Collins: Lieberman would make a good homeland security chief

[MaineDem]

December 2, 2004, 1:58 AM EST

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman just can't keep his name out of the rumor mills as a potential Cabinet member for President Bush _ even as he begins work this week on his 2006 Senate re-election campaign.

In the latest rumblings, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Lieberman, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee that she chairs, would make a good replacement for Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge if President Bush is willing to consider a Democrat.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-ct--collins-homelands1202dec01,0,2169806.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

I saw this on the local media here, as well. BUT, the 911 families are saying Joe's the obstructionist on the passage of the intelligence bill. Susan, you're an idiot!

[MrUnderhill]

1. Uh huh... I'm sure Republicans in CT like that idea too!

Or maybe Nelson (either one)?

Amazing how GOOD Democratic Senators from states with Republican Governors start to look right after the election.

[medeak]

7. stinks of Rove

doesn't it?

[MrUnderhill]

11. Nah.... "stinks" of good strategy - by anyone.

If I were president (respectful pause to daydream) I would immediately start offering cushy jobs to Republicans in Democratic states.

It just makes sense (for THEM).

[Just Me]

2. Is this Saturday Night Live?

You MUST be kidding! Sen. Lieberman? No way.

[UpInArms]

3. Lieberman should just go in the

corner with his buybull and play pocketpool.

He cannot become any more disgusting.

[bowens43]

4. Lieberman would make a good doorstop.

[Old and In the Way]

5. I'd rather Collins get nominated.

Then Baldacci could pick a Dem...maybe Chellie? to fill her seat.

[MaineDem]

8. There you go!

I was (jokingly) pushing her for Agriculture Secretary but this works just as well.

[Old and In the Way]

28. She oughta be pushing it.

She's history in her next campaign...if the RW don't do her in in the primaries she'll be gone in the GE.

[Eloriel]

6. Politics and ideology aside

I just can't see him as an effective administrator -- of anything bigger than his own Senate offices. Blah.

[Isere]

9. Precisely!

You said it all right there.

[SoCalDem]

10. I am not fan of Joe-mentum, but I wish he would just do whatever

he did before Gore was conned into asking him to run with him.. The elevation to some "national status" has gone to his head, and it needs to STOP..

Every adminsitration (R or D) tries to woo senators of the opposite side to their administration, and it's NO accident that they always coincidentally have governors (with appointment powers) of the "ruling party"..

The feigned "fluffing and cooing" is nauseating.

Another concern would be the fact that Lieberman is a devout Jew, and has worn his jewishness on his sleeve as much as W has his Jesus-worship.. The "war" we happen to be involved in concerns policies created BY one group, in FAVOR of the other, so it seems like a very sharp stick in the eye, of an idea..

First of all, I think the DHS needs to "G-O".. It's about the protection and security of our country.. Well we have a defense department..(although they failed so miserably, that their OWN HQ was attacked with impunity)..

I would rather see a temporary spin-off of the defense dept.. called what it is.. The War Department..

Homeland security Dept is just another clever way to add another layer of deniability ,so that *² is protected form responsibility for ANYTHING :(

[Pirate Smile]

12. The RW seems to be out for Lieberman and the Senate right now.

The RW would freak and it isn't like he would bring a lot of credibility from Dems (like BushCo cares but I guess these "gestures" are more for the press then the actual people - helps with the spin).

[napi21]

13. Other than a good a** ki**er, Lieberman is good for nothing!

H doesn't command any authority, always sounds like he's about to cry, even when he's talking aobut happy things, and he's too damn old to even be an effective Senator. The only thing he does well is kiss shrubs a**.

[saigon68]

20. He was rejected, when he applied to give shrub a lewinsky

They said he was too used up,--- by performing toooooo many times

[Straight Shooter]

14. Heads up! If we're attacked, it will be because a Democrat was in charge

See? It's simple. They want to pick not just a Democrat, but someone who was actually running on a presidential ticket, our highest conveyance of confidence in that person. (Ugh, never mind it was Joe.)

Thus, at the next attack, no matter what Joe does to prevent it, which he will be blocked at every turn, guess what: It will be because Democrats are soft on terror and poor at protecting the "homeland."

Oh, man, it just doesn't get any better than that for the right wing.

Think like a Repub, stay one step ahead of that devious crowd of hyenas.

[DFWJock]

15. DFWJock: Lieberman would make a good republican

.

[genius]

16. Yeah, if you like killing Arabs. Most Jews I know don't even like

what Lieberman or Sharon stand for.

[Chipper Chat]

17. I have proof this is a bad idea

Because Sean Hannity loves Lieberman (he often crows about how Uncle Joe and "Duel-man Zell" are the only two democrats he can stomach."

[Rose Siding]

18. He's the only one who can offer real Joe-tection from terrorists

[Moloch]

19. Joementum would be a perfect homeland security chief

for the * administration. He would just accept the party line and never raise any objections to it.

[Voltaire99]

21. Kick him out of the party if he joins the Bush regime.

He's an obstacle to the real reform needed in the party and the nation.

Working for the Bushies in this repressive role might be a natural for Holy Joe, of course; if so, he should switch parties or be booted out.

[genieroze]

22. Blah!

:puke: I wish he would change parties

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Merlot]

30. And I am appalled by this suggestion

I don't think it's because he's a "more conservative" Dem. I think there are two very good reasons why this should not happen (both which have already been mentioned here). A repub gov. would pick his replacement, and since he's a democrat, any attacks will be blamed on him.

Simple.

BTW, bush has made it clear he respects no democrats, same as arnie here in CA

[Merlin]

24. Any CT people here? Who do we have who could replace him?

Who do they have?

[nomatrix]

25. What is the republican lead in the senate?

55-45? Getting Joe out of the senate, even if by rumor, then start planting how great his republican challenger is, makes for a believable loss of his senate seat.

If they get a super majority the last 2yrs. --guaranteed passage of any bill. I know there is a lot of focused attention on this past election and that's fantastic for those who can investigate!

For those of us who can't work on this last election, please don't take your eyes off the planing of the next blitz. They are way too good at this.

[flordehinojos]

26. joe lieberman ought to just go ahead and change in his party affiliation

ot that of greedy REPUBLICAN! He so much wants to have a position of higher holding power than that of Senator but if all else fails, maybe he and Zell Miller could start a Democrats for George bush fan club... I don't know of one single democrat who might join them.

[quiet.american]

27. Uh, just in case you haven't heard....

QUOTE: "BUT, the 911 families are saying Joe's the obstructionist on the passage of the intelligence bill."
=====================================

It's not exactly the 9/11 families who are saying Joe's the obstructionist, it's the right-wingnut 9/11 families (who all, no doubt, voted for Shrub) who are saying Joe's the obstructionist, because their real agenda smacks of bigotry and JL is opposed to that.

(Don't get me wrong -- I am still no fan of Joe.)

But check it out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1035636#1035667

[Stinky The Clown]

29. NO FUCKING WAY

As bad as Joementum may be, he needs to stay in the Senate. We can NOT allow ANY Dem senator to take a cabinet job.

These fuckers wanna "appoint" their way to a fillibuster proof Senate.

Hey Rove ...... Fuck You!

And Suzie ........ ? Fuck you, too.