can't get re-elected. He always was a hawk, but

now he may end up with a big job that will translate to big money jobs the rest of his life.

Like the majority of congress - it's all about THEM and what they can get now.

[cyberpj]

9. OR (Oh my God) OR he thinks he can run for Prez! nt.

[Lyle]

10. Either way - the guy is just a disappointment. n/t

[JDPriestly]

11. Unbelievable!

Bush steals the presidency from Gore and thereby steals the vice presidency from Lieberman. Bush and Cheney not only stole the presidency from Gore and Lieberman, but then they and Rumsfeld made a horrible mess of our nation's defense and our nation's economy in the process. And now, Lieberman accepts an appointment to the underling position of secretary of defense in the fraudulent Bush administration. Has Lieberman no sense of self-respect, of standing up for himself, of right and wrong. Why doesn't he just get down on his knees and wash up the floors after Bush walks on them. How can he betray Gore, the Democratic Party, us, his own ideals in this way. Was he always one of them?

Cohen's serving as secretary of defense in the Clinton administration was different. Clinton always pursued a bipartisan foreign policy. But Bush has always been extremely partisan. It looks very suspicious that, after years of partisan digs and meanness, Bush suddenly makes a conciliatory gesture toward a conservative Democrat. If Lieberman accepts this post, he will become the object of ridicule throughout history. He is writing a historical epitaph in which he just looks ridiculous. What a FOOL!

[cyberpj]

13. "Was he always one of them?"

Has been a frequent thought of mine.

[Clark2008]

12. I really want to know what Joe's qualifications are.

Hell, I can't stand Rummy, but at least he has experience - be-it neo-con and four years in peacetime Navy experience - but Joe has NONE.

Can't Joe see that the Republicans are setting up the Democrats to be the fall guys when they have to yank the military out of Iraq and Iraq falls to hell? They're going to blame Joe and the Dems for "pulling out too quickly" while they get to save face for the 2006 elections.

Such a ruse!