You heard it here second

Today, on  The Chris Matthews Show, during the "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" segment (which should involve some kind of flashed graphic that says "Item Need Not Be True,")  the always interesting Andrew Sullivan said that Joe Lieberman would soon be offered the chance to succeed Rummy as Secretary of Defense. Sullivan said this explains the recent Winter Carnival of Sucking Up. I really like Andrew Sullivan. In fact, I consider him walking proof that there are lots of people I could be friends with whose political beliefs differ significantly from mine. Actually, I suppose Lieberman is also walking proof of that too.

But this idea defies common sense, unless Lieberman is so sick of being a senator that he can barely stand another minute of it. Which is like trying to imagine Jabba the Hutt as sick of being catered to. That was a tortured analogy, wasn't it? Anyway, Lieberman has an election next year, sky-high approval ratings, millions of dollars in campaign funds and no known predators. He gets his hand stamped, basically, for six more years of fun. Sullivan's way, he gets thrown in the tidal basin at the end of '08. This is not a hard choice.

Comments

[Rich Hall]

Normally, Lieberman's re-election next year would be easy. I'm not sure it will be. I am a loyal Democrat who will not vote for him, nor will my wife. I don't think we are alone on this. We and many others are very angry with him about the war, and I don't see anything happening to change that before next years election. If anything, the war will be less popular. This brings me to Lowell Weicker, if he runs there could be a great 3-way race. Please keep your readers and listeners informed about his plans.

[Scott]

Not that it matters but I heared this on "Face The Nation"( Shieffer to Kerry) one 1/2 hour before Motormouth Matthews was on the air.(at least on my cable system)
Joey. Joey. Joey
" What do you do about a problem like Joey?"
I was never so proud to cast a vote as when he stood for Vice president.
Thank God he lost.
How can somebody so right about so many things be so wrong about the most foundmental things?
The hell of it is unless some body shows up with a whole bunch of money to spend to win a primary agisnt Liebermen , there I'll be voting for Joe agisnt some Republican hack
Grrr..

[The Slightly Less Dead Inside Lieutenant Governor]

It is true that Lieberman basically has a Senate seat for as long as he wants it. However, that being said...maybe he might view his best way to preserve a war he already supports would be to serve as Defense Secretary for 3 years. After all Republican William Cohen gave up his Senate seat to become Bill Clinton's last defense secretary.

If Senator Lieberman truly believes that this war is something he really needs to go to bat for, even though he knows it gives Bush ammunition to deflect criticism...then he might perhaps do anything including join this administration.

For the Bushies, it's a win because they would love to have a Democrat on their side who isn't named Zell Miller or Norman Mineta. Say..what's up with Mineta anyway???

I do agree with your basic premise but I wonder...

Senator Lieberman, who believed that finishing 5th in New Hampshire meant he was tied for 3rd, has shown he can show a lack of judgement. So it is possible...probable..hard to say.

[coturnix]

Joe may be crazy, but he is not THAT crazy! And if this is true and he does get this job, what is he going to do in 2008? Run for President as a Republican? With a strong negative joementum...

[Taylor Somerville]

Your reasoning here makes perfect sense, but after a failed VP run, and a failed Pres. run, do you think it's possible he still has higher aspirations, not neccessarily Sec. of Def.? Or is Sen. the end of the line (which is a very nice line to end on)?