Dem senators try to save Lieberman

[oberliner]

Several top Democratic senators have launched a behind-the-scenes effort to save Sen. Joe Lieberman’s chairmanship, despite calls from a Democratic base seeking retribution for Lieberman’s vocal support of John McCain’s presidential campaign.

Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) are all involved in the effort, according to top Senate Democratic aides. These four senators — along with other Lieberman allies — are reaching out to the rest of the Democratic Senate caucus to try to ensure Lieberman survives a secret ballot vote on whether to strip him of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

This effort, along with kind words from Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) last night about Lieberman, is giving the Connecticut senator some serious momentum heading into next week’s secret vote. Dodd’s involvement in saving his home-state senator is an extraordinary turn because Dodd backed Democratic candidate Ned Lamont in 2006 against Lieberman, who won the Connecticut Senate race as an independent.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15551.html

It'll be interesting to see how all of this shakes out.

[peace frog]

1. UGH, Bill Nelson

'Nuff said. He never met a Republican-dominated person or agenda he didn't like, so no surprise he's trying to save Lieberman's sorry behind.

Loyalty from years past aside, I just don't get how the Democratic senators can defend this creep. Are they all so compromised themselves that in good conscience they can shield this turncoat? It's beyond my comprehension.

[PassingFair]

16. DLC, like the others.

Durbin hurts, though.

[TTUBatfan2008]

Didn't Barack support Lieberman on this?

If so, I would say Durbin is just going along with his good friend and the man he's helped mentor. Or perhaps Barack is following his mentor's lead on this issue? Who knows. I think both are gracious men and don't hold grudges.

[PassingFair]

19. The guy CHEERLEADED us into an immoral WAR,

and we're not "supposed to hold GRUDGES"?

He spoke at the bloody Republican convention,
and has been VOTED OUT by Democratic Connecticut voters.

What does he have to do, slaughter an
actual Iraqi on the Senate floor?

[TTUBatfan2008]

25. Where did I say it was WRONG to hold a grudge against him?

I didn't. I pointed out that Obama and Durbin probably don't hold grudges, judging by how generous they're being towards Lieberman. Trust me, I can't stand the bastard.

[snake in the grass]

24. It has nothing to do with grudges.

Grudges are for immature, schoolyard politics. Lieberman is a liability and it will just be a question of time before he sinks his knife into the party's back again. How stupid can they be to keep this turd?

[yourguide]

2. Now I'll have to write Salazar, Carper, Nelson, & Durbin

Already wrote dodd.

I want him stripped.

[endarkenment]

3. WTF is wrong with them?

[marshall]

21. Next to Lieberman any one of them will look good, that's it

There's always going to be somebody who is the most right wing of the left. Right now it's Lieberman and he takes all the heat and when the others veer away from the pack it's not as noticeable. Take away Lieberman and somebody else will take his place, and none of them want to do that.

[eissa]

4. What the hell is wrong with these guys?

Come on! I'm so pissed right now. It wasn't just his endorsement of McCain, it was his bashing of our candidate AND his work in helping other republicans running for office. What kind of message does it send that we do not implement some form of punishment to this traitor?

[oberliner]

5. But we need the votes

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to get to 60 with him than without him?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. He's gonna vote with Republicans when it comes to war and terra anyway.

What this is saying is that you can betray the party and run it through the mud and still be welcome with open arms.

[eissa]

9. I doubt we're going to get the 60

I just hate that he continues to hold the party by its neck this way. He did it for the past few years, and he continues to do it. It just sickens me that he can get away with this, and it sends a horrible message. Who the hell does he think he is?

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. I guess these guys would rather push the Obama agenda through Congress rather than

exact revenge.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

6. So he goes along with the whole democrats want to coddle terra'ists thing and

he gets to keep his job? This is setting a really bad precedent.

[always_saturday]

7. Lost all respect for Chris Dodd.

[totodeinhere]

10. The members of the Dem caucus have apparently decided to be serious about the idea of coming...

together as a nation. Punishing Lieberman is exactly not the sort of thing that we need to be doing. The campaign is over and now is the time to strive for national unity in order to attempt to solve the many serious problems that shrub has left us with.

I know that this is not a popular viewpoint at DU, but I support the efforts of these Democratic senators.

[democrattotheend]

12. What's the deal with Durbin?

Yesterday I read that he was anxious to strip Lieberman of his chairmanship, now not so much. Oh well...honestly I don't care so much. I'm glad Obama had the sense to stay out of it and not push for Lieberman to be kicked out, and I wish we had 60 without him but we don't, so I think not alienating him is better than getting revenge. If he goes over to the GOP he'll probably vote with them more often than he does now. If you recall, Jeffords' voting record became a lot more liberal after he came over to our side.

[Marsala]

14. Durbin is close to Obama

I doubt that he would change his position on Lieberman if Obama didn't want him to.

[democrattotheend]

26. That's my thinking too

I'm not sure if Obama actually talked to Durbin about it, but I am guessing that he was gung ho about kicking Lieberman out because he was mad about what he did to Obama. So when Obama signaled he was ready to bury the hatchet Durbin dropped his opposition, I guess.

[ProSense]

15. Or maybe the story is BS

Durbin joins Reid, Obama in saying Lieberman should stay a Democrat

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (ID-Conn.) got another vote of support from a top Senate Democrat on Tuesday as Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the Connecticut independent should remain part of the Democratic Caucus.

According to the Associated Press, Durbin said Senate Democrats "should be 'gracious in victory' toward Lieberman."

"'Despite what Sen. Lieberman did in campaigning for Sen. McCain, speaking at the Republican convention, he has voted with the Democrats an overwhelming percentage of the time,' Durbin said after a Veteran's Day event in Illinois," the AP reported.

Durbin also said four Senate Democrats have been appointed to review the situation and "recommend possible actions" against Lieberman, but Durbin did not name those lawmakers. Lieberman currently faces a secret vote in the Democratic Caucus next week on whether he should retain his chairmanship.

Durbin joins Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and President-elect Barack Obama in voicing support for Lieberman, although none of the three specifically said that Lieberman should remain chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Some Senate Democrats, and a legion of party activists, want Lieberman stripped of his gavel because he backed McCain's presidential candidacy.

more

(emphasis added)

That's the same snipped quote in the current piece. There is no other statement from Durbin.

[thenam]

13. Absolutely NO surprise here

This is the party that spent the last few years rolling over for Bush. So now it is time to roll over for Lieberman.

[eissa]

17. No wonder we're tagged as a bunch of wimps n/t

[DianeK]

18. i think he should be allowed to keep his position

If we are ever going to accomplish anything meaningful we have to begin to mend the rifts and we can start by mending the rifts within the democratic party. It would send a powerful message of our willingness to work reasonably with one another for the good of all.

Haven't we had enough garbage for one century?

[PassingFair]

20. That's like saying we need to live with the dirt and filth in our house.

We need to CLEAN IT, not
"mend rifts" with it.

It carries DISEASE.

[cali]

22. ugh. depressing to see this

joetoad should not retain his chairmanship- and it's looking like he will.

[4themind]

23. Where's the compromise here?

It's just giving Lieberman everything he wants regardless of his actions or past demonstration of competency/suspicion of future actions. It's not even trying to meet half way between the concenrs of one side of the issue vs. the other. Isn't bipartisanship about give-and-take from both sides? This just looks like caving in We'll see what happens though. My fear is that this will Lieberman authority to go on a witch-hunt into the executive office. If there's question about Obama's administration I'd rather it becoming from someone that is farther from McCain on moral/national security issues, not closer to him.

[bigwillq]

27. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

:puke: