Lieberman stabs Obama and the Democratic caucus in the back.

[AlinPA]

Earlier this year we discussed the wisdom of allowing Lieberman into the Democratic caucus after he campaigned for Palin and McCain. President Obama accepted him and some of us disagreed. It was argued that he would be there for the tough votes and we got burned on the first tough vote. He just made a lot of points with the RNC. We have been had.

[tblue]

1. Just what do you have to do to be turned out of the Dem caucus??? nt

[DJ13]

6. Normally I would say "be a Republican"

But the way the Democratic plans seemed to revolve around Olympia Snowe even THAT isnt enough anymore.

[boobooday]

2. I was just sitting here cursing his name

The day his senate career is over I am popping a bottle of champagne.

[MercutioATC]

3. We were "had" the moment he ran against Ned Lamont.

Lieberman ran AGAINST the Democratic candidate after losing to him in the primary.

If this party had any balls, they would have stripped him of his committees and seniority and left him to rot. Instead, they cater to him...hoping that he graces them with the votes they want.

The Democratic party has made Lieberman as powerful as he is, and there was no need to.

[DrToast]

4. We got burned on the first tough vote? What vote was that?

He hasn't even voted yet.

But either way, are you forgetting that we couldn't have passed ARRA without his vote? I'd say that was the first tough vote.

[AlinPA]

8. The vote for cloture on health care hasn't happened yet but he will help stop it

by voting No. You are right, the Recovery Act was a tough vote; this too can make or break the success of our economic well being. Lieberman is enabling DeMint and R's in their "Waterloo" / "breaking" of Obama.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Obama was had. I wasn't.

[Barack_America]

7. Only if he keeps his chair.

There have been tough votes, the Stimulus being one.

But his chairmanship should be reviewed on a vote-by-vote basis, IMO.

[AlinPA]

9. The republicans may as well have him in their caucus. We can't trust him.

[Barack_America]

10. He also needs to be tossed from the caucus, yes.

Why invite a spy and a traitor to sensitive meetings?

[niyad]

11. I don't think most of us here on DU are surprised--the man is a self-serving opportunist, and should

be kicked out of the caucus and stripped of his chairmanship --what am I saying--that should have already happened.

gee, pres. obama, how are you feeling about LIEberman now? still glad you told the dem leadership to keep hands off? how is that working for you today?

[quantass]

12. AGAIN? But apparently nothing comes of it...I guess he's doing his job right

since the rest dont seem to take action against it. Dont blame Joe he should have been gone long ago.

[TheWebHead]

13. wasn't it just a few days ago obama was signaling no interest in public option

huffpo and others reported it and it followed comments he and others in the admin made that it wasn't a dealbreaker. The base was angry over the weekend, then on Monday Reid came out with opt out and a celebration ensued on the left... But on Tuesday, a man who was elected by Republicans and independents magically comes in and quickly ends the party.. No longer is the anger dispersed at Obama for being "leaderless" and not pushing the public option, Reid isn't vilified for not trying to even put public option in the bill, and the sponge for the anger from the left is now someone who can use it to get re-elected in the same way he did to beat Lamont, and celebrates being the bogeyman of the left... There's sort of a David Copperfield quality to it. A kabuki theater that confuses the base into believing it's all Lieberman's fault the public option is blowing up, but in reality Obama as he stated earlier wanted a bipartisan bill with Snowe on board and was more than willing to ditch the public option, but had to set it up so the base stayed with him and it appeared an effort was made.

As I earlier speculated I think Lieberman's timing was done in coordination and with the blessing of the white house. Reid had to know this would also play out in advance, but needed to make this effort to hold the base and to make it look like there's compromise when they give up on the public option.

[Garam_Masala]

14. You are on right track! n/t

[smoochpooch]

15. Obama didn't want to look vindictive after Droopy Dog endorsed McCain.

I have a feeling that this will be the end of the pleasantries. He's going to lose his chair and Obama is going to actively campaign for his next opponent. I mean, he's got to know that he can't win another election after this. He's been winning on his reputation, but his reputation is shit now. I'm going to send $25 to his opponent as soon as I can.