Leahy Becomes First Senator To Demand Lieberman's Ouster From Homeland Security...

[ProSense]

Leahy Becomes First Senator To Demand Lieberman's Ouster From Homeland Security Committee

By Greg Sargent - November 14, 2008, 1:51PM

We now have our first Dem Senator who has come on the record and called for Joe Lieberman to be booted from his plum spot on the Homeland Security committee.

In an interview with Vermont Public Radio today, Senator Patrick Leahy left no doubt whatsoever: He believes Lieberman should be given the push.

"Every Senator will have to vote the way he or she believes they should," Leahy said, in a reference to the upcoming vote on Lieberman's fate in the Dem caucus next week. "I'm one who does not feel that somebody should be rewarded with a major chairmanship after doing what he did."

"I felt some of the attacks that he was involved in against Senator Obama...went way beyond the pale," Leahy continued. "I thought they were not fair, I thought they were not legitimate, I thought they perpetuated some of these horrible myths that were being run about Senator Obama."

more

Sen. Klobuchar echoes Bayh’s call for Lieberman to apologize.

Things not looking good for Joe.

[AllentownJake]

1. Leahy is part of the old guard

of the party. 20-30 years ago this wouldn't even be a question. To be damned any ancilliary consequences. If you actively campaigned against democratic Senate candidates in favor of GOP ones and your parties nominee for President in favor of a GOP nominee you wouldn't just lose your chairmanship. You'd be thrown out of the caucus on principle.

[always_saturday]

2. Good for him. I'm glad one of them has some balls.

[PretzelWarrior]

3. Good, I also hope he tells Cheney to GO FUCK HIMSELF

as he laughs while the moving trucks back up to the Veep residence.

[eissa]

4. Yes, finally!

Here's hoping he can convince most of his colleagues to vote his way.

[backscatter712]

5. I hereby nominate Patrick Leahy for position of Senate Majority Leader!

There's a reason why Democrats are stereotyped as effete, milquetoast pantywaists, and his name is Harry Reid.

Leahy actually has the nads to call people out when they act like assclowns.

[ProSense]

7. Senate Majority Leader?

Leahy is Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I don't think he's going to give that job up to shuffle legislation to the floor.

[backscatter712]

8. He'd be far better at it than Reid is...

Though I'm definitely glad he's in the Judiciary Committee - he's one of the few in the Senate that actually shows some principles.

[cali]

9. He'd never get it. He's considered to liberal and too

contentious- as well as too partisan. The pukes refer to him as a junkyard dog in a vermont sweater.

[w4rma]

12. That just means that Leahy is effective (and he is). (nt)

[backscatter712]

14. Which is why I want him.

He is Majority leader, which is a position that is inherently partisan. I fail to see why putting a partisan Democrat who stands up for our interests in there is bad. Of course, the Rethugs would find it bad, but I don't think they have a voice in deciding who the Democrats put in as the alpha dog of their caucus.

[femmedem]

6. Vermont has the best senators. K&R n/t

[NotThisTime]

15. Yay us! (we're in Vermont LOL)

[bigwillq]

10. Good. Thank you, Sen. Leahy.

:bounce:

[LSparkle]

11. Good for Leahy! Give Joementum another assignment .. if he wants

Something smaller, some committee on an issue he isn't at such
odds with the REAL Dems on. I thought I heard that "governmental
affairs" is part of the Homeland Security committee's respon-
sibility (??) -- if that is the case, why leave Joementum in
a position to criticize the operation of the Obama Administration?
I don't mind keeping him in the caucus but to leave him in charge
of a major committee on which his views don't match the incoming
president is a BIG mistake.

[blm]

13. Thankyou Senator Leahy.

.

[ProSense]

16. Bernie Sanders Joins Leahy In Demanding Ouster Of Lieberman From Chairmanship

Bernie Sanders Joins Leahy In Demanding Ouster Of Lieberman From Chairmanship

By Greg Sargent and Eric Kleefeld - November 14, 2008, 5:15PM

Okay, we now have a second Senator who's stepped up and joined Senator Patrick Leahy in calling on Democrats to boot Joe Lieberman from his plum slot atop the Homeland Security committee.

Bernie Sanders, also of Vermont, sent us a hard-hitting statement demanding that Lieberman get the push -- and strikingly, he said that if Dems didn't remove him, it would be an insult to Barack Obama's supporters and a betrayal of the change mandate voters delivered to the President-elect.

"To reward Senator Lieberman with a major committee chairmanship would be a slap in the face of millions of Americans who worked tirelessly for Barack Obama and who want to see real change in our country," Sanders in the statement sent our way by his office.

"Appointing someone to a major post who led the opposition to everything we are fighting for is not 'change we can believe in,'" Sanders continued. "I very much hope that Senator Lieberman stays in the Democratic caucus and is successful in regaining the confidence of those whom he has disappointed. This is not a time, however, in which he should be rewarded with a major committee chairmanship."

more

[Kdillard]

17. I am glad that Senator Leahy is not afraid to speak his mind.

[Bonn1997]

18. Thank you Sanders and Leahy!

[snake in the grass]

19. An admirable stance.

Too bad he doesn't mean it. I can't believe I'm the only one here who takes Leahy's words with a grain of salt. Sure, he'll speak out now, as he has done in the past, but in the end, when it gets down to the wire, he will fold. Although I don't find Leahy quite as contemptibly fainthearted as is Reid, he is up there at the top of the list and unless his testicles have finally dropped at the tender age of 68, I'll believe him first when he really takes action. Talk is so fucking cheap these days. Back when John Roberts was recommended for the position of Chief Justice I wrote Leahy imploring him to not approve the bastard. Leahy actually had the gall to explain his support, in spite of his misgivings, for someone who definitely doesn't have the best interests of the people at heart; showing a level of block-headed naivete that should have lost him all support from his constituents.

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200509/092205.html

We all know how well Roberts worked out and now this country will be plagued by the freak for decades to come. Cheney tells him to fuck off on the Senate floor and they even tried to kill him, but he keeps on appeasing. In the end, they'll punish Joe Lieberman with the Senate equivalent of sending him to his room without any supper and when the new day follows, they will let bygones be bygones. Eventually, Joe will pull his knife and do what he does best, namely back-stabbing, and Leahy will be among the first to express his disappointment. He'll probably write a scathing letter too!

[cali]

21. What a steaming pile of shit.

I'm so tired of the stupid and the lies about decent dems. If you actually think Leahy and the dems could have blocked Roberts and forced bush into appointing some nice moderate, you're stuck permanently on stupid.

Leahy has time and time again stood up for principles and the people. He's not perfect, but damn, who is?

[snake in the grass]

22. And I'm sick and tired...

...of the invertebrates in our party who do nothing but guzzle the demon-seed as fast as Bush can ejaculate it. Everybody knew Roberts was an insane freak. Leahy didn't just not oppose his nomination, he wrote a wonderful letter explaining how honorable the guy is. Now maybe you take offense at my wording but, frankly, I really don't care. When we were in the minority they said the Republicans blocked everything. The Republicans have been in the minority for two years now and they still get their way because Democrats will consistently trip over their dicks to make them happy. Till now, Leahy has talked the talk. He will remain unimpressive until he finally walks the walk.

Nobody is perfect but Kucinich is damn well close. We need more of his kind in both houses. When the Republicans start to cry, someone needs to tell them to grow up...or fuck off!

[No Elephants]

20. Testicles dropping? Nads? Pantywaist? Good grief. Will males ever ge over their

so-called "privates?" (LOL, if only!)

Women grow a human inside them and give birth. You don't see us posting about absence of wombs and fallopian tubes every time we want to disparage someone. Geez.

It's old.

[Honeycombe8]

23. "Leahy Becomes First Senator to Reveal He Has Integrity and Cujones"

Keeping someone on as chairman of an influential committee, a Benedict ARnold, despite their kicking you and spitting in your face...keeping someone on like that, so they will vote your way in the future...

that shows a lack of integrity and pride, and a failure to stand for something. It is NOT okay for someone to demand you lick their boots, in order for them to drive you to the airport.

Let LIEberman go his way. I'm guessing he'll cont. to vote Democratic on most things. If not, then he is what he is....a Republican.

You don't gain anything if you sell your soul in the process.