Will Joe Loserman get the nod for Secretary Of Defense?

[fooj]

Just wonderin'...

There was lots of talk here a few months back about Joe wanting this position. What are the odds that they will offer it to him in order to take away a "supposed" vote in the Senate? Is this even worthy of consideration? Just curious. :shrug:

I KNOW that Gates is the nominee. Just not certain that he'll make it through the confirmation process. Thinking ahead...

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Have you not kept up with the news?

Rummy's replacement has already been named.

[Dhalgren]

Poppy Bush's hitman, Gates, is taking over Defense...

[MADem]

2. Turn on the TV. The nominee is Gates, Bush One's old pal, protege of Scowcroft, and

close ally of Baker.

[fooj]

4. I KNOW...

Just wondering if he'll make it through the confirmation process. Thinking ahead...

[MADem]

18. He will sail through. Monkey already has assurances. NT

[fooj]

3. I KNOW. I KNOW.

However, I'm wondering if Gates will get through the confirmation process. Just thinking a step ahead.

[Richard Steele]

5. Too late. Poppy had a spare henchman he wasn't using right now....

...and swooped in to once again bail Dubya out
of his mess. Just like EVERY other job Dubby has ever had.

[fooj]

6. Love your graphic.

:hi:

[Richard Steele]

9. Feel free to swipe it & spread it around- that's what...

...it's there for.

I have a feeling it'll be getting used fairly
often over the next two years.

[onenote]

7. are there any signs that Gates won't get confirmed?

None that I've seen.

[fooj]

10. Reid and others (can't remember EXACTLY who) have spoken out...

[keepCAblue]

14. Headlines last couple days have all been saying...

that Gates is UNLIKELY to gain congressional approval.

[onenote]

17. interesting. do you have a link?

I've been searching for stories about the reaction to Gates, but basically haven't found much of anything.

[keepCAblue]

19. It's a mixed bag...here are some references

Mr. Bush said in a Rose Garden statement in which he renewed his pledge to find common ground with the newly powerful Democrats. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, made it clear that they will advance some ideas of their own.

Link

Evan Bayh (D-IN) outlines critical questions he'll ask of Gates before deciding on confirming Gates:

Click on "Listen" at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6461942


On the flip side, here's an article that states the Dems will most likely confirm Gates:

Link

Biggest factor on Gates' confirmation is whether Bush gets Gates' confirmation hearings quickly, i.e., before the lame duck congress vs. the new Dem controlled congress which convenes in January.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Could happen. In that case who would be the new Sen from CT?

[fooj]

11. Got me.

Maybe I shouldn't have opened an unnecessary can of worms... LOL!

[onenote]

12. whoever the repub governor appoints?

typically vacancies in the US Senate are filled by a special election, but in the interim, state law allows the governor to appoint someone to fill the vacancy. Not sure what CT law says.

I think its a moot point, however, since I doubt Lieberman will be asked or will accept.

[mtnsnake]

13. If "There was lots of talk here a few months back about Joe wanting this position"

then I highly doubt that there's anything to it. The rumor mill never ceases, does it.

You're probably worrying over nothing.

[applegrove]

15. I think Lieberman has proven he likes being a Senator and will not

be giving that up anytime soon.

[fujiyama]

16. Why would Lieberman

want any direct responsibility for the war he favored so greatly?

Lieberman isn't stupid. Plus as SecDef, he'd only have two years.

He has a comfortable position now. The threads on Liebreman are getting silly.

And it seems Dems are willing to give Gates a chance. It seems likely they'll vote for his confirmation. Many are making positive comments about him.

[fooj]

21. I'm thinking Gates may have some opposition.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2688322

<snip>
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid says he has questions about Gates' involvement in Iran-Contra. Republicans plan to push the nomination through before they lose control in January.
<snip>

Biden and Levin are among the Senators who votes AGAINST him the first time around...

[fujiyama]

25. That's good to hear

I'm hoping Gates' past will be heavily scrutinized.

[fooj]

27. I'm right there with you!

:hi:

[Superman Returns]

20. no, he won't

with the unpopularity of Bush and Republicans, and a Democratic majority in the Senate, Lieberman knows who his sugar daddy is. Why would he put his neck on the line for only two years and take responsibility for a mess of a war when he can continue being Senator for the rest of his life? Plus he is a Democrat again.

[ncteechur]

22. Gates will get tough questions but will get the nod. The first step in

bipartisanship. It would be a great move by the democrats to ask hard questions but allow the confirmation to show that we have extended the olive branch and want to be bipartisan.

Unless gates is a dickhead under questioning, that is a different story.

[PBass]

23. Has the President appointed ANY Democrats to cabinet positions???

As far as I know, absolutely NOT.

(Oh okay, I know Joementum isn't a Dem anymore, technically. He has a pretty Liberal voting record, though, compared to the Republicans. Don't think Bush is going to start embracing Liberals or even Faux-Liberals... not now, not ever.)

[TheJollyNihilist]

24. I grudgingly have to admire his loyalty.

I strongly dislike Lieberman, but I do have to grudgingly respect his party loyalty. He's been quoted as saying, "Call me a Democrat." At least we can be confident he won't defect to the dark side (hopefully!).

[subterranean]

26. Does he have any qualifications for the job??

[bigwillq]

28. NO

I don't think so and I really don't think he will accept.

It's a two year job. He's guaranteed at least six in the senate.

[rep the dems]

29. I honestly don't think so.

I know people say he doesn't do anything that isn't for himself, and this would not be in his best interest.