A.G. Lieberman? V.P. Lieberman?

The D.C./netroots rumor mill is churning tonight with the suggestion that Senator Joe will become Attorney General Joe. (Hat tip: InstaPundit.) And then there's the ultra-paranoid kicker, that Lieberman will subsequently be elevated from A.G. to V.P. to replace a resigning Cheney, thus setting him up to run for president in 2008 as Bush's hand-picked choice*. Attorney General Joe? Vice President Joe?? President Joe??? Oh, the Joe-manity!!!

The veep stuff is obviously nonsense, but will the A.G. rumors come to anything? I doubt it. As James L. at Swing State Project notes, "if you've believed all the rumors, Lieberman should have been one or all of the following by now: Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, Ambassador to the United Nations, and George Bush's running mate in 2004."

Also, Ron Beasley (not to be confused with Ron Weasley) says, "I really can't see Lieberman giving up another five and half years in the Senate for 16 months as AG." I agree. I also, of course, don't share the Left's (plainly irrational) belief that Lieberman is a power-hungry closet "Rethuglican" who wants nothing more than to get all Larry Craig with President Bush and his cronies... so I can't see him taking this post unless he honestly believes he could do more good for the country in it than in his current capacity. And that seems doubtful.

Still, if Lieberman were appointed, that would bring about something truly remarkable: President Bush would have managed to find an attorney general who is, at least arguably, hated even more viscerally by the Left than John Ashcroft ever was. Wonders never cease!

*Why would anyone want to be Bush's hand-picked choice in the 2008 election? Just asking!

Comments

[Josh Rubin]

Appointed AG? Unlikely, but I'll admit the possibility.

Cheney retire? Why would he need to? He has the power of the Dark Side of the Force. I'm just waiting for the release of video of him shooting lightning out of his fingers ;-)

[Anonymous Hoosier]

Brendan:

Glenn's link is broken, complicating your latest Insta-surge.

[Angrier and Angrier]

Won't happen.

[Joe Loy]

Correct, A&A.

President Bush, Saint Joe, & the Senate Dems all know that if the CT junior Senator's seat were to be Vacated via confirmation of such an appointment, our Republican Gov Jodi Rell would appoint a Republican (i.e. a real Republican, which even-by-CT-standards No, Senator Joe is Not :) ~ to Fill it until January 2009. This would boost the Senate R's from their present 49, to a Critical Mass of 50.

Now I'm sure Joe Lieberman would never be publicly Critical of a Mass ;> but the point is that accordingly, such an appointment would surely prompt Massive Resistance by almost all the Senate Dems. Clubby collegiality be Damned: there'd be Power & Privilege at stake, here.

Knowing this, Joe would quickly put the Kibosh on the idea. / And knowing that, Bush will not Entertain it. Why bother with a Non-starter?