Despite Democratic Flap, Sen. Joe Lieberman Remains Chairman of Homeland Security Cmte.

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

BREAKING NEWS BANNER: Despite Democratic Flap, Sen. Joe Lieberman Remains Chairman of Homeland Security Cmte.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com /

---

more from CNN:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/18/lieberm... /

Lieberman keeps powerful chairmanship post
Posted: 11:51 AM ET

(CNN) — Senate Democrats have voted to allow Sen. Joe Lieberman to retain his chairmanship of the powerful Homeland Security Committee.

The secret-ballot vote was 42-13.

Lieberman is losing his chairmanship on an environmental subcommittee.

[msongs]

1. the good old boys club (now with women) closes ranks against the people nt

[Newsjock]

2. Remember this day

When the Republicans launch their inevitable impeachment attempt against President Obama, and when committee chair Lieberman conducts "hearings" to "uncover" "evidence" damaging to President Obama.

Good thing we're keeping our powder dry for that!

[LynneSin]

10. 40 senators can hardly launch an impeachment attack and trust me I doubt Joe has full control

Daniel Inouye was the potential fill for that chair and trust me, you can get around committee chairs if you want to. The republicans did it with Jeffords and they can do the same with Lieberman.

Obama asked us to take the high road and well, it's better to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

[Hotler]

97. He never asked me to take the high road, and I don't hangout..

with my enemies. I've been begging for Dems to grow a spine and all we get from Nancy and Harry is an approval rating lower than shrubs. There will be no change people.

[wroberts189]

88. THANK YOU .. for pointing out the significance of this. n/t

[Phred42]

3. What the HELL defines DEMOCRAT now?

Oh right - Cowards that roll over...

[oberliner]

4. Lieberman keeps Senate chairmanship (but stripped of subcommittee chairmanship)

A little more info:

Emerging from a closed-door meeting, Harkin told reporters that Democrats had stripped Lieberman of a subcommittee chairmanship, a far lesser punishment.

There were fears that Lieberman, a former Democrat turned independent, might become Republican if he lost the chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. Democratic aides said Obama urged Democrats to do what it takes to keep Lieberman, who represents Connecticut, in their Senate conference where he routinely votes with them.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4AG7MC200...

[Joe Bacon]

5. WIMPS!

Spineless idiots. They've given Judah Benjamin a pass. Now watch LIEberman sabotage Obama every way he can. What a bunch of wimps. DISGUSTING!

[Hubert Flottz]

6. And the chicken shit bastards did it in "SECRET" like Bush and

Cheney do things.

[ryanmuegge]

67. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[Hawkeye-X]

7. First executive Obama makes...

Is to disband Homeland Security, and break it back to its respective alphabet agency.

Therefore, Joe Lieberman is out of a chairperson seat, because there is no Homeland Security.

[notadmblnd]

16. I certainly hope so, otherwise I'll lose a lot of faith in Obama's change meme.

[Nihil]

18. And if you believe that ...

... I've got the email address of a Nigerian prince who'd *really*
like to hear from you ...

[jkilvik]

8. We are a party of weak tinklers..

Another embarrassing day for Democrats. We really are a party of wimps led by weak tinklers.

[wellst0nev0ter]

9. One Word

Fucking incumbency protection racket.

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. Spineless, all of them that voted this way.

No wonder the repugs walk all over us.

[tsuki]

12. Lieberman will make their life hell. He is a small, vindictive man. nt

[nyc 4 Biden]

13. What a disgrace!

The sad part is that we aren't the least bit surprised by this latest example of cowardice.

[Nihil]

14. "Meet the new boss ..."

Useless bastards.

Corrupt, spineless, gutless bastards.

"Change"? Yeah, right.

[OregonBlue]

15. Poster on Daily KOS suggested that we now forward all requests for money from our Senators to Joe

since they obviously consider his support more important than those that elected them. I for one an down with that. Not one more penny from me for these spineless wimps.

Here's their phone numbers if you care to let them know what you think.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

[sabrina 1]

91. Excellent idea!

I will do that with the next request for funds ~

[onehandle]

17. IMPEACH OBAMA!

Ha ha.

Obama gets what he wants.

[Karenina]

53. Joe will happily hold the gavel.

After this, if Hill gets the nod for SoS it's time to go play Scrabble, or Knucks, fire up a doobie and tune out.

[Zhade]

94. No kidding.

Tell Justin Matt from L.A. said hi!

[Emillereid]

19. What is wrong with the Democrats? No wonder I've been feeling down since the

election - deep in my gut I guess I just knew nothing is substantively going to change - maybe around the edges and style-wise - but not the kind of change the more progressive among us wanted. Between this decision and the trend to re-make the Clinton administration, the luster is coming off the Obama administration before it even starts. Does the democratic party stand for anything? What more did Joe have to do to deserve the loss of his chairmanship? Rape a small child in front of them?

There is a good editorial in the LA Times today cautioning Obama about the to so-called team of rivals theory -- as it turns out it didn't work so well for Lincoln after all.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-pi...
From the Los Angeles Times
Opinion
Lincoln and the myth of 'Team of Rivals'
President Lincoln's Cabinet was far more dysfunctional than Doris Kearns Goodwin's book would have us believe.
By Matthew Pinsker

November 18, 2008

<snip>

"Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his Cabinet," is the way Obama has summarized Goodwin's thesis, adding, "Whatever personal feelings there were, the issue was how can we get this country through this time of crisis."

That's true enough, but the problem is, it didn't work that well for Lincoln. There were painful trade-offs with the "team of rivals" approach that are never fully addressed in the book, or by others that offer happy-sounding descriptions of the Lincoln presidency.

Lincoln's decision to embrace former rivals, for instance, inevitably meant ignoring old friends -- a development they took badly. "We made Abe and, by God, we can unmake him," complained Chicago Tribune Managing Editor Joseph Medill in 1861. Especially during 1861 and 1862, the first two years of Lincoln's initially troubled administration, friends growled over his ingratitude as former rivals continued to play out their old political feuds.

<snip>

Though Seward, the former New York senator who had been the Republican front-runner, eventually proved helpful to the president, the impact of repeated disloyalty and unnecessary backroom drama from him and several other Cabinet officers was a significant factor in the early failures of the Union war effort.



By December 1862, there was a full-blown Cabinet crisis.

"We are now on the brink of destruction," Lincoln confided to a close friend after being deluged with congressional criticism and confronted by resignations from both Seward and Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase. Goodwin suggests that Lincoln's quiet confidence and impressive emotional intelligence enabled him to survive and ultimately forge an effective team out of his former rivals, but that's more wishful thinking than serious analysis.

Consider this inconvenient truth: Out of the four leading vote-getters for the 1860 Republican presidential nomination whom Lincoln placed on his original team, three left during his first term -- one in disgrace, one in defiance and one in disgust.
...more at link....

[DuaneBidoux]

20. This is what makes some question Dems ability (or willingness) to defend America.

My God, what does someone have to do for Dems to consider him/her a traitor?

He is a traitor to his party and everything it stands for and some say he is not being punished. I would go so far as to say keeping his post is plain and simply a reward. Let's pray that next time Connecticut will have the good sense to get rid of his sorry ass since congressional dems don't seem to have the ba**s to do it.

[catrose]

24. Absolutely!

As Amy-Hillary said (but to the media): Either grow a pair or borrow mine.

What has Joe got on these people that they'll support him no matter what? The Connecticut Democrats reject him--but his Senate buddies jump in to support his "independent" run. He not just doesn't support but actively campaigns against and attacks our nominee, and they don't even slap his hand. "Naughty Joe, mustn't," is about the level

Or is just the Old Boys Club, with the number one goal to keep the club going, no matter what?

So for 8 years he hasn't seen anything that needs oversight? Be interesting to see how much he finds now.

Digusted, purely disgusted.

[russspeakeasy]

21. Screw the public...Cover your ass...They will forget

Same shit, different names....You lying chickenshit
bastards...I want my vote back...... All Obama had to do was
NOT endorse the fucking traitor....

[Tempest]

22. Disgusting

The only bright point is that LIEberman will not win re-election in 2010.

[AZ Criminal JD]

40. No he won't win re-election in 2010 because he is not up

His next election is 2012. If he was ever going to be defeated it would have happened in 2006.

[merwin]

58. He was defeated in 2006, remember?

Unfortunately the masses fell for him as an "independent".

[Tempest]

66. His approval rating is only 35% in CT

I don't see it improving before 2012 unless he does a complete 180.

[coffeenap]

23. Now dismantle the Dept. of Homeland Security and the

problem is solved.

[DainBramaged]

48. That's been my thought for months. It is a bloated useless branch of Government

Give security for our country back to the branches who KNOW how to defend it. Give a TON of money back to the Coast Guard and border patrol, and then LIEberman is out of a job. Let's give Obama a chance. He is smarter than all of us.

[Pastiche423]

93. You think Obama is smarter than all of us

But I am beginning to have my doubts.

[classysassy]

134. True

get rid of that worthless dept.

[Zambero]

25. How soon before the buyer's remorse sets in?

Traitor Joe still retains his assortment of backstabbing knives. At his whim, rest assured he'll continue to make use of them. And how much time will elapse before Joe, as the "treasured" cloture vote #60, flips back to the GOP side in order to keep a filibuster going? Not too long I predict, and of course he'll have the last laugh.

[investintrains]

26. apparently it should have been an open vote

apparently it should have been an open vote

[ElsewheresDaughter]

37. stick a fucking fork in me!

[High Plains]

27. Ugh. I disagree with this decision.

[PassingFair]

28. I no longer support the party-at-large.

My contributions go only to progressive
candidates and representatives.

No more money to the DNC, either,
now that Dean is stepping down.

I am sickened.

[awoke_in_2003]

49. I think I have to agree with you...

this is the last straw in what has been, for the last two years, nothing but disappointment and lack of spine shown by House and Senate leadership. The older I get, the more I realize that our politicians are nothing but a facade to hide who really runs this country- big business.

[PassingFair]

60. It is embarrassing.

It makes us look weak.

[awoke_in_2003]

61. To paraphrase Jim Hightower...

"America could use a third political party, and it desperately needs a second"

[DinahMoeHum]

29. Fuck.

[acmavm]

30. So, apparently the Democratic IS still just a good ol' boys club

and fuck the people who pay their checks. I would love to see Harry AND Nancy run out of town on a rail.

[netgui68]

31. Where is the transparancy?

I was upset that the Dems failed to prosecute Bush and Admin for their crimes, I was upset that the Dems kept cowering to the Republicans, I was upset about the FISA vote, I was upset about the bailout, now I am just absolutely pissed over Lieberman, I was promised change and transparency, They told me to f*ck off one too many times, now I tell them the same. Don't bother to solicit me for another donation ever. Unlike you in Washington, I do have ethics and principles and stick to them. I would never barter with a traitor for political expediency, I would never withhold justice to the guilty..doing so tells a great deal about your character, you are no better than Lieberman or Bush, because you tolerated it and turned a blind eye too the injustices, you are guilty by association and have enabled them to do their deeds and set a precedence that encourages the same bad behavior in the future. I will immediately change my registration to Independent and if things do not improve drastically I will start casting my vote third party...maybe it is time!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

32. .............

[Pastiche423]

95. lol

That photo capsulates my feelings exactly!

[Lucky 13]

33. Change we can believe in, huh?

42. 42 spineless, impotent, cronyistic, pieces of Democratic garbage voted for him. WTF? I am so pissed off right now. I can't believe it.

[investintrains]

34. cartoon re Lieberman violence

[nyc 4 Biden]

35. This may have just cost Jim Martin the Georgia Seat!

They were so concerned with keeping Joe on their side that that rolled over and may have let their base become disillusioned. This will not help with fund raising and grass roots help for the run off in Georgia right now.

[gingersnaps1]

64. Damn straight. I gave up five weeks of my time to help Obama in PA. I was

thinking of giving up a week or two of my time to help Jim MArtin GOTV but I have changed my mind behind this. I am disgusted and I pissed. I just can't believe that they would do something so fucking cowardly like let this man keep his chairmanship. And for those posters that think Obama may dismantle the committee, I wouldn't hold my breath. The same Lieberman won the spin war regarding being cut from the caucus so will the republicans win the spin war with Joe leading the way about Obama not wanting to protect America by dismantling the committee.

Seriously, I want my money back that I have donated to the Dems. All of it.

[Barb in Atl]

76. Please reconsider...

We are up and running trying to GOTV here in GA and could use all the help we can get. I'm more than a little disgusted about the vote for Lieberman (I'm originally from CT), but we need every Dem senator we can get in there.

We can defeat Saxby Chambliss - a nobody that pissed on a triple amputee veteran who was a pretty good senator. For that ALONE I want him out. There are plenty of other reasons, but that's reason one for me.

You have the time to come and help? Please do.

[go west young man]

84. Good point.

It shows a lack of intelligence and planning by Dems when it comes to battles not yet won. One has to ask themselves, "what were they thinking?" Apparently they weren't thinking at all.

[RogueBandit]

36. Proof of deep corruption?

This seems to me to be proof of deep corruption. But, just to be a reasonable political animal...

Haven't people said that Lieberman voted Dem the vast majority of the time? Maybe this is just a shill game against the Reps at a very high level.

Nah, I don't believe it. Running in your own state as a "non" Dem, then supporting the Rep's candidate for president?

Deep corruption? Someone convince me other wise, please.

[Lasher]

38. Taking away his meaningless subcommittee just makes it worse.

I guess we're supposed to be stupid enough to think they really gave him what for. That just adds insult to injury. Why don't they just go ahead and make him Majority Leader? I'll bet Joe would find that acceptable.

This is a slap in the face to the Democratic base. I'm sure this is not going to be the last time I wonder why we bothered to elect Democrats if we're just going to put the opposition in charge.

[CoopersMom]

39. Okay everybody CHILL

Obama told his staff that he didn't want to make Lieberman a hero to the GOP by tarring and feathering him. I still think that's the right move. Obama won despite the bastard and that's enough.

Lieberman is detested by Connecticut Dems and many independent voters and probably has a snowball's chance in hell of getting reelected, so let the voters throw him out in a few years.

[Betty]

42. let's hope the voters remember this

four years from now... people's attention spans are pretty short in this country. But I hope you're right and they throw the asshole out.

[AZ Criminal JD]

45. Why didn't they throw him out in 2006?

[noiretextatique]

51. i agree...it was a smart move

lieberman owes obama...obama owns lieberman.

[awoke_in_2003]

54. Oh goody

we only have to put up with him for 4 more years

[merwin]

56. A few years?

He's not set to go up again until 2012. A lot can happen in that time, especially with him being the chair of the homeland security committee.

[George II]

65. Very true - as much as I hate it, it's best overall - we'll beat him handily in 2012 IF he runs.

[elias7]

80. Exactly...what do you gain by alienating him?

You lose one vote in the senate but in return, justice and principle are being served.

The problem is that the need for justice often veils the underlying desire for revenge, and principle cuts both ways in this issue, and you still lose a vote in the senate.

[cstanleytech]

41. In the land of make believe he would have been removed

however since we live in the real world or atleast some of us here do I am not really surprised he kept his position for now.

[road2000]

43. I'd love to see the photos in JoMo's desk drawer.

I'd also love to know the identities of those 13 good souls.

[goforit]

44. I guess 'al Qaeda' will be allowed to attack America now that Lieberman stays.

Cheney/Bush will be overiden with joy!!!

[douglas9]

46. Today Is International Laugh At Joe Lieberman Day

http://laughatlieberman.com/

[russspeakeasy]

47. I want my vote and my money back....................

I will return my T shirt, cap, lawn signs and bumper stickers
if you will return my $75 and my vote...all you had to do was
NOT endorse Liarman and I would have given you the benefit of
the doubt...your decision to "forgive" him is
unforgivable and I for one will not forget it...You Sir, are
another empty suit...Goodbye..

[DeeDeeNY]

50. If you're referring to Obama, he didn't vote on this, because he resigned from the Senate

As far as I know, he said he was okay only with Lieberman caucusing with the Democrats, but he never said he backed him for the chairmanship.

[noiretextatique]

52. obama hasn't taken office yet

i find it hard to believe that you are giving up on obama before he takes office.

[LSK]

77. Palin 2012 Cuz Duh You Betcha

That what you want?

[Gamey]

55. BOOOOOO!

[KitSileya]

57. Spineless, weakling Democrats apologizing for dulling the edge

of the knife Lieberman stuck in their back.


It's disgraceful.

[lumpy]

59. All we need now is for Palin to be hired for a power position.

aarghhh

[Liberal Veteran]

62. Wow. How bowel liquifyingly terrified he must be at such a horrific wrist slapping.

[krispos42]

63. What the hell?????

God-DAMMIT!!!!


Lieberman is so pro-war he didn't investigate ANYTHING wrong in Iraq!!!!!! And he's in charge of the fucking Committee STILL?????


So what's going to happend when Obama moves to troop withdrawals?


Lieberman's going to do everything he can to keep the troops in Iraq, that's what!



Fuckin' spineless Democrats! "Kill one, warn one hundred", says The Magistrate. And for GOOD FUCKING REASON!!!

SOME THINGS ARE UNFORGIVABLE!!!!!!

The past two years he's been effectively a Republican, an obstructionist, denigrating republican that actively and intenstly campaigned AGAINST Obama!


And now he's in charge of the Government Reform Committee?





42 Democrats in the Senate have just slit Obama's political throat. Congradulations. Every good and liberal thing Obama does that in may directly or indirectly increase the perceived threat to Israel or is seen as not fighting "The Global War on Terror®" will be met with some Republican-driven, Lieberman-approved subpeona and media spectacle.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT POST-PARTISAN

They might have become that, somewhat, by the 2010 election if we weren't rewarding a goddamn Republican QUISLING for completely anti-Democratic behavior!

We already know that the Republicans are perfectly willing to be 100% obstructionist assholes rather than a) be bipartisan, b) do good government, c) advance ANY liberal agenda a single millimeter, or d) listen to the will of the people.

And this weak-kneed buckling just proves it.

The last two years, with Reid refusing to make the Republicans put their filibustering money where their filibustering mouths are? The last two years that lead to record-SMASHING numbers of knee-jerk, automatic filibusters??? Welcome to four more years of it.

We were handed a shining golden chance to move forward in a populist wave and accomplish real change that's been stagnant for a decade, and now, with that polished turd Lieberman's continuing existance as a force to be sucked-up to, I have little hope for anything substantial do pass through the Senate.


Dammit!

[AndyTiedye]

68. AIPAC Still Calls the Shots

[sweettater]

78. You are exactly correct

I was going to post the same thing. AIPAC has a very powerful presence in our government. You really shouldn't mention it, you know. You may offend whomever.

[Winterblues]

69. How could it be 42-13?

Demacrats only have 49 Senate seats. I don't get it, and in fact they only have 48 because Obama has resigned his seat...How could there be fifty five votes?

[Seldona]

70. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer is my line of thought.

If he votes with Dem's 51% of the time, we are in in the majority on most issues. Sucks. But to openly toss the guy would turn him into someone who would take the rest of his time in the Senate and stand in our way just out of spite imo.

Pressure can be applied in other ways to keep Lieberman in line. There are several scenarios I can see that would make him largely irrelevant and still keep him in line. Come on folks, Obama is SMART. You think he is going to let the likes of Joe Freakin Lieberman to stand in his way?

Bah! Like a cat with a mouse.

[jobycom]

71. Good. Make him do the paperwork. Just keep him out of the way.

Christ, this is such a non-story everywhere but DU. No sense of perspective around here. We just reclaimed the White House, have a large advantage in Congress, and have the likelihood of appointing between 3 to 6 Supreme Court Justices in the next four to eight years, and people here have still managed to find something to whine about.

[yardwork]

72. Disgusting.

[ellie]

73. OK people of Connecticut

can you recall this POS? If the Senate won't get rid of him maybe his constituents will.

[Dover]

74. Secrecy and Cowardice... this is change?

I think the truth is they AND the Republicans are pretty much on the same page and have
been for a long time. As I've said before, two teams...same owner.
I think our Dem Congress's performance over the last several years and their unwillingness
to challenge the Republican agenda (other than soapboxing for our entertainment) or to hold
any accountable for even criminal activity, is proof of that.

[4lbs]

75. We'll know in a year or so if this was a genius move, regardless of the whining on this board.

If Lieberman votes and does whatever Obama and Reid wish, it will work out great.

If not, well... sure hope they can vote again and strip him of all his power then.

[wroberts189]

87. How will they remove him once he starts his Obama inquisition?

But I hope and pray your first sentence becomes reality.

[crikkett]

79. If Zell Miller were still around they'd make him Senate Majority Leader

[mbperrin]

81. Joe would have been tombstoned on DU for doing what he did.

Shit.

[katty]

82. beyond disgusting-disgrace

[WyldRogue]

83. No surprise there...

...although I did hold onto hope that the Dems would grow a set of balls and a spine and stand up but it looks like the Party of Appeasement is Staying the Course.

I am disgusted on the fact that they allowed Joe to keep the main seat instead of losing it.

Just goes to show that Reid is a yellow-bellied coward that can't stand up to a bully, hell, all the Dems are cowards. Even in the Minority section, the Repugs call the shots as the Dem will not fight. I made the right choice in voting for Obama but I think I made a mistake in voting more Demcowards into office, only to watch them backdown/cave-in/submit to Bush, the Repug party and Joe LIEberman.

I will make sure that I do not vote for any Dems in 2010 because as I stated before, if they won't stand up and fight now, they won't stand up and fight then either...

Obama was the right choice bar none, but the other cowards will be replaced in 2010.

[wroberts189]

85. They will regret this. He is a snake.

Great job Dems. Joe will start investigating Obama on day one.

Ken Star REDUX

[EndElectoral]

86. Unbeleivably dissapointed. I feel like we lost the election....Aw fuck

[geomon666]

89. An absolute mockery. n/t

[RCinBrooklyn]

90. The "do nothing" Dems do nothing again. The worst Congress EVER.

[OregonBlue]

92. As many as 5 million people expected for inaugeration and Homeland Security will coordinate with D.C

police. Does that make Obama feel safe?

[Zhade]

96. Pathetic. Reminds me yet again why I'm an independent.

And why I will never donate to the DNC.

[unkachuck]

98. so, this traitor joe....

....this degenerate Republican turd, has been deposited squarely in the middle of our election victory, a victory we've anticipated for over 30 years....

....a kick in the balls, another slap in the face to the progressive grassroots base that 'doesn't exist'....a part of the American political spectrum that never experiences post-election power or attention....attention or power that even a low-life fundie expects and receives....

....listen you bastards, we're taking notes....

[Truth Teller]

99. Lieberman credits Obama after Dems let him keep post

Source: CNN

Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman managed to keep his Senate committee chairmanship in part because President-elect Barack Obama didn't want to punish him for supporting Sen. John McCain, Lieberman said Tuesday.

The Senate Democratic caucus, following a lengthy and often heated debate, voted 42-13 Tuesday to let Lieberman continue chairing the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

The caucus did, however, strip Lieberman of his spot on the Environment and Public Works Committee.

A Democrat in the Senate for 18 years before going independent, Lieberman criticized Obama, the Democratic nominee, during the race for the White House.

"I know that my colleagues in the Senate Democratic caucus were moved not only that Sen. Reid said about my longtime record, but by the appeal from President-elect Obama himself that the nation unite now to confront our very serious problems," Lieberman said in the Capitol as those colleagues nodded in agreement behind him...



Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/18/lieberman.se...

[kwyjibo]

100. He owes Obama. He better make some good stuff happen for the Democrats.

I don't have much faith in him, but I can imagine Obama standing over him LBJ-style, letting him know he's on probation. Lieberman better not fuck it up.

[Truth Teller]

101. If it make him a more reliable Democratic vote

I can understand it better.

[TheWraith]

103. That might have been communicated to him behind the scenes.

"You can keep your sandcastle, but if you cross us again, you're going to lose everything."

[scytherius]

104. Agreed. And they don't really have to get to 60 to invoke cloture. nt

nt

[BobRossi]

102. Fuck him. I want blood.

I want to see our enemies publicly humiliated and stomped on.

[scytherius]

105. Oh I FEEL the same but

couldn't we do that to Limbaugh or Hannity? MUCH more fun. lol

[Name removed]

111. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[apnu]

129. Ok...

But at what cost? I want to get things done in Government. Good things, and if giving Lieberman a slap on the wrist allows us to get good things done, so be it. My anger at Lieberman can take a back seat. Believe me, I want a pound of flesh from him, but in politics often one must lie with devils to get the good work accomplished.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

106. Lieberman is an ass and he needs to go. If we get to 60, he should be dumped nt

[kirby]

109. LOL, before it was if we get to 51, he should be dumped n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

110. I'm always disappointed by the Democrats' inability to show a strong front ...

Keeping this asshole is wrong in every conceivable way.

[hay rick]

116. If we get to 1 he should be dumped. nt

[AllHereTruth]

119. We cant get to 60 without him

[Sarah Ibarruri]

122. Are they going to dump the a-hole once we have 60 without him? nt

[Phred42]

107. Provies Dems are Cowards and have no more ethics than Repugs

Fuck them all

[faulknercindy]

108. Somehow I feel

the good people of CT. will accomodate us in 2010. Just call it a feeling.

[mt13]

113. from connecticut...

you betchya we will! he sneaked by last time even though he lost the primary but not in 2010!

[Lucky Luciano]

114. 2012 I think you mean?

[mt13]

115. you are...

correct, sir. Dodd is up in 2010, Lieberman in 2012. AAARGH! dash my hopes!

[Third Doctor]

117. Obama is very forgiving

after a fellow Democrat stabbed him in the back quite publicly.

[Doctor_J]

120. This welcoming him back to the party wll not help

If he'd been allowed to become a Repuke he'd be dead on his feet. As it is he'll probably be re-elected

[beltanefauve]

125. I don't think so.

He was re-elected in 2006 primarily by Republicans. And his dissaproval ratings at this time with Connecticut voters is around 65%. Heck, he may not even run after 2012. And I don't think the Republicans want him, either.

[Canuckistanian]

112. He was sucking up to Obama right after the election

He knew the knives were out for him.

Seems that Lieberman knew exactly what to kiss.... and when.

[rpannier]

121. Problem with the "knives out..." scenario

The Democratic leadership carries rubber, retractible knives.

They'd hurt themselves otherwise.

[Canuckistanian]

126. LOL

Yup, that's true.

[madrchsod]

118. obama has sold out.....

oh well i suppose all hope is lost.........


wait till 2012 when we can elect a real democrat!

[TankLV]

123. I imagine the conversation went like this:

(you can and a Marlin Brando Godfather accent to embellish)

Joe Lieberman

Joe, Joe, Joe...

Good to see you...

How's that lovely wife of yours, Joe?

Joe, we've got a problem and we need your help...

I gotta tell ya, Joe,

We're very dissappointed in you, Joe...
You went against the Family, and said some pretty distressing things, Joe...
It's bad enough when you dissed me...
But it really, really hurt to see you dissing our Family - and working for that crime syndicate.

KnowwhatImeanJoe?

But I'm a reasonable man, Joe.

I really love ya, you're like a father to me...

So here's what I plan to do for you...

I plan to let you keep your caucus seat.

And I'd like to let you keep your chairmanship.

I'm a reasonable man, Joe...

But, I gotta tell you - I OWN you now - I OWN your soul, Joe.

From now on, Joe, you will do EVERYTHING we tell you to.
Everything.

Understand Joe?

Everything we tell you.

No exceptions.

And I won't say what MIGHT happen to you should you, say, vote some way that WE don't like.
Let's just say, an early retirement is NOT out of the picture, youknowwhatImeanJoe?

Nice talkin to ya Joe...

Now send in the next one...

Love to that lovely wife of yours, Joe...

[elocs]

124. Ahh, and so it begins. The old DU is back. We dine on Demo. Yumm.

After all, what does Obama know? Why would he need any advisors when DU could infallibly guide his every move. The wisdom here is boundless, liberally seasoned with hate which also happens to be one of the favorite spices of Republicans.

[Doctor_J]

127. Did anyone ask him if he still thinks Obama is a terrorist and a Marxist?

[Amonester]

128. No... Everybody knows that was "just" a campaign 'strategery' ...

[trudyco]

130. well they want him for filibuster proofing - may be pragmatic but it sucks -nt

Can Obama abolish the title if Joe pisses him off? A way to eliminate his position if he decides to act too Dino? They should only let him keep the chairmanship if they have him under their thumb because they will get a lot of flack for not holding to principle. I don't think Obama is being forgiving - I think he thinks it's the pragmatic thing to do - I just hope he is right. Sometimes Dems triangulate themselves into acting like Republicans. No principles.

[Zorra]

131. Maybe Reid go t concession that Lieberman would always vote with the Democratic

majority.

Aside from that, having Lieberman chair the HSC worries me. Will he sell out our country?

How can we possibly trust him?

[tjahome]

132. Once again

Proof that the old boy's (and some girls) club is alive and well in the United States Senate. What have they done for us lately?

[customerserviceguy]

133. The only possible positive reason I can think of for doing this

was for the PR value, not for us, but to show the country as a whole that election bitterness needs to be left behind. Even with a fillibuster-proof Senate, President Obama will need cooperation from as many people as possible.

If the Dems in the Senate thrashed Lieberman (not that he didn't have it coming) it would send out some rather partisan vibes. Barack Obama's message was to get beyond politics as usual, that's why he sent the signal to forgive in this instance. He's trying to be Gandhi, not Rambo here.

[classysassy]

135. Reid

can call the dims together and dispose of the traitor, if he fucks up again.

[classysassy]

136. he

is not a member of the dim wits,he serves at the pleasure of Reid( the dim leader)