HuffPo Exclusive Interview: Howard "Dean Applauds Lieberman Decision"

[ClarkUSA]

The title derives from the front-page headline at HuffPo. Here's the story:

DNC Chair Howard Dean welcomed the decision to keep Senator Joseph Lieberman as head of the Homeland Security Committee and, consequently, in the Democratic Caucus, saying the move was pragmatic, magnanimous and politically shrewd.

Speaking to the Huffington Post just moments after it was announced that Democrats in the Senate had voted to keep Lieberman as committee chair, Dean said the party had done the right thing by not giving into urges for retribution.

"You know, the desire of revenge is great, of course. But the truth is public policy doesn't run on revenge very well," he said. "And when you see the trouble this country has gotten into in terms of foreign policy, where Bush basically ran a foreign policy based on petulance because he was mad at, for example, Mexico, for abstaining on the Security Council when the Iraq War came up, if you have to actually run the country, it is best not to do it based on feeling of anger towards your enemies."

The Democratic Party chair, who will be leaving his post this January, went on to applaud Barack Obama for putting hurt feelings aside and welcoming the Connecticut Independent back into the party fray. He also predicted that the caucus would benefit from keeping Lieberman, who spent the past year campaigning alongside John McCain, often criticizing Obama and the Democratic Party.

"My point of view is that Barack won," Dean said. "He can afford to be magnanimous. And if we happen to win both recounts and Georgia, Joe is the 60th vote. And the truth is -- and I certainly don't have to defend Joe Lieberman because, you know, we have an interesting history -- but the fact is, he does vote 90 percent of the time with the Democrats. And no, he shouldn't have said all those things. But why not clean the slate? Why not start all over again? Why not allow him to vote with us on the 90 percent of the stuff? He will be a good vote on climate change -- and this matters. He may be a good vote on election reform, which I hope we will get to. So, you know, he may end up - though it is a little against the odds -- he may end up being the vote that allows us to conduct business when Mitch McConnell decides we shouldn't."

I agree with Dean. Maybe those of you here who are swearing off voting for your Democratic Senator or contributing to the DNC or
wishing Obama ill should take a chill pill and listen to the good doctor. Revenge is what James "Judas" Carville is all about. Revenge
is what Sarah Palin did in Troopergate. Revenge is what Bush Republicans did for eight years. Revenge is NOT what Barack Obama
is about, not when the future of his plans for the country may be at stake.

[WeDidIt]

1. Nope, this issue trumps all others

Not another dime, not another phone call, and not another canvas.

D-O-N-E

I will only support primary challengers from here on.

[cali]

7. bwahahaha. as if anyone gives a flying fuck.

now go ahead and repeat yourself for the umpteenth time.

I so hate teh stupid.

[WeDidIt]

10. Look in the mirror

you'll see teh stupid staring back.

[cali]

12. come on, you can do better than that.

On second thought, I rather doubt it. Lame-o.

[npk]

14. Paying back Lieberman trumps all other issues

Puhleeze. I would much rather President Obama tackle real issues like health care, infrastructure, ongoing and ongoing war in Iraq, mortgage crisis, economy, about a half dozen other things, then paying back that stupid insignificant Lieberman. Hell he has already embarrassed himself by having to publicly grovel for his chairmanship, like a dog on his hands and knees, he has been used up. Lieberman will never matter ever again. He will caucus with the dems in the senate and they will just ignore every fucking thing he says anyway. In all honesty Dean is right. There are many more important issues on the table than worrying about Joe Lieberman. After al he has basically screwed himself with repugs at this point also. That's what happens when you weasel your way from one side of the aisle to the other.

[Larkspur]

2. I will no longer donate to the DNC or any Democrat who voted to keep Lieberman

in his chair, and that includes Chris Dodd in 2010. I'll write in Ralph Nader for US Senate in 2010.

[Debi]

3. I hope Dr. Dean is correct .

However, the was no reason NOT to give the Chair position to a DEMOCRAT. Lieberman is always welcome to caucus w/the Dems.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Too bad. It signals Barack can afford to be negligent. And that's not a good thing.

Rewarding incompetence is what got us into this mess. It bodes ill for the future.

[Larkspur]

5. Justice needed to be served

and Obama and the Senate Democrats abdicated their duty. Healing can NOT begin until justice is served to Lieberman, Bush, Cheney, etc.

If justice is not served, then Obama and the Democrats believe, like Bush, it the rule by the whims of men, not the rule of law.

[Cha]

6. Imagine Dean and Obama being

more politically savvy than posters on DU?! It boggles the mind:wow:

I'm certainly not going to disown them after them being among the primary sources for getting our country back.

Happy Birthday, Dean..yesterday:party::kick:

[BootinUp]

8. And so you will welcome Hillary as SoS now too right?

[ClarkUSA]

9. No, I'm consistent. I'd rather she stay in the Senate and be one of those 60 votes.

I believe Gov. Richardson is the most qualified candidate to be Secretary of State, followed by John Kerry. Unlike Hillarylanders, I
disagree with James "Judas" Carville that Richardson was "disloyal" for choosing to support the man who he felt would make the
best president. Richardson showed judgment and guts while Hillary dodged sniper fire.

[BootinUp]

11. You disagree with quite a few people

in fact on this matter, most visibly the President Elect who has not denied in anyway the reports that have been out since like Thursday.

[ClarkUSA]

16. Then I guess Obama supporters aren't a cult of personality, after all.

Wish I could say the same about Hillarylanders.

And what'd you expect Barack to say? James "Judas" Carville and Henry Kissinger had better hope Bill's shady, lucrative
deals with con men, despots, and dictators hold up under Obama's scrutiny, not to mention that super-secret library
donor list.

Abner Mikva - former federal judge, law professor, member of Congress, reformer of Chicago politics, chairman of the
Illinois Human Rights Commission... and former White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton - told the today:

The vetting of Mr. Clinton's myriad philanthropic and business dealings is "complicated, and it may be the complications
that are causing hesitation on both sides," said Abner J. Mikva, one of Mr. Obama's closest supporters and a White House
counsel during the Clinton administration. "There would have to be full disclosure as to who all were contributors to his
library and foundation. I think they'd have to be made public."

While aides to the president-elect declined Monday to discuss what sort of requirements would make it possible for Mrs.
Clinton to serve as secretary of state, they said Mr. Obama would not formally offer her the job unless he was satisfied
that there would be no conflicts posed by Mr. Clinton's activities abroad.

[BootinUp]

18. Seeing cults where there was nearly 50% of the Dem party

is ludricrous, you realize that of course. Why don't you chill a little, less hardening of the arteries and all.

[ClarkUSA]

20. Revisionist history is always so ennobling, isn't it?

I am amused at your passive-aggressive baiting and patronizing tone. Some things never change.

Now enjoy the next eight years. I know I will. I'll start at the Inauguration parties for other Team O
staff/aides/workers/volunteers who worked our hearts out for most of the past year making Obama 44.

[denverbill]

13. Much as it pisses me off to let Lieberman off, Dr Dean does put it well.

I'm no Lieberman fan by any stretch. But Howard does put it pretty well.

Bush's idiotic petulance is a perfect example of how NOT to govern.

As hard for it is for me to swallow Lieberman getting off so easily, it would be worse for America to be ruled for 8 more years by a petulant, vindictive asswipe.

It takes an awful lot of character for Obama to forgive Lieberman and McCain for the shit they said about him during the election.

If Obama can forgive it, I can too.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Nothing for the DNC. Nothing.

Justice is not revenge. That meme is disgusting.

[onenote]

17. I wish people would remember that the Homeland Security/Govt Affair Committee isn't that big a prize

In terms of seniority, the average member of the Committee on the Democratic side ranks 63rd (out of 100),only lieberman and Levin are in the top 40 in the Senate in seniority. NOt much better on the repub side. the average seniority level of the committee membership is 44.5.

[BootinUp]

19. So in other words the big dogs

don't want to be on it. Interesting point.

[onenote]

21. they're certainly not clamoring for it

Here are the Democrats on the Committee with their level of Seniority (first number is seniority in senate as a whole, second is seniority in the Democratic Caucus)

Levin (13) (7)
Adaka (30) (17)
Landrieu (50) (27)
Carper (63) (32)
Pryor (78) (38)
Obama (80) (39)
McCaskill (95) (48)
Tester (98) (51)

[KatieB]

22. Doesn't it have power to investigate the President?

I thought it has the mission to investigate the actions of the President and folks were appauled that Lieberman did NOTHING with that authority under W's watch.

[onenote]

24. here is its jurisdiction

http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=About.Jurisdiction

[Dr. Mullion Blasto]

23. Revenge has got nothing to do with it.

I'm rather disappointed in Dean for praising this decision, especially as he is still the party chairman. Look, people,this guy Lieberman lost the Democratic primary election two years ago and ran essentially as a Republican to get re-elected. Then he turns around and supports the Republican nominee for President. If the Clintons or Edwards or Kucinich or Dodd or anybody else pulled this kind of stunt, wouldn't everyone here be screaming about it. There is a reason why we have primaries and conventions and that is to choose party endorsed candidates. There is an implicit contract here, and that is if you are a candidate and lose, you support the party's choice.

I don't get it. How can anybody support this decision and still think we are the party of change?