Pukeworthy: McCain: Hopes Obama considers Lieberman for defense secretary

[cali]

Washington (CNN) - Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, tells CNN he believes his good friend Joe Lieberman would make a good defense secretary for President Obama, calling him "one of the most informed members of the Senate on national security issues and homeland security issues."

McCain was answering a question from CNN in a telephone interview about whether the president should consider picking Lieberman for the post, since Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he wants to leave this year.

"You know its funny you mention it," responded McCain, "I really hope that the president would consider him. I hadn't thought about it but I sure hope, whatever happens, he will play a major role on national security issues," said McCain.

Lieberman, who already had a rocky relationship with Democrats after running for his Senate seat in 2006 as Independent after losing a Democratic primary, angered many in his former party by campaigning constantly with McCain in his 2008 presidential bid. :puke:

<snip>

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/19/mccain-hopes-obama-considers-lieberman-for-defense-secretary/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_politicalticker+%28Blog%3A+Political+Ticker%29

[47of74]

1. My sister's cats would be better defense secretaries

[babylonsister]

2. That's laughable. nt

[emulatorloo]

25. My dog has more qualifications than Lieberman does

[sabrina 1]

3. He's probably going to replace Hillary as SOS.

He's not going to just go away and what Progressives think of him is of zero interest to this administration.

When he returned to DC after betraying the Dem. Party he was given a standing ovation, by Democrats. I guess we should have gotten a clue then how things really were.

The people threw him out, the party welcomed him back.

The people have zero power with this government. I think they'll even get a kick out of announcing his new and more powerful appointment, knowing it will anger progressives.

[cali]

7. ridiculous. I'd bet almost anything, he doesn't get offered anything

he supported McCain over Obama, and slights like that do not get you a cabinet position. do try and apply a modicum of logic.

[sabrina 1]

12. He was Obama's mentor in the Senate.

Obama supported him during his near ousting in Ct.

His support for McCain has not prevented this administration from giving him a lot more respect than they give eg, someone like Russ Feingold. His support for McCain was probably a message as to how much 'change' was going to be allowed.

I have nothing to demonstrate that his betrayal of the party or his support for a Republican has diminished his influence in any way in the Dem. Party.

[Renew Deal]

16. Was Feingold a last minute holdout for anything?

I don't think Liebmerman gets anything. But he does deserve some credit for DADT repeal.

[cali]

17. Lieberman was assigned to Obama to mentor him- show him the technical ropes.

All new Senators are assigned such a mentor.

There is no close relationship between Obama or the administration and Lieberman- whatever your "feelings" are.

[sabrina 1]

19. It isn't about 'feeling's'. Lieberman has powerful backing

in the MIC that appears to run things in this country. He is a great apologist for all of our wars, and superb supporter of the banking industry. What this president may think of him probably doesn't matter.

It would not be the first time that Obama backed Lieberman even when he knew he was not the people's choice or the choice of many in the party.

He even referred to that fact in a speech he gave at the time of the Ct election, that Lieberman was not particularly popular but then went on to praise him. Had he not done that, it's very possible that Lieberman would have lost the election in 2006. Even though he did not come out and support him when he left the party, he remained silent about him. Did he want to save him? Who knows, but Obama is, as we now know, a politician first.

If he is told that Leiberman is the choice, do you really believe, given his record, he would fight that even if he wanted to?

It may not happen, but I would not be at all surprised if it did.

[cali]

23. it won't happen. I'll make a wager with you.

and I'd be shocked if it happened. And what powerful backing does Lieberman have? What are you referring to?

I'm sorry, but this is just silly.

[sabrina 1]

28. I'm not certain it will happen, but I would not be surprised.

His powerful backers from the Finanicial sector ensured his win in 2006 when he switched parties and ran as an Indpendent:

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/

Lieberman's political career was supported by powerful special interests groups from the moneyed finance, insurance and real estate sector. Top contributors to his four terms in the U.S. Senate include employees and the political action committees affiliated with Citigroup and now-defunct Lehman Brothers. Pro-Israel groups also proved key to his success, contributing nearly $2.2 million during the course of Lieberman's career.

According to the last report filed with the Federal Elections Commission in September, Lieberman ended the 2010 election cycle with about $1.28 million cash on hand.

Without that backing he would not have had a chance running as an Independent after being defeated in the primary. They wanted him in power because he delivers for them.

And from Lieberman on his decision to retire from the Senate:

http://aomid.com/lieberman-leaves-presidential-politics-behind-he-made-his-mark/229648/

Recently, Lieberman opened a small window into this thinking process, telling a local TV station, “I’ve got to decide at this stage of my life, as much as I like this job and feel privileged to be a senator, do I want to do it again, or do I want to try one more career chapter that’s different,” adding that he felt a combination of “a sense of excitement and also the natural anxiety, because you don’t know what the next chapter will be.”

I'm not certain enough to bet on it, all I'm saying is he is a valuable asset to many powerful special interests in this country. And I cannot see him just going away. Otoh, he could just do what they all do, move on to a more lucrative career.

[emulatorloo]

26. Not going to happen.

[karynnj]

24. Not completely in agreement here

Obama - and all but two Senate Democrats supported Lieberman in the PRIMARY - as did Bill Clinton. Obama did NOT support him in the general election.

I really did not see a difference in the level of support that the administration gave to him and to Feingold. I suspect that it is the media pushing this idea that Lieberman should be given something. Yesterday, someone on CNN - I think Blitzer spoke of how he would be good for Secretary of Defense as he knows more than others in the Senate. (The fact is that he is on the Armed Services committee, but so is Reed, who was a West Point graduate and a Vietnam vet. Not to mention, Reed is a loyal Democrat.)

[sabrina 1]

29. I remember that Obama did not openly support him in the general

election. As a Democrat, hoping to get the Dem. nomination himself, he could hardly have done that after Lieberman's betrayal of the party.

I don't see him as a Sec. of Defense, but I could see him being chosen as SOS if Hillary leaves that position.

Otoh, he may be offered some very lucrative position with some of the financial institutions he served so well while in office, and may choose that route, as so many of them do.

[karynnj]

31. I would doubt Secretary of State because the Middle East is so

volatile and his history makes him a poor choice.

[sabrina 1]

32. I hope you're right. I would love to never have to listen to his whiney

voice again. But they never seem to go away. I think he knows he will not win in 2012 and his financial backers probably realize it also. That is why he is quitting. But he likes power, I can't see him giving it up altogether and the Dem. Leadership likes him despite his leaving the party.

We'll see. Nothing surprises me anymore and what we think might be a bad idea, ie, he would be a bad choice because of the ME, doesn't seem to matter to those who actually run things. If it did, we never would have had Bush as a candidate for anything. Or Cheney.

[karynnj]

33. I think you know that in reality, I would be more honest to say that I really really do not

want him as Secretary of state. The more honest reason is that he is to the right of HRC and I think she pulled Obama to the right - at least in the case of Afghanistan and probably Honduras. But, that suggests that Obama was "leadable" which is kind of an insult to him.

I agree with you on why he is leaving. Maybe he will move to head AIPAC, giving them a very high profile head.

[sabrina 1]

34. Can't disagree with anything you said.

I am sure he will not be going away, that's for sure.

[lyonn]

13. True, he supported McCain over Obama

Who can forget McCain's convention where Lieberman was a "Star".

[yellowcanine]

4. Nonstarter. Remember John, you lost. You don't get to pick.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. McCain still thinks PuppyJoe is attached to his ass.

No sale.

[goforit]

6. OMG!!!.......sick!

[Name removed]

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[Vinnie From Indy]

9. The hard right wing in Israel would love that!

One wonders how some would spin this here at DU if it were to actaully happen.

[spanone]

10. now that's funny, mccain

[Erose999]

11. Obama would probably do it too. n/t

[madmax]

14. Bullpuckey - Retirement means never having to work.

Go away... go play golf or something.

[Renew Deal]

15. Is he qualified and would he do it?

I think the answer is he's not qualified and probably would do it.

[social_critic]

18. Won't work

Lieberman is tightly linked to the Iraq invasion and subsequent occupation. The war and occupation are failures, cost the country over $1 trillion, and have really hurt US interests. Therefore Lieberman is a non starter for anything important. Maybe he could be made US ambassador to Somalia. Mogadishu has a pretty decent beach.

[madrchsod]

20. i did`t know there was a job opening for that position...

[33Greeper]

21. NO! n/t

[arthritisR_US]

22. only if he's politically suicidal. n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

27. McCain still thinks he beat Obama.

I think John and Joe are sweet on each other.

[mmonk]

30. Don't give him any more ideas.