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Partridge
12-08-2005, 03:20 PM
Rummy exit expected; Lieberman eyed for job
New York Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/372921p-316984c.html)

White House officials are telling associates they expect Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to quit early next year, once a new government is formed in Iraq, sources said yesterday. Rumsfeld's deputy, Gordon England, is the inside contender to replace him, but there's also speculation that Sen. Joe Lieberman - a Democrat who ran against Bush-Cheney in the 2000 election - might become top guy at the Pentagon.

That's not as farfetched as it might first appear.

The Daily News has learned that the White House considered Lieberman for the UN ambassador's job last year before giving the post to John Bolton, a Bush adviser said.

"He thought about it for a week or so and finally said no," the adviser recalled.

A source close to the White House said Rumsfeld wanted out a year ago, after Bush's reelection, but neither he nor President Bush wanted his departure to appear to have been forced.

"They didn't want to give the critics the satisfaction that their piling on was what got rid of him," a Bush adviser said.

Bush has told friends that Rumsfeld is a political liability, but the President has a history of sticking with his personnel baggage until an opportune moment.

"Only Rumsfeld will make Rumsfeld leave," a White House source said.

Rumors that Lieberman could replace Rumsfeld started flying early this week, and Bush and Vice President Cheney fanned the flames by quoting the former Democratic veep candidate's pro-war statements.

The mention of Lieberman's name prompted some Democrats to whisper that he is lobbying for the job.

"Lieberman seems to be coordinating his statements on the war with the White House," a Senate Democratic source said.

The source pointed to a news conference this week where Lieberman urged his party not to undermine Bush. The timing of Lieberman's pitch, also this week, to form a bipartisan "war cabinet" to aid Bush was cited as well.

But Lieberman and Team Bush dismissed the rumors.

"The U.S. Senate is where Sen. Lieberman wants to be, which is why he is actively campaigning for reelection to his fourth term," the senator's spokeswoman, Casey Aden-Wansbury, said.

Partridge
12-08-2005, 03:54 PM
Rumsfeld denies he plans to step down
AFP (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051208/pl_afp/usmilitarypolitics_051208185000;_ylt=Ak1tRVXu73GaQ 8YBJY30B2ysOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPU CUl)

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he has no plans to retire, denying a newspaper report that he is expected to quit early next year. The New York Daily News said White House officials were telling associates that Rumsfeld, 73, was expected to quit soon after a new government is formed in Iraq.

Those reports have been flying around since about four months after I assumed my post," Rumsfeld said after a meeting with members of Congress. "I have no plans to retire."

The denial was unusually blunt for Rumsfeld who typically brushes off such questions by saying he serves at the pleasure of the president.

The Daily News said Gordon England, the acting deputy secretary of defense, was the top contender to replace Rumsfeld but there was also speculation that the post could go to Senator Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat.

911=inside job
12-08-2005, 04:44 PM
would it even matter?? i dont think so..

Gold9472
12-09-2005, 01:14 PM
Lieberman meets with Rumsfeld amid retirement speculation

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4222023&nav=3YeX

(Washington-AP, Dec. 8, 2005 7:49 PM) _ Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld hosted Senator Joe Lieberman for a breakfast meeting today amid speculation that the Connecticut Democrat could be in line to succeed him.

Lieberman, who has emerged as President Bush's staunchest Democratic defender on the Iraq war, has bucked his party as a vocal advocate for Bush's Iraq policies.

He did not talk about the morning meeting with Rumsfeld and General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Lieberman aides provided few details about the breakfast, saying that their boss does not discuss private meetings.

The Pentagon told reporters that Rumsfeld, who routinely meets with members of Congress, wanted to hear Lieberman's impressions of his visit to Iraq over the Thanksgiving holiday. It was the senator's fourth trip to Iraq in 17 months.