Lieberman is the most untrustworthy politician in the Senate

[WI_DEM]

I'm tired of the crap that Lieberman is such a honorable man and a man of integrity. He cares for only one thing and that is Joe Lieberman. First he loses an honest vote in a democratic primary and decides that vote is meaningless and runs as the candidate of the "CT for Lieberman" party--or as some might say, "Lieberman party of one." During the campaign he says that if he is elected as an Independent he will caucus as a Democrat in the Senate. Apparently that was good enough for some national democrats like "Big Dawg" Clinton who campaigned for Lieberman in the primary but didn't make a similar effort for the Democratic nominee, Lamont, in the general election. Now that he is elected as an "Independent Democrat", Joe says "yes, I will be part of the Democratic caucus, but if I don't get my way--I may take a walk over to the Republicans"--words to that effect.

This guy is beyond belief. If only we had gotten one more Democratic seat last week in the Senate we could all collectively tell Lieberman to "Shove off!" as it is I'm not sure two years of his blackmail will be worth it.

End of rant.

[Selatius]

1. All hail Senator Palpatine, the most powerful man in the Senate

[noonwitch]

2. The people of CN obviously prefer him to Lamont, so that's that

He knew he could beat Lamont as an independent and he did. Now he wants to come back, and we should take him back. He was our VP candidate in 2000. He's been a party leader over the years and he is who the people of his state elected.

The party can't be blackmailed by him if they treat him right from now on.

[atreides1]

6. "The party can't be blackmailed by him if they treat him right from now on."

But you will admit that he can blackmail the party if things don't go his way?

[BushOut06]

7. Who will he side with on regarding Iraq, terrorism issues?

We may have a 1-seat majority in the Senate, but that's only by counting LIEberman. You can bet that on issues like Iraq, warrantless wiretaps, etc that he'll vote with the Rethugs - just like he always has. Which means our 1-seat majority goes out the window on those issues.

[noonwitch]

22. I guess we'll be finding out.

It's just not worth getting worked up over. Either he will or he won't.

[WI_DEM]

9. Oh, it's the party's fault

and it will be the party's fault if he takes a walk to the Republicans? Please tell me what we should do to keep him happy? Should we agree with his stand on Iraq? If he doesn't want any investigations into what led to the war--should we bow to him? Please tell us what we should do to make Lieberman happy.

Yes, he was our parties VP nominee in 2000, a great honor, and he paid back that honor by disregarding the choice of a Democratic primary and by making threats that he may now caucus with the GOP.

[noonwitch]

21. It's not about making him happy.

He won, fair and square, and the dems in the senate will deal with it. I don't think he's going to vote with the GOP all the time, I think he's going to remain fairly loyal to the dems.

No one has to "bow" to him. He's one vote. I don't think he's going to oppose investigations, and the senate dems can deal with that if it happens. I know it's a close senate vote, but he's still a dem at heart. Treating him with anger and hostility is not going to win him to the dem side of things. Punishing him for bucking the primary vote will not win him over, either. They can give him a meaningless chairmanship of some less-important commitee to cement the deal.

We want his vote on other matters, too, not just Iraq. Lets say Stevens steps down from the USSC and Shrub nominates someone like Bork-we will definitely need his vote to stop a nomination like that.

[movonne]

20. So your Idea is give in to this crappy little man...if we do what he

wants, he will be good to us...how about the war in Iraq...I guess we can stay there forever...I think he owes the repugs a lot and don't think he is not going to pay them back..

[Bobbieo]

3. Keep up the 'rant'. Send him to the other side!!!!

That's what we Demos really need right now, loss of the control of the House!!!!!

[William769]

4. Great point, just one correction.

He's in the Senate.

[Bobbieo]

10. That's right - too early in the a.m. for me, I guess!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. So, we should bow down and smile to the great prince?

Believe it or not, we live in a democracy (of sorts) where we still have the right (kind of) to "rant" about corrupt politicians who serve only themselves like that pious, warmongering, little pipsqueek from Connecticut.

[William769]

14. Your right we do live in a Democracy.

Which gives Lieberman the right to switch to Independent them back to being a Democrat. And the people of CT spoke, just more Democracy! Damn that Democracy for being a double edged sword.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Then we needn't worry about offending the prick.

Because if his tender feelings get hurt, or his blackmail doesn't work, he can switch to the party who will kiss his miserable oppportunistic ass.

[William769]

18. Thats correct!

[WI_DEM]

13. So it's okay if he blackmails democrats for two years just to

keep him happy? As if my rant is going to be the one that forces him to jump. He is just looking for any reason and he'll find one. After all the GOP and Bush and Cheney helped finance his "independent" race.

[Onlooker]

5. I'd take Lieberman over any of the Republicans

The Republicans are untrustworthy on women's rights, gay rights, civil rights, and children's rights, all issues that Lieberman is quite Democratic on. As far as Lieberman being an opportunist, that's what every politician is. That's why Kerry and Gore lost, because they elected to be opportunistic rather than say what they really felt. Lieberman did not say he would be a Republican. He said he promised to be with the Democratic caucus, is a man of his word, doesn't expect to change, but would never rule it out. After all, who would rule it out? If the Democratic Party became a Party of Lieberman's, I could see a number of Democrats looking elsewhere.

[atreides1]

15. Well

He said he promised to be with the Democratic caucus, is a man of his word, doesn't expect to change, but would never rule it out.

If he doesn't expect to change then the first thing he should do is to rule it out, if he doesn't then we can expect him to jump to the other side, and not keep the promise he made.

[JacksonWest]

8. I think it's a fifty way tie.

An encouraging word-I think there will be a handful of Republicans that will start voting with the Democrats. It's not as easy to goose step when they're in a minority. And the fiasco in Iraq being what it is-and the country seeing it for what it is-Lieberman will hopefully be obsolete.

[lvx35]

12. The thing is that the republicans voted him in.

40% for lamont, 50% for him, 10% for the repub...So you can see that republican voters largely pushed him in. The extent we have a dem senate is a gift from the republicans, as I see it...So whatever we get from Lieberman on the Dem front is really a gift I won't question, and I won't assume much from him...He's basically his own party now.

[Bobbieo]

17. Don' t you think some one in Lieberman's camp keeps up with DU

on a daily basis. So keep on rantin' and send him to the Repubs. Do I think we ought to play nice? Yeah - for the time being!!!! Two sides can play this game.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Awww..poor wittle joey might get his feelin's hurt and go to daddy Bush.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

23. And, ironically, the most powerful.