On Thursday multiple sources reported the President will soon nominate former Senator Joe Lieberman to replace James Comey as the director of the FBI. More on the story here, here, and here. This is such a bad idea that I hardly know where to start.
The first thing that comes to mind is Lieberman is a life long Democrat politician from Connecticut. Lieberman was a Senator from 1989 until 2013. He ran for Vice President on the 2000 Democrat ticket. He ran for President in 2004 but was not the nominee. Why would we want a career politician as director of the FBI?! Terrible idea.
Lieberman has no experience in law enforcement. None. He doesn’t know the first thing about law enforcement or the FBI.
Lieberman retired from the Senate in 2013 at age 71, which brings up the next issue, Lieberman’s age. Lieberman is now 75 years old. FBI director is a 10 year appointment and a very demanding job. Does a 75 year old have the stamina to be FBI director? How ’bout an 85 year old? Not to be ageist, but this job is too important, and too demanding, for someone of Lieberman’s age.
Then there’s the problem of Democrats in the Senate. The Senate needs to confirm Lieberman. Republicans aren’t likely to support a career Democrat politician and many democrat Senators don’t like Leiberman and won’t support him. From Politico.com:
Some Senate Democrats hold a grudge against Lieberman for his rightward turn and opposition to some of President Barack Obama’s agenda late in his Senate career. Others say even though they respect Lieberman, the job of FBI director should not go to a former politician. And all Democratic senators interviewed for this story said the former Connecticut senator lacks the kind of experience needed for the post.’
“I don’t think there’s going to be much excitement about that from our side of the aisle. Not because we don’t respect Joe Lieberman. But we need a law enforcement professional, not someone who’s run for office before,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). “We don’t need anyone who’s put on a red shirt or blue shirt — or who’s campaigned for president.” Lieberman ran for president in 2004.
Some left leaning (RINO) Republicans in the Senate will support Lieberman:
Republicans are lining up behind Lieberman, who left the Senate in 2013 after four terms. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called him a “person of unquestioned integrity and that’s what we need.” Added Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has spoken to Lieberman about the job: “If the president picked Joe Lieberman he’d be doing [the] country a good service and, I think, the FBI a good service.”
Seriously? A 75 year old career democrat politician for FBI director? Worst. Idea. Ever.
