Why Keeping Lieberman is a good thing

[nvme]

Lieberman leaves a bad taste in most everyone's mouth. He bucked the party in the 06 primary after a loss to Ned Lamont. It certainly stings my far left brethren. In this instance our "spineless" leaders are showing foresight.

As many of us know we now stand at a 58 in the senate. Unfortunately, there is more to that figure than meets the eye. Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman are part of that figure. Those two senators caucus with the Democratic Party. They help us to push legislation. They are not Democrats but they do vote and meet with our party members.

Considering the two remaining races to be decided,Minnesota and Georgia we need every hand on deck. It takes 60 votes to break a filibuster. we are at 58 right now. If we pick those two seats then we have the majority and a major shift in our political realities will be able to begin.

By Obama and the senate Democrats withholding punishment against good ole' Joe they accomplished two things. One was Remind Joe he has what he has because of our good graces. He will keep his seat but he has to toe the line. The others serves to keep a potential majority that is filibuster proof on platform legislation.

The purists will say that is making a deal with the devil. However realistically, politics is about sometimes distasteful compromise. It furthers our cause. Joe will behave. The sword of Damocles hangs over him now and we will have him on a short leash.

[cliffordu]

1. I think the new administration having Joey the traitor on the short leash is really

just desserts. Funny too.

Better that than his embrace by the republicans as someone who 'stood up'

Now he's just a lap cat.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Should they give a chairmanship to Lindsey Graham, too?

Maybe he'd be less likely to vote for a filibuster if he were chairman of a Senate committee in the next Congress.

[nvme]

6. Maybe universal health-care

This is about an agenda. would you like to see some changes? or did you enjoy watching the last 2 years of stalled legislation? Lindsey Graham? Why the extremist point? A little political capital is worth the gains. Perhaps Obama wants to accomplish something while he is in office. If he can be magnanimous why can't we. We have entrusted him with the reigns of power perhaps he has enough judgment to foresee the benefit of retaining Joe.

[bluestateguy]

3. I am not optimistic

Maybe with the Iraq war winding down, there could be reason to believe that JL will be better behaved, but he seems to constantly find ways to piss us off.

[Richard Steele]

4. Nope. Thanks for playing, though.. Here's a lovely parting gift:

:fistbump:

[Cleita]

5. I guess scorpions are part of nature. n/t

[Webster Green]

7. It won't matter if we get 60 in the Senate..

Dem legislators are fucking wussies. They will roll over and kiss repuke ass. That's what they always do.

I have no hope for any change at all. :banghead:

[Cleita]

9. There will be change but it will be us, the masses, who force

them to do it. Get busy and get organized. Focus on what we want and make them do it.

[davidthegnome]

8. I don't think Joe is going to behave

but perhaps he'll surprise me.  It always amazes me how Gore picked that creep as his VP.  If a man like Gore can do stupid things... then maybe, just maybe, a man like Joe can do smart things, though it's still highly unlikely.

[nvme]

12. I do not care for him one bit

He is a shrewd opportunist. It will become obvious with in a short period and he can be removed if he doesn't play ball.

[magellan]

10. I'm no purist

I just don't see any reason to think LIEberman will behave any better than he has the past two years, when he virtually joined the GOP and even campaigned against his own party in the GE. Call me strange, but I have a hard time understanding where the leverage is when he's been rewarded for this behavior.

I hope all this dry powder and the multiple swords of Damocles hanging about finally results in something productive from Congress. But you'll pardon me if I don't hold my breath.

[mike_c]

11. this just isn't a good time to do the right thing....

How many times have I heard that?

Piss on that. Throw Lieberman under the bus while the bus is still moving.