CT-SEN: Woodward: Lieberman Was Considered For Bush Defense Secretary
In his new book, State of Denial, Bob Woodward writes that the Bush administration considered Joe Lieberman as a replacement for Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld. In today's excerpt in the Washington Post, Woodward writes of chief of staff Andrew Card: "Card had the names of 11 possible Rumsfeld replacements in his `hit-by-the-bus' book, among them Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), who had been Al Gore's vice presidential running mate in 2000 and was a staunch defender of the Iraq war, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)." Lieberman has dismissed rumors he was being considered as a "total fantasy." More after the jump.
From the New York Times, Dec. 22, 2005 (via Nexis):
It doesn't help Lieberman that the Bush administration is heaping praise on his position on the war. Vice President Dick Cheney called him "a fine U.S. senator" in a speech earlier this month.
Lieberman was even rumored to be under consideration to replace Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld if the Pentagon chief were to retire. Lieberman dismissed the rumor as "a total fantasy" and said he isn't interested in the job.
From today's Post excerpt of Woodward's new book:
Card had the names of 11 possible Rumsfeld replacements in his "hit-by-the-bus" book, among them Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), who had been Al Gore's vice presidential running mate in 2000 and was a staunch defender of the Iraq war, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
But Card thought the best replacement for Rumsfeld would be James A. Baker III, who had been White House chief of staff and Treasury secretary under President Ronald Reagan, then secretary of state and chief political adviser to the president's father.
Card floated the names to Bush over the course of several weeks, all the while underscoring the advantages of change. But his focus was on Baker.
Woodward also reports that speechwriter Michael Gerson pushed Lieberman, too:
With Card's knowledge and encouragement, Michael Gerson, the chief White House speechwriter, also lobbied the president. Gerson said he believed that Rumsfeld should be replaced, as a symbol of change. The president should talk to Lieberman about taking over for Rumsfeld, Gerson recommended. What better symbol of change could there be than to bring in Gore's running mate?
Knowing how important loyalty was to Bush, he said, "Mr. President, it's not disloyal to have someone in for four years, four and a half years, in a job like this, and then for a variety of reasons, many of them not of his own doing, okay, to say that it would be advantageous to have a change."
Interesting idea, Bush said.
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/oct/02/ct_sen_woodward_lieberman_was_considered_for_defense_secretary
This explains "the kiss" between Bush and Lieberman. Joe Lickerman: the new GOP recruit!
3 comments:
It looks like Lieberman was a Bush buddy for a long time now...and to think it all started with a little kiss! He makes me sick, and I hope Lamont kicks his @ss in November!
CC:
Lickerman got in bed with GOP. All in the name of position. A major disappointment for the Democratic Party and for the state of Connecticut. I hope Lamont kick ass in November. And I am looking forwrd for Joe Dunn who is running for Treasurer in CA pursues his Enron investigation which includes Lieberman.
No it was THE KISS that sealed the deal. So many deals and hugs. Makes you wonder what McCain was offered for that hug. Just think of all the deals and crimes while Foley is attacking child right under Gonzo's nose. Gonzo is looking for child predators and most of them are working with him. This scandal might open the way for the real corruption that this GOP has been doing for 5 years.
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