Reply #68: I disagree

[DirtyJersey]

Lieberman has shown by running for Seante and VP at the same time in 2000 and by running as an Independent after losing the primary this year that he cares about nothing more than holding onto that Senate seat. If he was Sec. of Defense, that gig would be up come January 2009, whereas he'd be senator until at LEAST January 2013, and I can virtually guarantee that Joe will run for a fifth term in 2012 if he wins this year, so it could be even longer. What's much more likely is that he's become Sec. of Defense if he LOSES this year, as a consolation prize of sorts.

I also don't think this is a doomsday scenario. Obviously the best scenario is Lamont winning and Joe fading into obscurity, but this is not the worst. The worst is Joe winning re-election and staying in the Senate until he dies. This situation would be prefarable - Joe would only have two more years in public service, and the type of Republican likely to be appointed by Rell would quite possibly be preferable to Lieberman - certainly easier to stomach, anyway. I would happily vote for a Jodi Rell/Chris Shays type Republican over Joe.