Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Lieberman Calls for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s Resignation

Sen. Joe Lieberman , D-Conn., appears on CBS’s ‘Face the Nation’ in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006.

Sen. Joe Lieberman on Sunday called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign and backed an international conference to find a way out of the crisis in Iraq.

Lieberman, who is seeking a fourth term as an independent candidate after losing the Democratic nomination to newcomer Ned Lamont on Aug. 8, also criticized some fellow Democrats. He said several Democrats are trying to impose a “litmus test” on the party.

“I think it’s still time for new leadership at the Pentagon,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Lieberman, an early supporter of the Iraq war, said he called for Rumsfeld to step down in 2003.

“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 Sunday.

JoeMentum has got the BIG MO. Lamont’s position on the Iraq War is so radical/irrational that Lieberman’s measured/calculated policy recommendations will look palatable to most Connecticut voters.

Flap does not necessarily agree because this is the President’s call. But, if Flap were Commander in Chief, he would consider ALL policy options, including a Rumsfeld retirement.

An international conference on the Iraq War?

No Way

Look how well the United Nations is doing with Israel and Hezbollah.

He also accused Lamont of distorting his stance on Iraq.

“He made me into a cheerleader for George Bush and everything that’s happened,” Lieberman said. “And the record shows that, while I believe we did the right thing in overthrowing Saddam Hussein, I’ve been very critical over the years, particularly in 2003 and 2004, about the failure to send enough American troops to secure the country, about the absence of adequate plans and preparation to deal with post-Saddam Iraq.”

Liberman knows that there is nothing like a good OFFENSE in politics and Ned Lamont is now playing defense.

The Lamont campaign issued a statement Sunday criticizing Lieberman for trying to “paint himself as courageous for clinging to the failed ‘stay the course’ policy in Iraq and not listening to the voters of Connecticut on the need to change course.”

“His new found ‘criticism’ of the war won’t convince Connecticut voters after so many years of stubbornly rubber-stamping Bush’s failed policies,” the statement said.

Lamont issued a “WEAK” response but besides “cut and run” he has NO plan to change American policy in Iraq.

Stay tuned…….