On eve of major snowstorm & defense bill vote, Lieberman has left DC

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

From TPM:

Already, they've wheeled in the cots for members and staff who choose to slumber party the night away in the Capitol, or Senate offices. But tomorrow, bright and early, all of them could need to be on hand for procedural reasons. For instance, Democrats expect to have to waive a budget point of order they expect Republicans to raise against the defense appropriations bill. That requires 60 votes.

Potentially complicating matters, though is that Lieberman, who's caused Democratic leadership no shortage of political heartburn on health care, isn't even in town! "After being assured by Democratic and Republican leaders that his vote was not needed to pass the Defense Appropriations bill, Senator Lieberman went to Connecticut to spend the Sabbath and the last night of Hanukkah with his wife, Hadassah, and their children and grandchildren," reads a statement to TPMDC from Lieberman's spokesman Marshall Wittmann.

That means Democrats will be relying on at least one Republican to help them get the defense bill over a procedural bump in order to push them back on to health care. They're crossing their fingers.

But assuming they can get one vote, what happens if the snow keeps other members away? It could be a big problem. Leadership seemed confident earlier today that everybody would be present and accounted for tomorrow, and a bit surprised to learn that Lieberman had flown the coop. With all these added complications, don't be surprised to hear a new Republican talking point: Even Mother Nature hates health care reform.

[saltpoint]

1. I hope he left DC in a rusty Pinto as the storm bears down on the

Eastern seaboard.

May it break down in front of Ned Lamont's house.

Or even Lowell Weicker's.

[rwheeler31]

2. Joe is such a coward.

[charlie]

3. So Bull Moose Wittmann is Lieberman's spokesman now?

Figures. Heritage Foundation and Christian Coalition director, Hudson Institute fellow. Embraced by the DLC like a prodigal son. And now mouthpiece for Droopy Joe. Fucking figures.

Relentlessly kicking leftward, and ONLY leftward, while sneaking rightwing reactionaries under the flap of the Democratic "big tent", that's our DLC.

[Laelth]

6. Colorful description of the DLC. n/t

:toast:

:dem:

-Laelth

[charlie]

7. I've got colors I haven't used yet

Grrr... &*#@*^$%!!!!!

:D

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Fuck him. Let him rot in Connecticut for Shabbat

while the rest of the REAL Democratic Party works on it.

Lieberwhore can go choke on his insurance money.

Hawkeye-X

[Rhiannon12866]

5. What a patriot!

:sarcasm:

When are the Democrats going to read the handwriting on the wall re: Lieberman?! :banghead:

[Dr.Phool]

8. He claims to be Holy Joe.

He's just another pious fucking hypocrite.

[Arkana]

9. Coward.

[rateyes]

10. So, with Lieberman out of town, who is acting President?

[ribrepin]

12. Absolutely dead right about Lieberman running the government

Who's going to bring the bill to the floor since Leader Lieberman is out of town. :fistbump:

[ChicagoSuz219]

11. I hope he meets the ghost of Chanukah past... ;-) n/t