Lieberman's Fate Looks Brighter By The Day

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Lieberman's Fate Looks Brighter By The Day

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/13/liebermans-fate-looks-bri_n_143537.html



As Senate Democrats prepare for a vote on Sen. Joseph Lieberman's fate in the party, the political tea leaves indicate that he will likely keep his post as chair of the Homeland Security and Government Reform Committee.

Over the past few days, a growing number of colleagues have gravitated to Lieberman's corner. The most prominent of them is President-elect Barack Obama. The Illinois Senator issued indications this past week that he would like Lieberman to remain in the caucus, but he didn't tip his hand one way or another when it came to the chairmanship.

Since then, Obama has reportedly had conversations with multiple Senate allies including Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, Clair McCaskill, and Chris Dodd. One person he hasn't talked to is Lieberman himself.

"They have not spoken," said spokesperson Stephanie Cutter.

Nevertheless, Lieberman does seem to be developing the support he needs to stave off any attempt to strip him of his homeland security post. In addition to Obama, it was reported on Thursday that Dodd and Sens. Tom Carper, Bill Nelson and Ken Salazar had formed a group that was pushing for an alternative way to punish Lieberman while keeping him in the caucus. Sen. Evan Bayh, meanwhile, took to the "Rachel Maddow Show" to explain why taking away Lieberman's homeland security position -- even if the Connecticut independent didn't follow through on his threat to flee the caucus -- would be a bad thing.

"He might decide to stay and be bitter," said the Indiana Democrat. "What would happen is from time to time we have close votes... If Lieberman doesn't know what to do and we've exacted revenge on him, I think we could expect the same in return."

[jakem]

1. WTF. I mean really...

[krispos42]

2. Fuck.

I'm going to write an email to Sentator Klobuchar right now.

:mad:

[Horse with no Name]

3. Two words.

Term Limits.
These festering bilious politicians need to go. They are worried more about taking care of each other and feathering their own nests than what is right and good and decent for this country.

[eissa]

4. THIS IS NOT REVENGE!

God damn it, why do people insist that punishing someone who betrayed you is "revenge"? Are there simply NO consequences for disloyal backstabbers? What sort of message does that send other than the democrats fulfilling the stereotype of being "wimps." It's an absolute travesty if LIEberman gets to keep his chair positions. I'm so sick about this.

[Jack Sprat]

8. Me too. I'm so tired of this Lieberman crap

slinking its tawdry way back to same group that he has spent months demonizing on the road with McSame/Lindsey Graham. Both Joe and Graham probably did little to add to the campaign's life, but the very visage of those 3 picking and grinning for the small crowds made me sick to my stomach.

[BluePatriot21]

5. large bulbous boil on Uncle Sams taint

This large festering overgrown boil needs to be lanced and shipped back to his homeland.
For all the bad stuff he might have possibly done, and for all those things we KNOW he has done to our Democratic party he deserves NOTHING. How he got elected in CT I will never understand. He needs to be thrown overboard to the slimy Republican party, let them have Zionist Judas Zed Miller LIEberman.
Enough ! Obama!! slam dunk this douche nozzle into the trash can!

[krispos42]

6. I wrote a letter to my senator

I'll write one to Al Franken if/when he gets elected.

Dear Senator Klobuchar,

I hope this recent election was as pleasureable for you as it was for myself. A landslide victory for Obama, convicted felon Stevens losing in Alaska, Franken gaining here in Minnesota... it is indeed a mandate from the people.

I am writing, however, because of recent news reports that Sen. Lieberman may hold onto his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Reform Committee.

I find this gross and unacceptable.

I say this as a former Nutmegger. I was born and raised in Connecticut and voted for Lieberman twice in 2000: once for Veep and once for Senator. He is now something far different than what he was.

He has proven that he will align himself with anybody, providing that "anybody" will continue to prosecute the occupation of Iraq and continue with "bomb first, then talk" foreign policy.

I do not want this kind of person in charge of Government Reform. Because he is so determined and so single-minded on mindlessly hawkish foreign policy, I do not think the Committee under his leadership would be able to effectively investigate, hold hearings, subpoena, and prosecute much of what needs reforming; i.e. the massive corruption going on between the Pentagon and the various domestic and foreign contractors such as Halliburton, KBR, BechTel, etc. I feel and fear he would bury such problems rather than risk affecting the Iraq "war" with public outrage.

In addition, he must not be rewarded for his behavior the last two years. He has been the postor-boy for Democratic disunity, right-wing sucking-up, mindless hawkishness, and very public and in-your-face Republican advocacy.

Since he votes with the Democrats on domestic policy, it would be marginally acceptable for him to be on some domestic committee that does not deal with national security government oversight. Perhaps the Finance Committee. Or, since he's a former Attorny General, the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law.

But, please, Senator, don't put this guy in charge of overseeing the Obama Administration. I am particulary worried because Lieberman has a huge and self-centered ego, as evidenced by his most recent election as an independent after losing the Democratic primary. He has another re-election coming up, and I am very worried about what political stunts he might pull for the election in 2012. What political alignment with Republicans will he make in 2012 to preserve his own political position, and will he abuse his power of oversight to those goals?

I think he will.

I'm tired of him being the center of media and political attention. Please, please backburner him. Let him serve out the remains of his term out of sight and out of mind in a position where he can do good work without helping Republicans or hurting Obama.

I know Obama wants to be "post partisan", but such feelings only work when most of the partisans want to go along. Lieberman is not about to go along.

Thank you for your time.

[Jack Sprat]

7. Well said.

We have some trusting souls who don't see the problems he can still create through ill-meaning deceit. Passing secrets to the opposition, building coalitions to block legislation, and generally opposing all efforts to leave Iraq or poisoning any attempts at dialogue with Iran. If Joe is stripped of his chairmanships and told his punishment includes exclusion of caucusing with Democrats, then he will likely bolt to the Republican side or resign. Just as well. Know your enemies and don't let them inside your confidence. That is a far greater mistake. He still remembers the Democratic primary defeat in 06. His actions since then should prove that his new preferred friends are Republicans. His attitude toward Democrats now is blatant contempt. If Democrats let him remain anywhere in the circle, I predict he will make them pay dearly for their misjudgment.

[misanthrope]

9. Joey the Liar is a rat...

...He has demonstrated over and over and over again that he cannot be trusted. Weighing out the pros and cons, the filibuster-proof majority and all, he has to go from his committee chair. If he bolts to the GOP, there's little difference as his actions have shown he would not side with Dems when it really counted and would likely use his position to go after the Obama administration anyway.

His usefulness has died on all counts.

[MattSh]

10. Repeat after me...

LIEberman will NOT give us a filibuster-proof majority. LIEberman does NOT give a shit about the Democratic party.

[Eryemil]

11. So it begins. Hahahahahahah

[mirror wall]

12. They are keeping him around because they project things going badly in 2010.

Or at least want to be safe if things do go wrong.

It disgusts me, too. But it's a pragmatic move. Ugh.

[and-justice-for-all]

13. He is such a shady bastard....

cutting LIEberman would not be a loss, he is a two faced ass hole that needs to be booted.

But here is my take: LIBerman threatened to side with the repukes if he was released from his chairman ships; so, Dems wanting to be as close to filibuster proof as they can get, took the deal.

I would have cut the ass hole loose and took my chances.