LIEBERMAN SAYS HE HAS BEEN PROMISED SENIORITY BY THE DEMS

[powergirl]

This really gets on my nerves. Why are such "promises" made. This reminds me of Nancy Pelosi making promises that impeaching Bush is "off the table." I wonder if Lieberman's seniority will be maintained if the Dems get control of the Senate? Can he, in a position of authority, subvert any investigations of the president?

Sen. Joe Lieberman, the longtime Democratic senator from Connecticut running for re-election as an independent, says the party leadership has assured him he would keep his seniority if he returns to Congress.

Local Democrats are responding with irritation, political opponents voice disbelief, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) denies making a decision.

(cut)

Lieberman said he assumed that would mean he would continue to serve as the top Democrat on the governmental affairs panel. It would also allow him to become the most senior Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee. But Lieberman said his desire is to stay atop Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

(cut)

That could create big problems with Democrats in Congress and around the country if their party takes over the Senate. The governmental affairs panel is primarily responsible for oversight and investigations of the executive branch. Democrats take over either the Senate or the House, it is expected they will pour much time and effort into investigating the Bush administration. And many Democrats think Lieberman, who lost the primary race because of his perceived closeness to the Bush administration, is not the right person for that job.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/100306/news3.html

:wow:

[mac56]

1. "Harry Reid denies making a decision."

That's the answer right there.

Lieberman, as usual, is full of shit.

[Vidar]

42. Hell of an inspirational leadership position.

[WCGreen]

2. For our sake, I hope he is right....

We don't need him cacausing with the GOP...

No matter how distastefull the thought of JL cacuasing with the Dem's is to most of us here at DU would be, it is better for the overall good...

Look Ned proved his point, he was popular with the anti war crowd but is seems that JL still resonates with enoug Conn voters to win in November...

It's time to face reality...

[toughboy]

5. I think Lamont will win

There is still time.

[WCGreen]

13. Ned is running out of time and from what I gather living here

in Ohio, he hasn't been able to articulate anything beyond his opposition to the war..

Look, I have seen dozens of Ned Lamont's in my 30+ years involved with politics here in the Greater Cleveland Area and they rise fast and flame out once voters get to know them...

Not that I am certain that this will happen to NL, but given the track record of flash candidates, I feel pretty secure in saying he will come in second...

JL has too many people on the ground, too many personal relationships with power brokers for NL to overcome...

I hope I am wrong, but I think I am right...

[madfloridian]

17. "lots of Ned Lamonts"?

Joe is ahead because of the loyalty to him of too many Democrats. Some of our top Dem leaders are saying its a win either way.

No, it is not.

If Joe wins, our party has lost because Democratic leaders sold it out.

[WCGreen]

25. Actually I said Dozens....

Every year there seems to be a candidate that captures the imagination of one group or another and that person seems to be on a trajectory straight for glory...

Unfortunately, the real world comes crashing in...

A newcomer rarely has the depth of relationships it takes to sustain a credible campaign and to win an election...

Especially if that person happens to base his support in a primary exclusively on one issue...

All I know is that NL is the anti-war and anti-Joe candidate...

I don't think that is enough for him to carry the day...

So, you can dismiss me if you will, it matters not to me anymore...

But I have worked as a political consultant as late as the recent Ohio Primary, served as the treasurer for more than 20 candidates, ran for office three times myself, served on the board of elections as the elected democratic party representative and served as the treasurer for a large county for over eight years..,

I think I know what I am talking about...

Again, I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I am....

[madfloridian]

28. A political consultant like you are should see Joe thunbing his nose...

at the Democratic party, saying hey you should have thought about it before the primary.

Lieberman said they should have thought about that before the primary

Complete with awesome video.

Any Democrat who says its a win win is hurting our party.

[WCGreen]

38. Believe you me, I have no spot anywhere in my heart for JL...

I'm just looking at the race from Ohio and from what I can see...

I hope he looses...

[snowbear]

23. WC Green

WC Green: "I hope I am wrong...."

Me: You are.

[WCGreen]

24. We shall see on Nov. 8th.....

[madfloridian]

30. If he wins, he will not be respected.

Not with all the Republican big money he is getting. Not with all the corporate stuff he is getting. Not when the Dems for Joe are mostly big lobbyists.

[cui bono]

40. oh yeah?

[rodeodance]

44. JL vote will count plenty if Committee wants Bush investigation:

....That could create big problems with Democrats in Congress and around the country if their party takes over the Senate. The governmental affairs panel is primarily responsible for oversight and investigations of the executive branch. Democrats take over either the Senate or the House, it is expected they will pour much time and effort into investigating the Bush administration. And many Democrats think Lieberman, who lost the primary race because of his perceived closeness to the Bush administration, is not the right person for that job.

[kohodog]

55. If he wins I will have one senator, Chris Dodd.

He may retain favor in DC, but he is dead to me, win or lose, either way.

[cui bono]

34. you don't seem to be taking into account the fact that the Repubs are

backing Lieberman. If that weren't the case I doubt he would be showing a lead at all. If the Repubs were out actually trying to win this instead of trying to make sure Lieberman wins it would be a whole different story. As it is it's as if the Republican candidate is the third party candidate.


David Sirota has a good piece on this race:

Over the last week, there has been much navel gazing about the Lamont-Lieberman race, with some saying that polls showing Lamont behind somehow mean things aren't going well. Obviously, we'd all like the polls to look as good as possible, but if history is any guide, Lamont is in a terrific position to win this thing.

<snip>

Connecticut radio host Colin McEnroe reinforces this very reality on his Hartford Courant blog today, noting that Lieberman is in an ever more precarious position. Put these two things together, and you get two key points.

First and foremost, with every credible poll showing this race within 10 points, we're in an even better position to win than Lieberman was - and that's especially incredible since Ned is a businessman who has spent the last 18 years not as a career politician throwing himself in front of cameras, but instead building his company from scratch. The fact that a career politician like Lieberman could label that "no experience" shows just how out of touch Lieberman is - but the fact that a guy like Ned who hasn't been a career politician is so close to an 18-year political careerist with all the advantages of incumbency shows just how winnable this race really is.

<snip>

Second, while Lieberman's atrocious record on the war may be widely known, his awful attendance records are only now starting to seep out there in Connecticut. Ned released some brilliant radio ads that have really hit this issue hard, showing that Lieberman has attended California fundraisers rather than show up to vote, showing that Lieberman skipped half of all votes on Iraq, and generally showing that Lieberman has an awful attendance record.

<snip>

For those like me who have worked on successful challenger races, you know what I'm talking about - you can tell that Lieberman is running scared and that we're in a great position. For those who haven't worked on successful challenger races, I urge you - stay in the fight, and let history remind you of what great shape we're really in. Though we're in the final sprint here, this race is still a marathon, and everyday we get closer to victory.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/how-close-we-really-are_b_31223.html

[WCGreen]

39. Of course I take that into account which is why I believe he

will win...

Look, the guy got in the high 40's in the primary...

Those people are not going to magically appear in the Ned category...

So he has a real good base going into the fall campaign...

The numbers just don't seem to be there for Ned...

I truly hope he wins and I have never ever respected Joe L. and think he sold Gore and the Dem's down the drain in 2000...

And this staying in the race after losing the primary...

You guys in Conn. have got to get that "do-over" part of your election law changed...

Here in Ohio, you can't circulate petitions for two elections at once...

You lose the primary, game over..

I am just looking at it realistically from Ohio...

[mmonk]

49. We don't need him PERIOD (no matter who he caucuses with).

He is a proponent of this administration's abuse of power. Like I have said earlier, if the dems don't get their crap together after they get a majority and investigate crimes against this country's constitution and protect it and us, it's my last election cycle as a dem. I'll go independent and support candidates on individual basis according to merit and principle. Sorry, I'm a real democrat on principle, not label. If they drop our principles, they drop me. For those about to attack me about bad mouthing dems or advocating against dems, save it because you're wrong. The party is supposed to be us, not the leadership.

[C_U_L8R]

3. what a vain little man

is this all that matters??

c'mon Connecticut, show Joe the door

[ikojo]

4. If he wins and if the Democrats take him under their

wing it will prove the party stands for nothing. He needs to be shunned not embraced.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

8. Bill Clinton will be campaigning for Lieberman tomorrow in Waterbury.

:(

[Diane R]

10. What???!!!!! Tell me it's not true.

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. You've got be kidding. nt

[Pirate Smile]

15. No, that was before the Primary. Is this an old article?

[Just-plain-Kathy]

50. It turns out you're right...

A republican friend of mind had me google, clinton waterbury lieberman october, there were a lot of hits with October 2006. I didn't read them, I trusted the jerk. Sorry for the inconvience.

But Clinton did say, if Lieberman won it will benefit democrats, because Lieberman would side with democrats.

[ikojo]

16. He turns his back on DEMOCRACY and the voice of

the people, he berates Bill Clinton and stands with the Republicans during the impeachment proceedings and they STILL suck up to him? Wow! My respect for Clinton (which wasn't all that high anyway) has decreased.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown.

If Lieberman wins in 2006 and Hillary runs for president in 2008 and wins, and then pushes the PNAC's Comma Wars, I think I'll have a nervous breakdown.

[oasis]

27. What happened to the link to this incredible tale?

:shrug:

[hvn_nbr_2]

32. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

but I'd settle for ordinary evidence, like a link to a news story.

[alittlelark]

33. No WAY that is true.

[bobbieinok]

35. a few days ago DU had a link to Bill campaigning for Lamont

[AtomicKitten]

41. THAT WAS LAST JULY - BEORE THE PRIMARY

come on, people ...

http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16945479&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5174739&nav=3YeX
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/24/AR2006072401064.html

[Cha]

52. I'm sure b clinton, big bush,

and lieman will be very happy together.

[waiting for hope]

6. Sounds like he already has the

Repuke response down well - repeat something over and over and eventually it will come to pass. What an asshat. I hope Ned kicks his whiny little ass.

[jaxx]

7. Already wanting special privileges?

What will he be should he win....a indepub or a bushdem? He forgot what country he represented...this is America.

[OzarkDem]

9. Don't see how they can do it

If he wins, he won't be a Democrat. The rules can't be bent that far to favor an Independent over a Dem.

[Hosnon]

12. Another DUer noted that this is theprimary reason Lamont will lose. I

wouldn't want to vote out my Senator if he had such access.

It's all about what you can do for me...

[Rose Siding]

14. Joe's LIES get on my nerves, not Reid or Pelosi

[uppityperson]

18. seniority on Foley's list after his plastic surgery perhaps

[fooj]

19. What a PATHETIC little creature.

The vile, piece of crap LOST the primary. What about that does he NOT understand? F*cking loser.

[IndianaGreen]

20. Lieberman is a Nazi! He should never chair Homeland Security Committee

Judas Joe approves of torture and he is a cheerleader to another war in the Middle East.

Judas Joe is a traitor and a collaborator with Bush's tyranny!

[tritsofme]

36. Drama queen much?

That sounds as ridiculous as calling Bernie Sanders a "communist"

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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

[tritsofme]

47. You never fail to bring political discourse down a notch.

nt

[IndianaGreen]

53. Judas Joe is a traitor and a war crimes enabler

He should swing at the end of a rope for his crimes, just as those convicted at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials.

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. If this Foley thing gets worse and the Republicans lose the Senate, too,

we won't need Lieberman. He can just wither on the vine.

[zulchzulu]

26. I'd give Lieberman a senior position as a Congressional Lavatory Engineer

...and he has to work Saturdays...no excuses...

[babylonsister]

29. I'm #5, but only for absurdity. nt

[bedazzled]

31. guess he's trying to arrange it so that he'll retain power in any event

the smarmy so and so

hope he's defeated by the greatest majority in the history of mankind

[opihimoimoi]

37. Whatever he is....he is one thing...an ATTENTION WHORE

These types make the Worst Leaders....

[Nictuku]

43. If he retains anything 'Democrat'

Then we have to call him what he is. A Cheater. He LOST the Democratic election. He is no longer a Democrat, by his own hand.

[many a good man]

45. A one vote majority with JL is no different than being in the minority

Especially if he chairs Govt Affairs, the prime investigatory committee.

Having a senior Democratic leader mouthing Republican platitudes on the most salient issues dilutes our message. IMO the worst thing about JL is that he reinforces GOP talking points and weakens ours. In the long run we're better off without him.

[wndycty]

48. Very short sighted of you. . .

I don't want Lieberman, but you have to realize a majority, no matter how small puts the Democrats in charge. Harry Reid is the speaker and the Senate's agenda is set by Democrats. You have a lot to learn about the way things work in DC.

[many a good man]

51. Please don't insult

I'd wager I know at least as much as you do "about the way things work in DC."

I plead guilty to exaggeration. It would be more accurate to say having JL as the 51st member in our caucus is not much better than having a TIE for the reasons stated above and due to the unique circumstances.

The only real benefit to having a majority rather than a tie is we could send bills up to him to veto, thereby differentiating our parties more clearly. But with a tie chairmanships and committees are usually split 50-50, so we could still block egregious legislation (which wouldn't pass any way because of our new majority in the House). That leaves investigations, which JL will block. Even worse is all the attention he would attract as a swing vote party leader. All he does is sabotage our party's message and chances for realignment. bush is a lame duck and JL will use the opportunity to present himself (and people like McCain) as the "sensible middle," which demands tearing down Democratic positions.

IMO the damage he could inflict on our long term strategy is potentially worse than the short term benefits we'd get from a one vote majority in bush's final act.

That said, I'd offer to let him keep his seniority on the condition that he keeps his fat yap shut for the next two years.

I see yer from Chicago so I'll raise a glass to ya. :toast:

[Fabio]

54. ALL CAPS IS RIDICULOUS!