Obama Wants Lieberman To Cacus Dem...So y'all still bitching about Reid not having balls?

[xultar]

How do you feel about that?

rofl.

[DeepBlueDem]

1. WTF!

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Heads are exploding all over the place.

Welcome back! Missed ya! :hug:

[GodlessBiker]

3. But did he say he wanted Lieberman to keep his Chairmanship?

[xultar]

5. But he's not gonna caucus if he can't keep his chairmanship.

[4themind]

21. That's what he says

but that doesn't mean he will. I trust very little of what he says, and will wait to see what he actually does. I think he'll see the writing on the wall, he'll get less with he republicans then he'd get with the democrats, and he's also seen what has happened to people in the NE, like Lincoln Chafee, and Chris Shays, who caucus with the republicans, its political suicide in this environment. If I have to bet on anything it'll be that he'll do a risk analysis and go with whatever gets him ahead He has very little room to make demands. Obama may want lieberman to stay, hell he may even every republican to vote for him also, but that doesn't say what he's willing to give up to get that. So we'll see what happens

[GodlessBiker]

22. I don't trust him either. It's not like he would be the 51 vote for the Republicans.

[leftynyc]

90. Or he could just quit the Senate

and allow the republican CT governor pick his replacement. That could happen also.

[regnaD kciN]

38. That's Lieberman's choice, then...

Obama only said he wants Lieberman to say...not that he can blackmail the party. If Holy Joe is willing to give up his chairmanship and caucus with us anyway, he's more than welcome to do so. If he walks over the chairmanship, well, that's his choice. But what I hear Obama saying is that "we're not kicking him out -- if he chooses to leave, that's his own decision." That will counter the G.O.P. meme that "once the liberals took over, they purged the moderate Democrats, who had no choice but to join us."

[DJ13]

4. How do you feel about that?

Obama was elected to represent a new bipartisan approach.

Reid is expected to represent his state, and his party.

Reid needs to forget Obama's happy talk and do what needs to be done.

[phantom power]

6. It makes me feel like Obama is making a big mistake.

[stray cat]

8. Obama wants to unite the country - no surprise he would start with a unity move

Lieberman votes with dems 90% of the time and CT isn't likely to vote for anyone better. Why lose votes when you may need them later anyway.

[phantom power]

14. I don't think Lieberman's 90%-vote is worth what it costs...

in terms of the bogus-bipartisan cover he gives to the GOP, all while unctuously bashing Dems. I think Obama and the Dem caucus are going to regret it, but we'll find out next year.

[ShadowLiberal]

44. I'd much rather have a lieberman in the senate then an Arlen Specter, we need his vote to get 60

Really, I'm willing to take the 'bipartisan' label on some of our opponent's stuff for all the many more times Lieberman votes with us then with the republicans.

I mean really, imagine if this was the presidency you were talking about, would you rather having a republican in the white house, or a moderate democrat?

That's part of why republicans loathed having Lieberman on the GOP ticket in 08 even more then we did, because they knew if McCain died in office we'd get a moderate democrat who would govern like a moderate democrat in the white house rather then a republican.

[Mojorabbit]

49. I am fine with that

as long as he is stripped of his homeland security committee chairmanship.

[goclark]

93. Bayh was on cable and explained it enough to calm me down

and I can't stand the sight of the scumball.....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/12/bayh-lieberman-should-apo_n_143466.html?page=3

The way he explained it, the unity is important and the Traitor's vote with them is important.

Traitor can also be dismissed from his services if he abuses the rights he will be able to hold on to....

I thought once he had the chairmanship that would be forever but not so according to Bayh.

Since I'm not in the driver's seat and I am not able to have all the information, I'm with OBAMA!

:bounce:

[WA98296]

Lieberman should have been kicked out before now. Reid is a coward.

[ronnykmarshall]

7. Oh dear!

[BunkerHill24]

9. If Obama interferes with the Senate on behalf of LIEberman

it's prediction of what's to come from Obama's presidence....which is why most of us disagreed with the selection of that slimy Raul Emmanuel as CoS.

[cali]

33. LOL. fucking stupid and ridiculous.

Obama's planning to shut down Gitmo, put a stop to drilling in sensitive areas, remove the gag order on abortion overseas, fund stem cell research, and more, right off the bat and you whine away about how him. fucking stupid.

[Egnever]

61. Sometimes cali

You hit that nail right on the fuckin head.

[Teaser]

77. oh, did "most of us" disagree with that move?

.

[leftynyc]

91. Which MOST of us are you

referring to? The pepetually unsatisfied maybe - but certainly not most of us didn't like the Rahm (and if you're going to insult the man, get his name right at least) choice for COS.

[MrModerate]

10. Caucus, fine . . . chairmanship, no.

Don't toss him out, freeze him out. Let him vote how he'll vote just like any other senator (without a chairmanship to toss around).

[NC_Nurse]

11. They should take away his chairmanship and then he can choose to stay or go.

He's not a good pick for that chair anyway. Too much fear-mongering.

He can stay and caucus if he wants or not. It's HIS choice. I bet the voters in
Conn. will throw him out if he changes to Repub, so he'd probably stay anyway.

[Clovis Sangrail]

12. I hope this doesn't surprise too many

Obama hasn't given any indication that he's really the Liberal Avenger
The meme that he's sooooo liberal was pushed by the rw to scare people ... if you've read his books this should come as no surprise.

[phantom power]

17. It surprises me, and it's not anything to do with "liberalness."

It surprises me because Obama ran a smart campaign, and part of what made it smart is that he didn't take any shit off of Republicans. Lieberman is a republican tool masquerading (badly) as a independent caucusing with democrats.

Caucusing with Lieberman is not smart politics.

[Clovis Sangrail]

20. seems in keeping to me

:shrug:

His books showed me that he was more interested in working with the opposition to move the country forward than in punishing people.
I don't know that I always agree with that - but as I said I don't know that this would surprise me.

[phantom power]

28. That may be. To me, it's not about "punishing" Lieberman...

it's simply that he's not trustworthy, and it's not going to be productive trying to work with him.

If there is anything about Obama that worries me, it is that I don't think the GOP wants to be "worked with." They want to obstruct and knee-cap Democrats. We'll see how next year goes. If the Republicans behave how I think they're going to behave, I hope that Obama doesn't waste a lot of precious time chasing the wild goose of bipartisanship. That word doesn't mean the same thing to Republicans as it does to well-meaning Democrats.

[Zombie2]

81. You say what I'm thinking....

LIEberman should be working as a door greeter at Wally.

[IsItJustMe]

13. Link?

[still_one]

26. convenient omission

[jonnyblitz]

51. LINK right here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/10/obama-wants-lieberman-to_n_142731.html

[Crunchy Frog]

15. Yeah, Reid has no balls.

Obama's reasons are a good deal more complex and subtle, but Reid's reason is that he has no balls.

[zoff]

16. like i said in a prior post ...

... if Reid will not take action, then CT will make sure that Joe the Independent (no Joe the Dem no Joe the Repug that calls himself IND) will be removed.

[AZ Criminal JD]

42. They had a chance, remember?

[NRaleighLiberal]

18. keep your friends close. keep your enemies closer.

[Franks Wild Years]

19. Yes. And also, I think I understand another reason for this.

Let Lieberman carry on and make a fool of himself some more and then - kapow! - come 2010 and his fight for re-election, the popular President unequivocally backs his Democratic opponent.

Furthermore, Lieberman can be used as a prop - As 'proof' of a bipartisan approach, allowing Obama to push through more of his measures without being tarred as a raging lunatic by the shambolic GOP. Afterall, this man gave a ringing endorsement of their candidate at the RNC.

[theboss]

23. I have no problem with being in the caucus

He should not have a chairmanship though.

We'll see how this plays out.

[sniffa]

24. Y'all kill me

[still_one]

25. so I am supossed to follow whatever Obama says without question?

liberman called Obama anti-American

first of all where is the link that Obama said that
second, what do you expect him to say, something not concilitory
third, lieberman cannot be trusted

if Obama really said that he is wrong, and I guarentee that it will come and bite him

liberman voted for mccain, which mean he could care less about the supreme court, and supports the republican platform

liberman WILL try to destroy Obama if allowed to

[Window]

29. I think I see what Obama is doing and I think it's a smart move.

In his effort to appear bipartisan, President-Elect Obama probably already discussed this with Reid and told him to strip him of his committees, but let him caucus with the Democrats. If this is unacceptable to Lieberman, then so be it. Bye bye.

We all get what we want except Lieberman, and Obama's hands are clean.

[still_one]

30. your speculation seems plauasable to me /nt

[AspenRose]

86. That makes sense

Make Lieberman walk away if he wants out. If he gets kicked out, he garners sympathy.

[nomaco-10]

27. All the article I read says he wants him to caucus with the dems,,,

It DOES NOT say he wants him to keep his chair on the HLS committee. Big difference.
I'm waiting to get more specifics.

[gkhouston]

84. Very big difference. A lot of posturing going on, with Joe hoping he can spook

Reid into backing down about the chairmanship thing. I think Reid's betting he can yank the chairmanship of Homeland Security without losing Lieberman in the the Dem caucus, but he's willing to lose him if that's the way it blows. No candygrams will be sent to Joe from the Dems this time around.

[flpoljunkie]

31. The problem with Lieberman keeping his chairmanship is he held not one oversight hearing!

That alone is enough to deny him the chairmanship.

[leftofthedial]

32. I still say Obama should name Newt Gingrich as Secretary of State

That would shut up all you Obama-hating "concern" jerks who won't give him a chance!

[Upton]

34. What the heck is wrong with Obama?

Lieberman stabbed him in the back and if given the opportunity will do so again...this is very disappointing.

[Whisp]

89. Lieberman's stabs were not very effective, were they?

let the old jowl be of some use to Obama's plan.
That old slimey goat Joe ain't going to get away with much under Barack's watch.

[mmonk]

35. Is that supposed to make it right?

[Whoa20]

36. Lieberman may be a traitor, Benedict Arnold, BUT

throwing him out would only bring vengeance from him. He votes with us 89% of the time, especially on abortion, stem cells, economy, and if he wants to fuck us over, he would if we threw him out. We need a big tent, and starting a fight with Liebs would bring about party infighting which Obama may already get come January. The Dems have a shitty track record of backing their President even when controlling Congress, Jimmy Carter, and especially Bill Clinton. They didn't support Clintons economic plan enough, nor did they work with him on health care. While technically there will be more D's than R's in the senate, some bills may have close votes. Hence, Clinton's econ plan, which while there wer 57 Dem senators, the bill passed 51-50 by Al Gore. If lieberman had voted Republican on that, there would have been no surplus. Obama needs every Dem vote he can get. While we may hate Liebs on the war and terrorism, he is still mostly Dem. Hey, did the GOP ever throw McCain out of the caucus?

[kath]

37. Watch this video, y'all--

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x237738

Utterly inexcusable. Heinous.

[AtomicKitten]

39. If he helps prevent a filibuster, I don't mind him in the caucus, but

he absolutely must be stripped of his leadership position. He pissed that away by being one-half of McCain's human crutches through this campaign.

[annabanana]

40. . . at least kick him off THAT committee. .

He is too much a neocon in regard to Iraq to have that committee.. and ALSO if he stays there he can interfere with investigations.

[AtomicKitten]

41. He already prevented investigations, and I agree he needs a boot out of leadership.

I'd like to back over him with my car, but do see the value of putting together a filibuster-proof Senate.

[DuaneBidoux]

43. God how ever so quickly do we eat our own.

[scrappydo]

45. I could not agree with you more....

It seems that we truly do eat our own. I have questioned decisions Obama has made in the past and will most likely disagree with some of his decisions in the future. HOWEVER, a good leader knows when to pick his of her fights. Anyone who has ever been an effective leader knows that simple fact. The most important fights are ahead of Obama. Why get bog down in a battle of a no-account like Lieberman. Let the Senate fight it out. For pete's sake people - you fought so hard for Obama to get elected and already are questioning his judgment - I am willing to bet that Obama is a more intelligent human being than many of the bloggers posting nothing here but disgust and displeasure - the same thing we all said the Republicans did in the campaign. Get a life already!!!

[Greg K]

48. Obama is being a leader. nt

[annabanana]

46. Lieberman is NOT "ours". .

We kicked him out of the Democratic Party in '06, remember?

[leftynyc]

92. We didn't do any such thing

He was merely beaten in a primary. He decided to run as an independent. He walked away.

[jonnyblitz]

47. Obama is just showing his gratitude to his mentor!!

:D

[thewiseguy]

59. I have detected a certain pattern in your posts

What is your problem with Obama?

[jonnyblitz]

62. oooh no i am being watched by the DU Obama thought police!!111

you need to reread your post and consider how fucking creepy it is and it's really none of your business what my problem is with him.Also, Lieberman WAS Obama's official mentor. If you google and EDUCATE yourself about who you are so enamored of, you might know these things already. Lieberman was Obama's mentor when he first entered the senate.

[thewiseguy]

75. And it was Obama's fault that proposition 8 passed?

Or was it the "black" Obama supporters?

Why dont you tell us what your real problem with Obama is?

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

50. I still think that Reid is more effective then a wet rag...

[TheDonkey]

52. Lieberman should lose his chairmanship. PERIOD. The man campaigned against Obama and Democrats

he has clearly shown no leadership and BAD judgement. Why the hell would we want him in a leadership role in the Senate. Might as well put rethugs into leadership roles.

[TheKentuckian]

53. Who cares if he caucuses with us or not?

In fact on most issues, I assume he would side with us anyway. What's he gonna do just abandon his entire belief system and refuse to represent CT anymore as well?

However, no chair should be included. There have to be consequences and if Obama disagrees then I'll be happy to tell him too. Last I checked the kat is on my payroll, not the reverse.

"Your momma said" seldom worked on me and I don't expect "Obama said" to have much better results and yeah, I still see Reid as a lackluster leader. I'm not off the handle about him like many but Alan Combs with a smarter haircut just doesn't inspire confidence. I think Reid is much less impressive by far than Pelosi and I'm not exactly enamored with the Madame Speaker either. Reid has his position based on tenure and connections, not ability.

I don't get the no consequence coalition that thinks that a gentle wag of the finger and a strongly worded letter will keep the world in line. I'm not in the never forgive posse but I know for a fact that people only change if they can accept they did something wrong in the first place and wish to at least strike out on a new path and sweeping everything under the rug is a piss poor teacher.

[russ1943]

54. Shouldn't be allowed to chair any!

Barack Obama can repeat loud and clear that Joe is welcome to caucus with Democrats.
That statement demonstrates Borack’s effort at reconciliation, that is enough!

Reid and the other senators will be doing a disservice to the Democratic party (and this country) if they allow Lieberman to continue as chair on the Homeland Security committee.

I’ll add that allowing Lieberman to assume any chair would be just wrong, in my opinion.

Lieberman is in line for leadership roles in two other committees should the current chairs leave their posts. On Armed Services, the two senators ahead of him are Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd. On Environment and Public Works, current chair Barbara Boxer may face a tough reelection campaign in 2010 and second in line, Sen. Max Baucus, already heads another committee.
If when he is removed from the chairmanship and advised he will get no other, he decides to caucus with Repubs, that will be his choice.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/10/obama-wants-lieberman-to_n_142731.html

[russ1943]

56. Caucus with who you want Joe, but.......

The more I think about it......

PE Obama should take Reid into a side room and make it very clear that allowing Lieberman to chair any committee will not be tolerated. Period.

I will consider anything less a failure of leadership. A serious disappointment to say the least.

A committee chair in the US Senate is realistically one of the most powerful positions in the country, if not the world!.

[truthisfreedom]

55. I think Obama should have a fucking long talk with Lieberman, which ends with...

Lieberman loses his chairmanship AND caucuses with the Democrats.

[backscatter712]

57. It may be what happens.

Lieberman thinks he can blackmail us, but really, he doesn't have much to blackmail us with.

But Lieberman pissed off all of the Democrats when he turned his back on them and campaigned for McCain.

He gambled on McCain being the victor last Tuesday, but gambled and lost. Now he's got one hell of a big gambling debt to pay off.

If I were Obama right now, I'd be making like Don Corleone and making Lieberman an offer he can't refuse...

[happychatter]

58. Obama has Emmanuel at his right hand... as well as other smart insiders

you know damn well there are wheels within wheels here

I have NO idea what this is REALLY about

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jonnyblitz]

63. ...

:nopity:

[Marrah_G]

71. You have some serious fucking issues- Seek help

You are acting like a McCarthyistic stalker.

Xultar is a fine DUer.

[HPD]

64. What's wrong with you reactionary bunch??

I only started coming here recently and during the election you all seemed like a smart bunch...now it's all reactionary whining. There is nothing wrong with Lieberman caucusing with the dems...It means he will more likely support a Democratic agenda even if he is more moderate and conservative in foreign policy.

Push him out and then what? He will no longer answer to the Democratic party and may start voting more conservative on other issues. Is that the winning solution? The Dems have the majority in the senate and hopefully in two years we will be over 60 in the Senate.

Obama does not want to seem like a divider, shutting out anyone with opposing viewpoints. Then we will hear from the Right Wing media calling him a communist dictator...getting rid of any dissent.

What kind of country are some of you fighting for? As much as I think conservatives (or a moderate like lieberman) are dumb fucks, lining them up against the wall and blowing their brains out is not going to get us anywhere.

[mtnsnake]

72. "There is nothing wrong with Lieberman caucusing with the dems"

Apparently, you don't know squat about the situation. Yeah, let's fucking reward that goddamn traitor instead of punishing him. Let's send everyone the message that it's okay to shit all over your party and that nothing will happen to you because of it.

Maybe you didn't see how he lost the CT primary and then fucked the Democrat contender by running as in Independent....JUST SO THE REPUBLICANS IN CT WOULD VOTE FOR HIM.

Maybe you didn't see Lieberman all during the presidential campaign working his heart out for McCain and slamming Barack Obama at every opportunity he could.

Before you go calling us a reactionary bunch, do your frigging homework next time.

[MrSlayer]

65. Lieberman can serve best on committees where he does no harm.

He needs to be knocked down for his traitorous behavior but not completely castrated, he can be of use to us on committees where he agrees with us. On issues other than foreign policy Joe the Asshole is quite reasonable.

[Name removed]

66. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lil Missy]

67. I'm thinking it is a good thing Obama doesn't consult with GD or GDP for counsel or advice.

I don't question his reasoning. Don't fuck with success.

[lojasmo]

68. I feel like Obama is smart

And I feel like you are a troll.

[nomaco-10]

69. They're starting to trickle back in...

since their "alternative" websites are folding up all over the internet do to lack of participation.

[Forkboy]

80. Xultar is no troll. Get a grip on yourself.

[lojasmo]

85. Acting like one. EOM

[LowerManhattanite]

87. Noticed that...

LOL. :)

[Starry Messenger]

70. I feel you totally misrepresented the full intent of his statement.

Therefore it is impossible to respond in a meaningful manner. Thanks for playing.

[zulchzulu]

73. Obama will let the Senate vote him off the caucus

It should be fun to watch.

[WI_DEM]

74. And so does Bill Clinton! They have bigger fish to fry than Lieberman.

[Teaser]

76. don't much care

didn't care before. don't care now.

[bridgit]

78. Oh I'm sure we'll find a way. Behavior such as Lieberman's shouldn't be rewarded with whatever...

...it wants it's too much like caving in to the infant terrible

[Tatiana]

79. Smart. Takes the heat away from Reid (who really does not want to kick Liarman out)

and it makes Lieberman owe every single bit of his Senate patronage and prestige to one President Obama.

And I'm sure Obama would hold Lieberman's continued chair over his head when crucial votes were up.

I still want him gone because he's a rat. But if he can be a useful rat to our side, I'm willing to set aside my need for vengeance.

[backscatter712]

82. If I were Obama, I'd be planning something far worse for Liberman than merely throwing him out.

Giving him the boot is easy punishment for his treason against the Democrats.

But really, the situation is this. Lieberman gambled every bit of political capital he's got, and then some, on McCain being the guy in the Oval Office after Jan. 20th. He gambled and lost, and now he has some serious debt to repay.

My bet is that what's happening is that Obama and Reid are making Lieberman an offer he can't refuse. He's getting a leash, and Obama's got a big stack of favor cards he can call in from Lieberman at any time.

Over the long term, this may be far more humiliating for Lieberman than just tossing him to the Rethugs. He will have the sorest ass in the Beltway, guaranteed!

[Zombie2]

83. OBAMA responsible for 100's of troops dying....

Or so says LIEberman.

Watch this Joe the Traitor video:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=238265&mesg_id=238265

[WeDidIt]

88. Dumbest move Obama has EVER made

HE's setting himself up to be constantly attacked from the committee floor.

Dumbd dumbd dumb dumb dumb

[tigereye]

94. why is this a surprise - he votes with Dems on pretty much everything

(not the war, obviously...)