Is Joe Lieberman qualified to be Homeland Security Head?

[Blue_Roses]

I would like to think that Bush is doing what Barack Obama suggested--work on his legacy this term by making better choices--but I'm not that optimistic yet. With that said, choosing a Democrat to head homeland security would be a step towards healing the divide, but Lieberman? What qualifications does he have to do this job and is he really the best we can do? If there is something I'm missing, please share, but so far it just looks good on paper and nothing else.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He's more qualified than Kerik (not that that's saying much).

But appointing Joe gets a Dem (sort of) out of the Senate. If we have to lose one, Joe would probably be the best to get rid of, since he's a DINO, but I think the real reason for this is to open up another slot for a Repub senator (the governor of Conn. is a Repub).

[catgirl]

2. He's a perfect kiss ass for the Bush agenda

[LizW]

3. And that's the only qualification, so, yes.

Wait, no, the other qualification is that the appointment serve as a "f**k you" from Bush to Democrats. He has that one, too.

[Blue_Roses]

5. No doubt about that

He is more qualified than Kerik.

The one thing that bothers me the most is if (more like when) we are attacked again, there will be a Dem at the helm to take the blame--something the repubs will love.

[MemphisTiger]

28. I'm not sure he's qualified but more that Kerik

Also, does he have any executive brach experience, even on the state level? I think I heard he was a prosecutor, so that's good.

[NewJeffCT]

34. He was Attorney General of CT for several years

And, he was pretty popular when he was AG here - that led him to defeating liberal Republican (yes, liberal!) Lowell Weicker way back when for the Senate seat.

I know Lieberman also graduated from Yale and then Yale Law School.

[MemphisTiger]

35. Is he a Skull and Bones member? I'm starting to

see a pattern

[NewJeffCT]

36. no clue

but, he is 100 times more qualified than Kerik. However, I don't want to lose another seat in the Senate.

[demokatgurrl]

46. I don't think Skull and Bones allows Jews but I could be wrong.

[bluestateguy]

4. He can also be usefully thrown overboard if there is another attack

Another terrorist attack: Oh, it's the Democrat's fault, and Lieberman is thrown overboard to the wolves to deflect the blame from the Oval Office.

[Blue_Roses]

9. Exactly

the repubs can't blame the Dems for the screw-ups now with the overload of repubs in the house and senate, so it makes perfect sense since this is a big issue for many Americans.

[DODI]

6. If he did become director, we would lose a dem senate seat.

Our gov. is a repuke.

[matcom]

8. your assuming it matters & that Liebermiller is a Dem

[Blue_Roses]

10. I always did like the movie, "pollyanna"

:D

[DODI]

38. He is "technically" a dem and in 2006 it could matter if there

is a repuke from CT in the senate as far a majorities and committees go, so yes it very well could matter.

[matcom]

7. Liebermiller?

sure! why not?

as qualified as Tucker Carlson or Paula Zahn or Dennis Miller or SpongeBob to salute the Feurer and pick colors at random

[Blue_Roses]

12. hey, I like spongebob

:7

[matcom]

15. problem with SpongeBob.....

we would ALWAYS be on "yellow" :D

[Blue_Roses]

19. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:7 no doubt!!

[Ruffhowse]

11. Why not? No loss to the Dems, he's a Dem in name only. I still believe

he was a big reason why Gore lost in 2000. Gore managed to pick the one human on the planet with less personality than himself.

[Blue_Roses]

14. yeah, I agree

he was the most bland choice...

[cali]

20. Please try thinking

about the following scenario: Lieberman becomes HS Secretary. There's another attack (and do you really put this administration above staging one for political purposes?) Lieberman and the entire Democratic party get the blame. Jody Rell, repub Governor of CT appoints Chris Shays to the Senate, increasing the repub majority. Sounds great, huh? Lieberman may be awful on national security issues, but he's pro-choice, pro-environment and decent on civil rights. In fact, he has a fairly liberal record, particularly compared to any repub who would replace him. Like, the vast majority here at DU, I don't care for him, but at least I actually know something about the man. Many who spout off, don't have information on which to base their opinions.

[ebayfool]

43. I think you nailed it. n/t

[tngledwebb]

22. No, Gore WON despite L-man, or the so called 'personality' issues.

And L-man helped pull in Florida.

[AntiLempa]

37. Lieberman helped with Fla?

Lieberman could have stood with the CBC and called for a congressional investigation. They only needed one Senator. But Mr. Joe didn't see it as a worthwile cause to stand up for Democracy.

Way to go Joe!

[tngledwebb]

39. Right ,but he was PICKED to get out the Jewish vote in Fla,

or wasn't that the CW at the time...?
Or was he chosen to alienate the South?
Or to ensure the NE 'liberal' vote?
Either way, he's still a DINO.

[tngledwebb]

13. You must be joking.

You are free to believe that Bush is doing what Obama said, of course. I have a lot of trouble believing any DU'er could believe Bush about anything, after the past 4 years. And that's why Lieberman looks like a bad choice on or off paper.

[Blue_Roses]

17. read the original post again

comments like these make no sense to me:

"I have a lot of trouble believing any DU'er could believe Bush about anything, after the past 4 years."

I haven't "had" Bush just for 4 years, I've had him for 6+ when I had him as governor, so don't even try to start it 'cause that dog don't hunt with me. I've been a Dem probably longer than you've been alive. Some of us saw the writing on the wall long before he was selected in 2000.

[tngledwebb]

24. What makes you the faintest bit optimistic bout BushCo's second term?

That's my point. And if you've been a Texas Dem, God bless you, but didn't that incur a deep distrust of every single thing that this bastard and his puppetmasters do or say?

Btw, no need to be be ageist.

[Blue_Roses]

26. obviously you want to argue

or either just just can't read that well. My post states:

"I'm not that optimistic yet"

[tngledwebb]

31. You misunderstood, just asking a question,

albeit somewhat rhetorical. But now that you've brought a fellow DU'ers literacy into it...no other reply is needed.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

16. Hell no, which makes him a perfect choice.

Does anyone in *s administration have qualifications that suit them for their positions?

[Blue_Roses]

18. Excellent point!

:D

[BamaBecky]

21. Send Joe to Isreal n/t

[matcom]

23. Send Joe To Palestine

;)

[bunny planet]

25. He's no Bernie Kerick.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

27. He's certainly not qualified to be a senator.

Even less so as a cop for Bush. I hope he stays on as a faux Democrat senator until the Democratic voters throw his sorry ass out.

[AG78]

29. Committee on the Present Danger

http://www.fightingterror.org/

With the likes of these people, how could Lieberman be a bad choice?

http://www.fightingterror.org/newsroom/lieb_kyl_oped.cfm

"To make sure it doesn't, we are relaunching today the Committee on the Present Danger, a group of citizens of diverse political persuasions who will work to sustain and strengthen bipartisan support for the war on terrorism in Iraq and beyond."

http://www.fightingterror.org/views/index.cfm
http://www.fightingterror.org/members/index.cfm

Yes, just look at all the diverse political persuasions. Most of whom are from AEI, The Heritage Foundation, and the Reagan years of the 1980's.

[tngledwebb]

40. Good find!

But beware the photo on first page that shows crash site of Flight 77.

[Willy Lee]

30. Hell no.

[leesa]

32. He's a fascist wannabe. Should work.

[niceypoo]

33. Qualified to oversee a 55 billion $ traffic light?

Your kidding, right? ANd make suggestions like "Be on the lookout for people carrying atlas'??

aHAHAHA!

[dave123williams]

41. He's qualified to keep Insurance Companies safe from all threats.

[zulchzulu]

42. No one is qualified to be Homeland Security head...

...because the whole department is a stupid idea in the first place.

I'd suggest they scrap the whole damn thing. Why not just have the departments that it supposedly oversees DO THEIR GODDAMN JOB.

[Blue_Roses]

47. You make an excellent point!

:)

[nickgutierrez]

44. It would make a lot of sense in Bushworld

Lieberman is just the kind of Democrat they like -- one that's not a Democrat at all. They could make a nice big flashy show of "bipartisanship" without having to change their ideas a single small worthless bit.

[demokatgurrl]

45. At least as much so as Tom Ridge. And as much as Condi

is qualified to be Secretary of State.
Which ain't saying much.