Why Lieberman is not to be trusted

[ProSense]

November 7, 2008

THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE 'BEGGING'....

Not to belabor the point, but the exploits of Joe Lieberman have apparently led to some confusion, even among Democrats who should know better.

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) ... said he disagreed with stripping Lieberman of his chair. "No, I don't think there should be retribution," he said. "I think reconciliation is in order, not revenge or retribution."

Bayh suggested that Lieberman apologize and "let bygones be bygones."

Let's cut the nonsense. Reid offered Lieberman a chance to stay in the Democratic caucus, keep his seniority, and become the chairman of some other committee. Lieberman thinks that's "unacceptable" and reportedly "begged" to stay on as chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bayh thinks this is about "revenge or retribution." It's not. For that matter, it's only partly about holding Lieberman accountable for his betrayals. This is actually about a specific power Lieberman is intent on keeping for a specific reason.

This seems to be routinely overlooked, but take a moment to consider what the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs actually does: it's the committee principally responsible for oversight of the executive branch. It's an accountability committee, charged with investigating the conduct of the White House and the president's administration.

As chairman of this committee for the last two years, Lieberman decided not to pursue any accusations of wrongdoing against the Bush administration. Lieberman's House counterpart -- Rep. Henry Waxman's Oversight Committee -- was a vigilant watchdog, holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching multiple investigations. Lieberman preferred to let his committee do no real work at all. It was arguably the most pathetic display of this Congress.

And yet, now Lieberman acts as if keeping this chairmanship is the single most important part of his public life. Why would he be so desperate to keep the gavel of a committee he hasn't used? I'll let you in on a secret: he wants to start using the power of this committee against Obama.

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[Lucky 13]

1. Bayh's an idiot. I'm so glad he wasn't selected VP.

Lieberman should have been gone a long long long time ago.

[Barack_America]

4. He was never a serious consideration, IMO.

Just candy for the Clinton hold-outs.

[LiberalFighter]

5. I totally agree that Bayh is an idiot. And I live in Indiana.

[Raineyb]

22. And people wonder why I thought Bayh would have been a bad choice for VP n/t

Regards

[Barack_America]

2. That's a strong conclusion.

Buh bye, Joe.

I had considered that maybe Reid offfered to let him stay on as long as he agreed to vacate his seat in 2012. That's what I came up with for Reid's "no decisions have been made" statement from yesterday. But, reading this, the offer of chairing a different committee is much more likely.

God is it wonderful to watch Lieberman grovel like this.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Sure make sense to me....and I have no doubt that he would do no good in that position..

[ProSense]

7. Pretty much what he has done since becoming chairman:

advance the Republican agenda by failing to hold Bush accountable. We need oversight, not complicity (for Lieberman, in this role, that means complicity with Republicans).

[DeepBlueC]

6. Bench him

He can vote whichever way his principles take him but I do not want him in a Senate Democratic leadership position. It's ludicrous.

[grace0418]

13. You mean his "principles"?

Agree totally, btw.

[BurtWorm]

8. Thank you for that fantastically clear explanation.

:applause:

[mmonk]

9. And I don't but at least I have my eye on him. It's others

that work against the better good but aren't recognized as such that bother me more (have Democratic voters still fooled).

[peace frog]

10. Ditch the bitch

He's persona non grata among the Dems, let him go over to the Repukes he loves so much. Good riddance.

[LiberalFighter]

11. I just sent a fax to Bayh asking if he was crazy.

[DeepBlueC]

12. good for you

guy needs a reality check.

[LiberalFighter]

14. The problem is that Bayh is not aware of reality.

[northofdenali]

15. Excellent article - k&r

Evan Bayh's daddy (Birch Bayh, a major player in the passage of the 25th and 26th Amendments, setting the rules for presidential succession and lowering the voting age to 18) is probably kicking his kid's ass along about now........

Dump Lieberman. He's a moral and ethical disaster looking for a place to happen - a perfect fit for the GOP.

[cal04]

16. Why Lieberman Shouldn't Chair Homeland Security

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/11/7/154326/816

In response to calls for Lieberman to lose his position as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, some express skepticism: Evan Bayh, for example, mischaracterizes the pressure as "retribution."

But it's not.

Joe Lieberman is entitled to disagree with other Democratic Senators on whatever issue he wants. And it's legitimate for him to express his opinions - whatever they may be - through his votes as a Senator.

But Lieberman went way beyond voting against his party - he specifically undercut Barack Obama and others on the very issue Republicans have consistently used since 9/11 to slime Democrats: national security.

Lieberman defended Norm Coleman when Al Franken raised the issue of Iraq War investigations (in a Senate race, it's worth mentioning, that's in a tight recount).

He repeated the smear that Obama voted to "cut off funding for our troops on the ground."

And at the GOP convention, Lieberman lied about Obama's Senate record.

So Lieberman's entitled to his policy differences - but it's absolutely unacceptable for Joe to maintain oversight of a powerful committee with jurisdiction over the subject he used to attack Democrats. It just doesn't make sense.

[Overseas]

17. K&R !! /nt

[Stand and Fight]

18. Sneaky Little Rat Bastard...

Good catch here. I had not paid much attention to it -- thinking he just wanted the presteige. Now I see the truth. We've got to get rid of this guy. He's got to go. Period.

[yellowcanine]

19. First of all, Lieberman is not going to apologize. He doesn't think he has anything to apologize

for. Any apology would thus rightfully be seen as insincere.

[wroberts189]

20. He campaigned for McCain ..after Obama came to CT and helped him.

We will rue the day if this idiot is not removed from that post.

[wroberts189]

21. Will Ned Lamont please report in ..I want Ned's take on this.