Sen. Lieberman Drops Centrist Coalition For More Conservative Company

[Purveyor]

Thursday December 21, 2006

Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut has decided to end his co-chairmanship of the Centrist Coalition in the Senate and will partner with a more conservative senator in a new grouping, according to a story published yesterday by Roll Call.

Senator Lieberman has for some time partnered with Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine in a bipartisan Centrist Coalition to work on legislation. But Roll Call's Emily Pierce reports that the two have parted ways after having a difference of opinion on how the group should cooperate across party lines to forge compromises.

Lieberman is now forming a new bipartisan grouping with Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Alexander sought the Republican presidential nomination in both 1996 and 2000, when he became known for campaign appearances in a red flannel shirt. Lieberman's spokesman, Marshall Wittman, stated that the purpose of his work with Alexander was "to create as many venues for bipartisan discussion as possible."

The American Conservative Union, a body that rates Members of Congress according to their votes on political issues, illustrates the ideological difference between Lieberman's former and soon-to-be partners. While Senator Snowe had a 2005 rating of 32 out of 100, and a lifetime rating of 50 from the group, the ACU gives Senator Alexander a rating of 88 both in 2005 and over the life of his career in the Senate.

---SNIP---

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Liberman_drops_Centrist_Coalition_for_more_1221.html

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/16363-1.html

[Jackpine Radical]

1. And so it begins...or, rather, continues...

[tabasco]

2. Toady for the corporate rulers. Gutless coward.

Lieberman is a disgrace to the citizens of Connecticut!

[silverojo]

20. No, the citizens of CT are a disgrace for re-electing him

Excluding, of course, those who wisely voted for Ned Lamont. :)

[saigon68]

31. And a complete PUPPET of the Neocons

[Olney Blue]

3. Joe is very important. To Joe.

[earlybelle]

26. Joe is simply very important to the neocon agenda and their plans

for the new middle east.

[LynneSin]

34. Joe is still important to us - if just for the majority in the senate

And I don't want anyone messing with Leahy's Judiciary Committee

[katsy]

4. Is there any reason to let him keep his seniority on committees?

Is there any doubt as to his loyalty now?

[Purveyor]

6. Yeah, he can just "get it over with" and flip to the GOP...

[w4rma]

27. Hopefully in 2009 we can tell him where he can stick his "seniority". (nt)

[seashorelady]

36. There was never any doubt in my mind.

That's why I voted for Ned.

[Purveyor]

5. He is going to be a pain in the ass, indeed! n/t

[NoodleyAppendage]

7. I will rejoice upon hearing about the karmic asskicking that he so justly deserves.

There's a special pickfork in the ass for this jerk.

J

[against all enemies]

8. He's worse than Zell Miller. I can't stand Lieberman.

[Purveyor]

9. Whatever become of ole zell? I can't remember seeing hide nor

hair of him during the 2006 campaigns?

[against all enemies]

10. I can't wait for the day I can say that about Lieberman. As far as

Zell goes, who knows? Probably a pain in the ass old codger in the Georgia woods.

[ashling]

13. I think he was shot in a duel

:rofl:

[onehandle]

15. He did voiceovers for our crooked GOP governor here in Georgia.

He was "proud" to support Sonny the liar.

[LiberalFighter]

32. He was skinned

[onehandle]

14. No he's not.

Lieberman still needs a lot of crazy to get there.

[JerseygirlCT]

11. To Joe, bi-partisan = GOP

I really wonder what his steadfast Dem supporters must be thinking these days...

[xxqqqzme]

12. well, the konservative Connecticut rethugs

got themselves a real live senaturd.

[olddad56]

16. This asshole is going to flip. Just a matter of time.

[Purveyor]

17. I fear you are right. The groundwork is being laid...

[IndianaGreen]

18. Lieberman's PR guy, Marshall Wittman, used to work for Christian Coalition

before he joined the DLC and became Bullmoose. There is the possibility that Lieberman may back NY Mayor Bloomberg if he chooses to run for President as an independent.

Lieberman is more Republican than Democrat, and he loves Bush!

[Nite Owl]

19. Scarey

but I think you are so very right. The only thing that might keep him in the dem caucus is that there are so many repukes up for reelection in '08 and if the dems are doing good their majority would increase and he would be in the minority without the power he craves. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

[oasis]

21. Time to get those recall petitions circulated. (eom)

[MadMaddie]

22. So just waiting for him to declare he is a Repbulican...

anyday now..

[Critters2]

23. God, I hate this man

and the Connecticut Republicans who vote for him.

[ninkasi]

24. Lieberman is a loathsome

little toad, whose only thought is for Lieberman. I absolutely detest the man. Lamont would have been many, many times better, and would have acted in the best interests of Democrats, instead of Lieberman.

[madfloridian]

25. It's the company he keeps...

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/677

What else can I say? :shrug:

[AndyTiedye]

28. He'll Flip and Give the Senate Back to the Repiglicans!

[katsy]

29. A Senate majority was always an illusion IMO.

Lieberman owes the republicans. He has been bought lock, stock and barrel. Making nice with him is wishful thinking.

We need a republican defection to maintain the Senate majority. Lieberman will stab the Democrats in the back every time.

[Beacho]

30. I'd hate to lose the Senate

But at least we'd be rid of him for good.

[Straight Shooter]

33. Have you ever disliked someone on sight, to be proven absolutely correct later?

That's how I felt about Lieberman when I first saw his photo as Gore's running mate. My stomach lurched. After listening to him speak a few times, I was so repulsed that I abstained from voting that year. (Yeah, shame on me, and fortunately I'm in Oregon which carried Gore, and yes, I've kicked myself ever since for not voting.)

Sometimes a person's character shows in their face. Lieberman has always had a veneer of sneering condescension. I'll give him credit, he's done a lot of good in his past. Let me repeat that. In his past.

McCain and Lieberman are bush's right and left testicles.

[Bake]

35. I don't think he'll flip - not yet anyway

Joe wants to be ... HAS to be in the majority party to have any clout at all. As a Dem, or at least caucusing with the Dems, he knows he's in the catbird seat and the Dems have to kiss his ass to keep their majority.

Now, come 2008, if/when we increase our majority and he no longer matters, frankly I don't give a damn WHAT Joe does. I would HOPE that, at that point, the Dems would strip him of his committee assignments and seniority and tell him to just go Cheney himself.

Bake