As

Raw Story is reporting today, Sen. John Kerry has called for the resignation
of Donald Rumsfeld.

“The President owes it to our troops serving in Iraq to remove Secretary
Rumsfeld and replace him at the Pentagon with a Defense Secretary who
understands the situation on the ground in Iraq and who will advance, not
undermine, American values around the world.

View complete article

here

The question is though – if Rummy leaves who would take over? The rumors are
flying and a majority of them seem to be pointing to one person – Joe Lieberman.
The rumors have even reached the mainstream media. This from CBS’
Face the Nation:

SCHIEFFER: …because there’s a lot of talk. Last night–over this
weekend, I had four different people tell me that the White House is
thinking if the secretary of Defense goes over the next year–and a lot of
people think that he will, that the president is thinking of nominating Joe
Lieberman to be secretary of Defense. If he did that, would you support
Lieberman?

View complete transcript
here.

So why would Bush be courting a Democrat to take the place at Rummy.
Kos has an
opinion on it

If this happened, Ct. Gov. Jodi Rell would nominate his replacement, who
would then have an incumbency advantage heading into the 2006 election. Who
would that be? One of the state’s existing Republican congressman, either
Shays, Johnson, or Simmons? Would their “moderate” status protect them
against the state’s rabid anti-Bush mentality? Rell is now the nation’s most
popular governor, so being a Republican isn’t necessarily the kiss of death
in Connecticut.

View Daily Kos entry
here.

I think the reasoning goes a little deeper. I doubt Lieberman would change
parties with the appointment. He already is considered Republican-Lite. As mater
of fact, I doubt Bush would want him to change parties. What a better way to try
and show America he is a “unites” than by appointing a Democrat to such a vital
position.

Another reason I feel Bush would consider this appointment is because of
Lieberman’s religion. He is Jewish and even holds a dual citizenship with
Israel. During the 2000 election the right tried to make an argument out of that
and if he should be allowed to run for vice-President. Now that the Middle East
is such a mess it would be a great asset to Bush’s Middle East policy.

Tensions grow harsher everyday between Iran and Israel and we are on the side
of Israel, of course. Should Iran take a military action against Israel (or
Israel against Iran), we would now have someone in the drivers seat at the
Department of Defense who would want action to support Israel.

If Lieberman does take over at DOD, one thing is for certain – the move will
be purely political. I am not saying Lieberman is disqualified for the job. I am
saying I don’t think he is the most qualified for the job. True Bush put
Rumsfeld in that position instead of Powell. That was a grave mistake for
America but a winning move for the PNAC agenda.