Lieberman Flippity Flops on the Rumsfeld

What happens when you need a lift in the polls to counter the fact that you're getting your ass whalloped by an anti-war candidate?  Appeal to those on the border of being anti-war by saying:

http://news.yahoo.com/...

"With all respect to Don Rumsfeld, who has done a grueling job for six years, we would benefit from new leadership to work with our military in Iraq," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Wise words..except they would 180° contradict in every possible way his fearmongering from some time ago seen here:

http://www.foxnews.com/...

Lieberman told Fox News that the calls for Rumsfeld's ouster are a distraction from the larger picture. "We're in the middle of a war -- you wouldn't want to have the secretary of defense change unless there's really good reason for it and I don't see any good reason at this time," Lieberman said....
Pelosi's and others' calls for a resignation are "a sign that opportunism always seeks an occasion in Washington," [Newt Gingrich] said. "There's zero reason for Donald Rumsfeld to resign and every reason for the president and Donald Rumsfeld to tell the truth," Gingrich said. "It's just politics in a presidential election

It took a beating in the Democratic primary for this guy to say something like this.  He's pandering and doesn't believe his own words.  He's a war and fear mongering liar and deserves to lose badly.

•  We need a master list of all of Joe's

  ... hypocritical statements.

  It is a long list, but today's "I'm a loyal Democrat" would have to top the list.

  by Bob Johnson on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:30:44 PM PDT

  •  In 2003, when running for POTUS, Joe

    says he suggested that Rumsfeld should resign?

    Specifically, Lieberman was asked on Face the Nation what he might be doing differently than Bush in Iraq:

       LIEBERMAN: Yeah. I think there's--three years ago in October on this show you asked me and I said that I believe that it was time for new leadership at the Pentagon. I think it's still time for new leadership at the Pentagon. With all respect to Don Rumsfeld, who has done a grueling job for six years, we would benefit from new leadership to work with our military in Iraq.

    But in 2004, Holy Joe, the last honest man in politics according to his boosters, said this:

    Many argue that we can only rectify the wrongs done in the Iraqi prisons if Donald Rumsfeld resigns. I disagree. Unless there is clear evidence connecting him to the wrongdoing, it is neither sensible nor fair to force the resignation of the secretary of defense, who clearly retains the confidence of the commander in chief, in the midst of a war. I have yet to see such evidence. Secretary Rumsfeld's removal would delight foreign and domestic opponents of America's presence in Iraq.

    Joe Lieberman is a motherfucking liar.  It's all the more disgusting because he thinks he can get away with it, and it's doubly disgusting that he may be right, because the corporate media probably won't call him on it.

    Both block quotes are from

    http://www.belgraviadispatch.com/...

    by oblomov on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:36:35 PM PDT

    •  I am sick of these

      motherfuckin Joe's on this motherfuckin planet.

      by don the tin foil on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 06:46:44 AM PDT

•  I looked at this issue

  ...earlier today. Holy Joe is pandering all over the place.

  by PsiFighter37 on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:32:08 PM PDT

  •  He is the very definition of pandering.

    by Mother Mags on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:46:16 PM PDT

•  Just a spiele

  I for one doesn't take Lieberman seriously beyond talking point spiele in regard with Rummsfeld.

  It's just a campaign trick, similar to "evil blogger hacks my server".

  He is not seriously asking for Rummy resignation. (What has he done beside talking on TV? has he even written a letter to Bush yet?)

  by fugue on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:34:18 PM PDT

  •  What if there is something else going on?

    I have my own personal little conspiracy theory.

    Let's say that Bush really intends to replace Rumsfield, as if to show the appearance of accountability now that the war has traction.  There is probably no way to replace him with a Democratic majority Senate.  And replacing Rumsfield before the election would not work to the White House's advantage.  

    So, say we win the Senate and it is 51-49 and Joe has won his seat.  All the White House has to do is tap Joe Lieberman to be the next Secretary of Defense and how many of his old buddies will vote against him?  And in addition, the Republicans get back the Senate because Governor Rell will nominate a Republican who will  serve until a Republican Senate is no longer a problem for Bush. What say ye?

    Even if this isn't the plan, it's certainly enough to worry people in Connecticut and could pen Lieberman into something of a corner.  I'm pretty sure that a large number of Independents in Connecticut would be distressed at the idea of a Republic Senator.  And there is precedence for Joe not caring about whether the Democrats retain the seat from 2000 when he ran for Senate and Vice President.

    by expat germany on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 03:07:04 AM PDT

    •  but then

      LIebermann is risking alienating Dubya, if this is a real request.

      But nobody budget, dubya just smirk away. Usually after being told like that he goes ape and talks for days on TV about "having confidence", "Heckuva job", "I am the decider"

      and remember all those were a behind the scene request from close allies that nobody knows. (until after the fact when Dubya turns banana on TV.)

      So why is BUsh keeping quiet? Why nobody ask Bush directly..Hey, should RUmmy resign? (eg. pit Bushes words against Liebermann and see how the two meet)

      ...meh, I don't see it. The most I can see, It's some sort of campaign talking point designed by DLC to make their crew looks tough. But really has no bite.

      I dare Liebermann to say "Mister, president. Fire Rusmfeld." ...i really dare him. I bet dubya going to ignore him, cause he knows it's all a charade.

      by fugue on Mon Aug 21, 2006 at 06:45:44 AM PDT

•  The new label for Joe

  Kerry got it right today when he compared Joe's statements last week to Cheney's

  Joe Lieberman is a Dick Cheney Democrat.

  by MoDem on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:36:29 PM PDT

  •  So I read it like this...

    Joe Lieberman is a Dick.  Cheney Democrat.

    I was partially confused, at first.

    by viczeba on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:03:02 PM PDT

•  This is the third diary

  on this today.

  by quaoar on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 08:59:59 PM PDT