Reid on Lieberman: ‘I didn’t like what he did…but he is one of the most progressive people’ from CT.
Reid on Lieberman: ‘I didn’t like what he did…but he is one of the most progressive people’ from CT.
On CNN’s Late Edition, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he recognizes what Joe Lieberman said and did during the campaign was “wrong” and “improper,” telling host John King, “if we weren’t on television, I’d use a stronger word of describing what he did.” But he added, “Joe Lieberman is not some right-wing nutcase, Joe Lieberman is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut.” Watch it:
YouTube version here.
Reid had a blunt prediction for Sen. Ted Stevens’ future. “All the Republicans, John Ensign, head of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, Republican Leader McConnell and a long list of people said that he’s going to be kicked out of the Senate,” Reid said. “Of course he is. He is not going to survive.”
KING: A lot of attention focused on a new president coming into town but you have a pretty interesting job yourself, managing a sometimes dysfunctional family here in the Senate. You mentioned Senator McCain, I want to move on to one of his sidekicks on the campaign trail, was Senator Lieberman who is an independent but a member of your Democratic family. When it comes to voting in the Senate, many members, many of your Democratic members flatly think he is a traitor for not only his support of John McCain but for the things he said critical of Barack Obama. They want him gone.
You have proposed he lose his premier committee, Homeland Security, take a lesser committee, Veterans’ Affairs or something else. Why not just say sorry, Joe, you are not welcome here anymore.
REID: Well, John, whoever gave you this information is wrong because he is not on the Veterans’ Committee. I couldn’t offer him that if I wanted to.
But let me just say this about John – about Joe Lieberman. I know Joe Lieberman very well. He is a senior member of the Senate. He is on Armed Services, if something happens to the chairman he becomes chairman. If something happens to the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, he becomes chairman. So he is a senior member – person around here. And I want to remind all of the people that are watching this newscast or however this program is going to air that I would not be majority leader but for his vote.
We could not have passed our budget – we passed a budget the Republicans couldn’t pass. They had 55 senators. We had 51. They couldn’t pass a budget, we did. Why? Joe Lieberman voted with us.
So I recognize what he did was wrong and quite frankly, I don’t like what he did. I told him so all during the campaign. But the caucus has a decision to make and they’re going to make it. I am not going to make the decision. Whether we’re going to say, OK, we’ve had enough of you, Joe, go vote with the Republicans or whether we’re going to try to work something out with Joe Lieberman. Say, Joe, we don’t like what you did. And here is what we propose we’re going to do.
So we’ve had a number of conversations, we’re going to have more. But for those people beating up on Joe Lieberman, I’ve done my share. Recognize the glass being half full, not half empty.
KING: He’s chairman of the committee now, the Homeland Security Committee, which has a lot to do with the safety of Americans here. You mentioned Armed Services. He said this at the Republican Convention. He highlighted John McCain’s service and he criticized those who quote, “wanted to retreat in defeat from the field of battle which would have been a disaster for the United States. When colleagues like Barack Obama were voting to cut off funding for troops on the battlefield.”
Senator Obama is about to be President Obama, about to be the commander in chief. Do you want a man who says he is not ready to be commander in chief, nowhere close, to be the chairman of a committee in the Democratic Senate?
REID: Joe Lieberman told me yesterday we had a big job to do. I am going to do everything I can to help Barack Obama.
KING: Does he owe him an apology?
REID: Oh, I don’t know. This is not a high school deal where you say, OK, you embarrassed me in front of my girlfriend therefore you ought to apologize.
KING: But you made peace with Senator McCain. Should he do something like that?
REID: Maybe they already have. I think a lot of this is very private stuff but Joe Lieberman has done something that I think was improper, wrong, and I’d like — if we weren’t on television, I’d use a stronger
word of describing what he did. But Joe Lieberman votes with me a lot more than a lot of my senators.He didn’t support us on military stuff and he didn’t support us on Iraq stuff. But you look at his record, it’s pretty good. He comes from one of the most liberal states in the country. He is – Joe Lieberman is not some right-wing nutcase, Joe Lieberman is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut.
If the meeting goes as planned, this aide confirms to NEWSWEEK, Reid will only give Lieberman the equivalent of a legislative talking-to, demanding that he rally behind Obama, or at the very least, release a statement of support for the president-elect. But if it turns tense or combative, Reid could deny admission to the Democratic caucus, even strip away Lieberman's valuable chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. "I doubt that will happen," this aide says, "unless the meeting goes really bad."
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November 9th, 2008 at 2:54 pmMaybe Senator Lieberman isn’t a right-wing nutcase, but he plays one on TV.
November 9th, 2008 at 2:59 pmDon’t worry, Harry. Coming from a resident of Connecticut, you’re not going to have to worry about Joe Lieberman for much longer because people here don’t like liars and turncoats.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:01 pmIt shouldnt be about him being a rightwing nutcase. What it should be about is attacking viciously the Democratic nominee for President. Strip him of his chairmanship, dont offer him anything else and stop caucusing with him. He isnt needed for the majority and nothing says he will vote with us for cloture anyway. Kick his wrinkly self righteous butt to the curb
November 9th, 2008 at 3:01 pmWhy does Harry Reid always look like he’s about to burst into tears?
November 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pmNice work harry, considering your work history, we expected nothing less from you.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pmOld Harry Reid is still rolling over and playing dead for the fascist Lieberman, who represents Zionist aggression in the Middle East and pharmaceutical corporate greed in the USA. Heck of a roll, Harry…
November 9th, 2008 at 3:04 pmJoe L drunk too much kool aid. He is starting to have withdrawals?
Inasmuch as I do like Joe L, what he did during the elections, well now I have second thoughts, and maybe he should go completely to the dark side, where he feels more comfortable with.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:05 pmReid is an ineffective asshat and a wimp.
The Democrats need to replace both him and “Table-less” Pelosi
November 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pmTime for new leadership in the Senate. Got Clinton?
November 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pmMatt #2
November 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pmyour criticizing the democrats ?
Joe Liberman and rahm emmanuel are a matched set . Right on social, issues wrong on foreign policy .
November 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pm“Joe Lieberman is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut.”
Is he trying to say Lieberman is not a nutcase if you compare him to the rest of the people in Connecticut?
This doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement to me.
As for Stevens, of course he needs to be kicked out; I cannot believe this man is still running for a seat in the Senate. If this man had any integrity, he would just quit.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pmWell considering CT is mostly inhabitated by SUV driving inconsiderate let’s get more stuff type capitalists maybe he is right. Oh and CT, next time I drive through is there any chance of no big unexplained traffic jams and aggressive drivers on 84? Thanks I sure would appreciate that…
November 9th, 2008 at 3:11 pmJoe lieberman will stop voting liberal on social issues if he is stripped of his chairmanship ? Didn’t he run as an independent against Lamont and the democratic party .
November 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pmGod this guy can can do no wrong .Give Russ Feingold his position and be done with him .
Gregor Samsa Says:
As for Stevens, of course he needs to be kicked out; I cannot believe this man is still running for a seat in the Senate. If this man had any integrity, he would just quit.
If he had any integrity, he would not now be a convicted felon. Or a Republican, for that matter.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm.
Hey Connecticut, did you hear…
… Joe’s the most progressive of the lot of you?
Care to prove Harry wrong, Connecticut?
.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:17 pmUnfortunately, Reid and Lieberman share matching AT&T totebags from the Dem convention.
For some reason, consequences for your actions are sorely lacking in the Congress. Dump Reid and Pelosi and appoint Feingold and Kucinich. Watch things get done without the plaintive excuses…
November 9th, 2008 at 3:17 pmWayne Says:
If he had any integrity, he would not now be a convicted felon.
Heh. Good point. He is part of the culture of corruption that Republicans were all too happy to foster.
I am actually surprised the Democratic victory in these elections wasn’t even bigger. A whopping 47% voted for McCain. 47%!? I find it hard to believe so many people haven’t had enough of this mess…
November 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pmSenator Reid offered Lieberman the chairmanship of Veterns Affairs in the Senate, but Liberman wants to stay the chair of Homeland Security Committee.
His reason given is that he was one of the authors of Homeland Security bill in the Senate.
Reid was so generous to offer him chairmanship.
Lieberman did everything he could, even using lies ,to discredit Obama and Democrats in an effort to make them lose the Presidency and many other seats in both houses.
He described Obama as Marxist..
Why should he be offered anything…?!!
Reid should tell Lieberman to go ahead with his threats and become a Republican, something Lieberman is afraid to do, because in the next election in his state he will lose running as a Republican.
Ignore him….
November 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pmI’d like to put Joe Lieberman alone in a room with Rahm Emanuel for about 10 minutes.
And then toss in Harry Reid for good measure.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pmhanshiro Says:
——————————————————————————–
Unfortunately, Reid and Lieberman share matching AT&T totebags from the Dem convention.
Very funny
November 9th, 2008 at 3:25 pmGregor Samsa Says:
I am actually surprised the Democratic victory in these elections wasn’t even bigger. A whopping 47% voted for McCain. 47%!? I find it hard to believe so many people haven’t had enough of this mess…
My spin on this is that half voted for McCain while holding
November 9th, 2008 at 3:26 pmtheir nose for Palin and half voted for Palin while holding
their nose for McCain.
Badmoodman Says:
————————————————————
I’d like to put Joe Lieberman alone in a room with Rahm Emanuel for about 10 minutes.
And then toss in Harry Reid for good measure
November 9th, 2008 at 3:27 pm……………..
You want harry to become a Zionist ?
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE .
November 9th, 2008 at 3:29 pmLieberman progressive?
What about the horribly regressive anti-worker pro-corporate bankruptcy bill, Terri Schiavo, throwing gays under the bus, hinting that Obama was a Marxist, being the eternal foil against progressive legislation, being a toady for the Military Industrial Complex and Big Pharma?
Time for Harry to get the boot too.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:29 pmReid, Pelosi, Biden, Emanuel, Lieberman, and practically all of the Republican Party.
All Neocons working for someone else other than We The People.
Will Obama slant toward Corporations or help the middle class in a major way?
November 9th, 2008 at 3:31 pmfreeman Says:
You want harry to become a Zionist ?
He already is.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:33 pmOkay, so I have read all the nasty and vitriolic comments against Lieberman that have followed the last few posts about him here. Let me say this, yes what he did was wrong and hateful, you could even argue that it was unforgivable but I keep having these two thoughts that I just can’t shake.
1. As wrong as his behavior is and as much as part of me wants him ridden out on a rail, I don’t want to lower myself to behaving and thinking like Coulter, Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin, the rabid crowds at her rallies, etc. and I think some of these comments come close to that.
2. As much as I believe there must be some punishment for Leiberman’s choices, after all the ballots are counted and (hopefully) Al Franken is a Senator and Stevens is removed one way or another from the senate, what if Joe Liberman can represent the difference between 59 or 60 votes?
As I said, I don’t think Leibeman should get a free pass, I just find this a bit more complex of an issue and I thought I would throw that into the discussion/debate.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:34 pmWell, Harry.. there IS that guy who won the democratic primary over Leiberman. Lamont!?!?!? Remember him? The one that one the candidacy of YOUR PARTY???? Yeah.. He might have been a bit more progressive. Dont’cha think?
November 9th, 2008 at 3:42 pmSo it’s bad for us to call him a traitor but it’s ok for him to call Obama someone who pals around with terrorists.
Something wrong with your justice-ometer
November 9th, 2008 at 3:43 pmUgh.. the one that WON.. sorry. I hate homonym errors. Just get so angry at these sorry-ass democrats who can’t seem to get on the bus.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pmhey V – what is so “complex”. lie-berman did everything he could to undermine Obama and the Democratic Party.
He abandoned his part when he ran as an “independent” in CT. He could not win their primary.
There is nothing “Coulter, Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin” like in bloggin’ about the facts – lie-berman sold out his party. He cannot be trusted with inside information. He is not an asset.
He will not win re-election in CT anyhow – he made his choices.
What is “Coulter, Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin” like is making excuses to those that enabled dur chimpfurher and the criminal cabal behind them.
Did you just join that crowd?
November 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pmJoe Lieberman should vote his conscience , he is not a democrat and was not elected one . He ran against the democrats in the mid term elections and campaigned against the democrats in the presidential elections .
November 9th, 2008 at 3:48 pmHarry Reid ,you are among the reasons that when polled Americans expressed a greater disapproval of congress than they have for the most unpopular president in American history ! Your tripe is THE major reason that Obama’s win wasn’t an even greater landslide than it was .
We are tired of business as usual , get with the program Harry or get out of the way !!
V-We don’t need a monitor. We are all adults. Don’t talk to us like we are children, it is insulting……the very thing you condemn in your post.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:53 pmLieberman MUST have pictures of Reid with barn-yard animals! Or, everyone living in Connecticut must be a decedent of Adolph Hitler if LIEberman is one of the most progressives living there! Get rid of BOTH of these losers. How about Hillary for Senate majority leader? She’s got more balls than Reid does.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pmCruzBustamove Says:
Why does Harry Reid always look like he’s about to burst into tears?
_____________
Dunno… mebbe he’s bin hangin’ out w/ Long John BOOOner?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:01 pmLieberman MUST have pictures of Reid with barn-yard animals!
And I assume you are not talking about an electronic ejaculator being used for legitimate breeding purposes?
You mean something more “controversial” than pullin’ on ol’ bossy’s utters and drawing a pail of warm, fresh milk?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:01 pmHeh… not a good, V… bein’ the hall monitor here.
I tried it last summer and had to drop out fer a while.
I even got called a ***Troll*** at the time…
Take my advice… it dinnit work out well.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pmSorry Fred,
November 9th, 2008 at 4:05 pmbut expletives and personal attacks on even the trolls here can be used to discredit the site in general . You and I do not always completely agree but in general I see your posts are very insightful and on the money .
I do not mean to insult . I disagree that we don’t need a monitor , TP should delete posts that are agressive and nasty , they serve no purpose .
V is for Snark Says:
Okay, so I have read all the nasty and vitriolic comments against Lieberman that have followed the last few posts about him here.
OK, I have read your post and I think you should check out the adult reading classes offered by your local high school. Maybe you can do something about your reading comprehension issues.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:06 pmOoops missed V’s post above , but was attempting to reply to Freds post on a previous thread .
November 9th, 2008 at 4:08 pmfreeman Says:
Sorry Fred,
but expletives and personal attacks on even the trolls here can be used to discredit the site in general .
Can you spell “concern troll”?
Here’s a personal attack and an expletive for you:
F_ck you and the stick horse you are riding.
Now your complaint might have some value, but you are still a concern troll.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:11 pmYou are welcome =)
You assume correctly.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:14 pmYour saguine advice is late coming here and with no authority. TP has made national headlines for it’s substance in the past as you point out….complete with the warts that you want to remove.
The only ones that see your point of view are the sensitive right wingers. They don’t like to have their feelings hurt while shredding others lives.
Grow up, it’s rough and tumble and you won’t get banned for posting your point of view but you can’t tell others how to voice theirs either, it’s what makes this place what it is.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:17 pmWayne Says:
——————————————————————————–
V is for Snark Says:
Okay, so I have read all the nasty and vitriolic comments against Lieberman that have followed the last few posts about him here.
OK, I have read your post and I think you should check out the adult reading classes offered by your local high school. Maybe you can do something about your reading comprehension issues.
You consider that a good debating skill ?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pmNo Fred we don’t agree on this .
November 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pmIf adults use personal insults and nasty language , then my idea of adult behavior and yours are something we really do dis agree about . Why should we talk to other people on the internet in such a way that we would never talk to them in real life , where we would probably end up in a fist fight ?In most states such behavior is actually forbidden by law .
Maybe you aren’t concerned that people have told me they no longer bother with the comments on TP because of the adolescent behavior , but I find myself feeling it is a great loss .
This is how the Democrats manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory every time. Rather than signaling that the party is going to require some discipline from its members in order to fulfill the progressive mandate which the American people demand, Reid is showing that the party will not even stand by its Presidential candidate! I’m not a big fan of the notion that members of a party should never criticize one another in public, but Lieberman when far beyond the bounds of common decency with some of his statements about Obama. To just roll over and allow him to maintain a leadership position in a party to which he is not even a member is just pathetic. Harry Reid, guaranteeing failure, one braindead decision at a time.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pmLieberman campaigned for McCain. While doing so, he baldly stated that he questioned Obama’s patriotism, among other reprehensible statements. In addition, he campaigned for down-ticket Republicans. He also stated, publicly, that a Democratic majority in both houses would be horrible and threaten the balance of power. He has become a mole. The Dems don’t need a spy in their caucus who will report back to the Republicans what the Dem strategy is. And this country doesn’t need a chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The second role of that committee is direct oversight over the Executive branch. I fully support the idea of oversight of the Executive Branch; what I don’t like is someone who has already betrayed their fellows doing so.
Reid could certainly be replaced (per senority) by the Assistant Majority Leader, Dick Durban. It’s up to the Senate Democrats obviously what they do with Reid. I’d like to know how many Dems object to Leiberman getting all his privileges back, and how they would view Reid if he pushed that position. Reid is one of those guys that “talks with a loud voice but carries a wet spaghetti noodle.”
November 9th, 2008 at 4:21 pmFred ,
November 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pmI’ve posted here for 3 years except when I am out of the country or doing business out of state .The adults in my world or at least the ones I bother relating too have manners and know the value of kindness . It’s rather like the laws forbidding torture , they are there for our protection as well as the enemies .
And this country doesn’t need a chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Sorry, meant to say this country doesn’t need Lieberman (the spy) in that position.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pmEat my arse, you pathetic concern troll. You’ve been exposed you arse wipe. Go find a freeway to play on.
oh very powerful argument .
November 9th, 2008 at 4:27 pmBut joe has had his tongue down chimpy’s throat – remember THE KISS!
Surely, reaching across the aisle and down the opposition’s throat with your tongue is a good thing.
Right?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:27 pmDo you consider this to be a good debating skill? Nanering us to death is not debating……get on topic and off of our asses.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:29 pmLet’s be clear: Lieberman should have been booted long ago and received sanctions. The person mainly responsible for invoking those is Reid, who has been effectively sitting on his hands while bush has crapped on the Constitution for eight years.
If the outrages and excesses of war criminal bush can’t get Reid to step up, people think that somehow Lieberman will?
Bahahahahahahahaha…no, sorry.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:29 pmEver wonder why you have to go through the trouble of mis spelling the expletives that form a large part of your posts when you dis agree with another perspective matt ?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:29 pmfreeman – most here seem to agree that the concern troll is just spewin’ trash.
Are you saying it really is more “adult” to hammer the same point over and over when no one seems willing to jump on board?
If you want to be a blog-cop, be my guest.
But do you really think anyone here is buying it?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:31 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
——————————————————————————–
freeman Says:
.I am asking for an honest opinion .
Here’s one…you’re a f**king POS arsehole.
I thought this was a better argument though.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:32 pmfreeman
definition of a troll:
Someone who posts distracting material to keep people from talking about the title of the thread.
That describes you.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:32 pmor does she get mad when you spend time unsupervised bloggin’ in the basement?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:34 pmfreeman – did you email your mommie too?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:34 pmHEY!
Post 66 and 67 are REVERSED!
November 9th, 2008 at 4:34 pmFlag away matt , perhaps I should take the time to post some of your other best arguments. In most states the language you use to express you self is considered illegal and if done in person will land you in jail for a night .
November 9th, 2008 at 4:35 pmEver heard of civil society ?
GOT PEACE ?
As an (so-called) “Independent Democrat,” Lieberman may caucus with any party which will have him.
But he has NO call on the leadership of the Democratic Party to provide him with the Chair of ANY Committee, sub-Committee, panel or meeting. With his present party affiliation, he’s the ranking “ID,” but his seniority in the Senate in that party is only 2 years.
Harry Reid should make the following bargain with Joe, the Mole: Either step down from the Chair, or I shall close your office, cancel your staff, shut off your computer access, remove every privilege you enjoy except franking, and install you, with a cell-phone in a latrine in the Senate garage…So, Joe, waassit gonnabe?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pmFreeman,
November 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pmGot your own blog?
You should.
Just sayin
Maybe we could leave the “feeding frenzy” to the wingnuts?
Sheesh…
November 9th, 2008 at 4:41 pmAs much as I dislike Lieberman…I’d hate to see the GOP gain a seat. He’s a relative moderate; hawkish on foreign policy, pro-censorship…but also pro-choice, for expanding healthcare coverage, fighting climate change, et.al.
And it’s not as though Harry Reid is the most progressive person from Nevada..
November 9th, 2008 at 4:43 pmfreeman Says:
You consider that a good debating skill ?
My debating skills come into play when there is something to debate and the other person has the brains to actually debate.
For concern trolls ( such as what you are acting like ) and wingnuts I ridicule rather than wasting time trying to debate.
You seem to have reading comprehension issues as well, since you complained about Matt’s post at #2. What he stated is plain and understandable, except to you, obviously.
If you cannot understand plain English, do not expect intelligent people to debate with you.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:43 pmfreeman, go to redstate and just voice your opinion…..no personal attacks or bad language and see how long you last. Is that what you want us to do?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:44 pmIs it just me, or is freeman sounding a lot like backup aka captain mantastic?
November 9th, 2008 at 4:49 pmPeace . Glad to see I inspire such enthusiasm here . LOL
November 9th, 2008 at 4:52 pmLove is the answer , and here I thought we agreed on that ?
sorry freeman – you lost my “love” as soon as I found out you were a goat-raper.
Thanks Doc, and to think, I was going to express my love for freeman by askin’ him to tend my flock while I went out to wet my whistle.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:56 pmDamn when I was in Washinton DC a month ago and shaking the hands of the TP staff and telling them I believed TP was the best political blog site ,Matt Corley asked me to please stay active . Well apparently I’ll have to inorder to avoid all the mud slinging . This wrath was brought down on me because I advocate kindness and civility, how controversial of me .
November 9th, 2008 at 4:59 pmZooey Says:
Maybe we could leave the “feeding frenzy” to the wingnuts?
Sheesh…
I’m with you Zooey. You guys should read through this string and see how you’re all wasting time and space and distracting from the topic. Can we stop playing “Lord of the Flies” now and get back to the issue?
November 9th, 2008 at 5:02 pmJEEZUZ H., HARRY!
N O
C H A I R M A N S H I P
.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:03 pmDissent is to be insulted off the site ? What’s the difference between that and a rabid republican blog like red state except for the form of the execution and who is carrying it out ?
November 9th, 2008 at 5:03 pmThere it’s the administrators . Here it’s the mob ? LOL
We now return you to your regularly scheduled program . I defer . : )
November 9th, 2008 at 5:05 pmi can imagine that there are PLENTY of people from connecticut who would argue with harry about who is progressive…
damn, i can’t believe he’s even … oh… well, i guess i can…
so, this “give ‘em hell, harry” thing is just a ruse, huh…
November 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pmOr as we like to call it, democracy.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pmI supported the “will of the people” too, until I heard what the morons had to say.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:10 pmIt is quite simple: So long as Reid needs Joe, he will keep his Chairmanship at HS. The second he doesn’t need him, that bone will go to someone more loyal. When they scrap for every seat to hit the magic number of 60, they don’t shoot themselves in the foot.
Remember, Reid is the guy that got Jeffords to jump ship from the R’s. I detest Reid, but he is a pragamatist and knows how to count.
As to the rest – ugly personal invective is always just that: Ugly.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pmAnother Joe Says:
I supported the “will of the people” too, until I heard what the morons had to say.
Whhaaaaat…..?
Did you forget to hit the snark button or is that your inner Fascist showing?
November 9th, 2008 at 5:17 pmThe words of Harry Reid better had be the like the sugar to help the medicine go down Lieberman’s throat.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:17 pmLieberman must be stripped of the committee head and be grateful that he is still in the party — if I were in charge, he’d be gone. Period.
Traitorous, self-centered, egomaniacal weasel.
Lieberman questioned Obama’s patriotism and loyalty to America.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pmWhen I call Lieberman a traitor, I do not imply he is a traitor to America — he is a traitor to the Democrats.
Lieberman, should he remain to caucus with the Dems must be stripped of any position of honor – he is a Trojan horse. He cannot be trusted.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:24 pmKeltoi at Night, hitler was elected too – is YOUR fascist side showing?
November 9th, 2008 at 5:25 pmAnother Joe Says:
Keltoi at Night, hitler was elected too – is YOUR fascist side showing?
Hardly. Hitler was elected – and then scrapped the system that elected him. Nice Non-Sequiter Strawman, though.
Obama was elected too – were the people “morons” for that decision?
It would seem to me that it behooves Progressives to respect the voice of the people and not call them morons when the voice in not one that agrees with your ideology.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pmKeltoi at Night
Wow there partner – how did you ever misrepresent a snarky comment about the bog cops here today to bashing everyone that voted the way I did.
Oh – hitler was elected and then he did what elected folks in his system of government could do – course, he needed a false flag operation to do it.
Just like chimpy needed 9/11, but at least hitler was actually elected.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pmIt would seem to me that it behooves Progressives to respect the voice of the people and not call them morons when the voice in not one that agrees with your ideology.
This “voice of the people” thingie is a little hard to pin down, when considering who voted for Bush, and those who voted for Obama.
They aren’t the same “people,” except at the edges.
That people who never voted before tipped the scale, would seem to disprove your assertion.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:34 pmI’m tired of blockages like Reid and Lieberman looking out for each other in fear of losing an election, while progressives voting to usher in a 21st Century progressive agenda feel brokered to the right in the name of ‘bipartisanship
The people on the sidelines are left to look forward to the 112th congress, 113th congress, 113th congress, etc. – all because panderers like Reid and Pelosi are afraid to give us libruls what we want. They’re afraid to upset the losing right-wing, no matter how bad they lose.
I’ll echo the above posters in support of a Feingold or Durbin Majority Leader post, and Kucinich replacing Pelosi. I feel a sense of despair, however, because the legislative bodies haven’t even discussed replacing leadership in the executive branch (to my knowledge).
The best thing to do is either ram a progressive agenda through congress or break it into small, effective pieces. The earlier the better, as the agenda will have time to work and more people will find that progressive policies work for them in time for the election cycle. If the democratic party is to to lock in gains, the congress, and President-elect Obama, has to go the whole way.
I want to carefully examine the new dynamic of our congress in the beginning months of next year.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:36 pmGood point, barfly, but I would add this:
If the “will of the people” is such a good thing, then why do so many that proclaim this is so defend the spinless dems that ran on “accountability” to win in 2006 and then immediately took impeachment off the table.
The dem leadership has rubber-stamped everything dur chimpfurher has asked for – even when his approval rating was below that of richard nixon right before he resigned.
Don’t lecture me on how democracy does or doesn’t work.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:37 pmCorrections @ 5:36 pm
strike “leadership in the executive branch”, replace with “their leadership.”
“113th congress, 113th congress” is supposed to be, “113th congress, 114th congress”
November 9th, 2008 at 5:43 pmAnother Joe Says:
——————————————————————————–
Keltoi at Night
Wow there partner – how did you ever misrepresent a snarky comment about the bog cops here today to bashing everyone that voted the way I did.
Well, I asked if you forgot to hit the snark button.
Oh – hitler was elected and then he did what elected folks in his system of government could do – course, he needed a false flag operation to do it.
Y’know, there are times I think the American Left is actually let down Bush didn’t pull a Reichstag moment. All of the comparisons to Hitler just kinda go to hell when you realize the whole thing was pure histrionics. If only Cheney had declared Martial Law! Think of the great threads that would have spawned!
And yes, snark.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:47 pmAnother Joe Says:
——————————————————————————–
Good point, barfly, but I would add this:
If the “will of the people” is such a good thing, then why do so many that proclaim this is so defend the spinless dems that ran on “accountability” to win in 2006 and then immediately took impeachment off the table.
The dem leadership has rubber-stamped everything dur chimpfurher has asked for – even when his approval rating was below that of richard nixon right before he resigned.
Don’t lecture me on how democracy does or doesn’t work.
Wow, AJ is pissssed. He’s yelling at barfly for something I said!
You and Indianopolis Colts fan, AJ? Say yes, whether you are or aren’t, please.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:50 pmGO STEELERS!!!!
I’m not sure you are such a good judge of character Harry Reid. You really feel that LIEberman can be trusted? Didn’t it occur to you that perhaps he wants to continue to caucus with the Democrats so he can report to his brethren, the Republicans.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pmYou sure you want to stick to that assertion?
November 9th, 2008 at 5:57 pmKeltoi – He DID pull a reichstad moment. Went from being an illegitimate pResident that hijacked the 2000 election to essentially a dictator that bullied both sides of the aisle.
And just like the reichstag, 9/11 was an INSIDE JOB.
And that’s not snark!
November 9th, 2008 at 5:57 pmwonder if keltoid is really just freeman with a new login?
November 9th, 2008 at 5:59 pmI hear the goats are getting restless – an awful lot of baaaaaahin’ going on…
November 9th, 2008 at 5:59 pmIf only Cheney had declared Martial Law! Think of the great threads that would have spawned!
Are you saying the steps they took didn’t amount to a secret martial law?
Don’t they usually suspend habeaus corpus when Martial Law has been declared?
Didn’t Bush?
What’s your point?
November 9th, 2008 at 6:02 pmAnother Joe Says:
Keltoi – He DID pull a reichstad moment. Went from being an illegitimate pResident that hijacked the 2000 election to essentially a dictator that bullied both sides of the aisle.
AHA! And so he allowed Obama to get elected to Forward the Master Plan!
Which means (cue evil theme music) Obama is in on it!
And just like the reichstag, 9/11 was an INSIDE JOB.
And that’s not snark!
Riiiight…..well, so much for taking you seriously. Why don’t you chat with Fred, he’ll happily do the Bush is Hitler thing with you. As if you both wouldn’t be dead long ago were it true.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:11 pmThrow Joe on the refuse heap with this years leaves.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pmThe leaves deserve better and so does the rest of the garbage.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pmkeltoy thinks that just because bush tried to make us a facist state and failed that it’s ok.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pmbarfly – don’t forget the way they also used anthrax attacks to intimidate. This was military-grade anthrax that only a few had access to.
And then they suicided someone when folks started asking why no action on those attacks.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pmTo Harry Reid:
How has Lieberman’s conduct (or stifling) of his committee in any way helped advance the national security in the past two years? Advancing national security requires ousting Lieberman and putting in someone who does not work for Bush or the GOP.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:23 pmGreg Sargent reports that a Lieberman aide tells the Hartford Courant that removing his boss from the Homeland Security chairmanship would be putting politics ahead of the nation’s safety.
Excuse me, but this is a very arrogant statement coming from an anonymous Lieberman aide. Is he trying to imply that Lieberman complaining about being removed from chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committe would not be putting himself above the safety of the nation? And since when does our nation’s safety depend on Joe Lieberman? This aide acts as if Lieberman is the only one who could run that committee properly and protect this nation adequately. Boot him.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:27 pmAHA! And so he allowed Obama to get elected to Forward the Master Plan!
Picture Bush as about 10% as competent as the H-man.
He might have been given the master plan, and like everything else, bungled it so badly, it was totally ruined.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:32 pmLieberman = wussie extraordinare
Reid = super-wussie extraordinare
November 9th, 2008 at 6:32 pmAs someone who was born in and grew up in Connecticut, Senator Reid you are completely fool of shit. And you have proven yourself unfit to be Majority Leader when you do not represent the majority
November 9th, 2008 at 6:34 pmI believe Reid’s action is a prelude to what will be a very right wing Democratic Party over the next 4 and 8 years. I didn’t vote this year because of it. Watch and learn, my friends! We are NOT getting out of Iraq.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:53 pmgawd reid is a pathetic excuse for a human being. he’s been a cowardly weasel in his failure to stand up to bush and the repubs for 8 years. and he’s a shameless liar. he always talks tough for appearances and then completely grovels when it comes down to it. he’s a groveler, spineless, craven repellant little twit. Pelosi is no better. the entire dem leadership are gutless suckups. it’s sickening.
November 9th, 2008 at 7:05 pmUm. The fact is that no one is likely to move on or off a committee until inauguration day. The fate of Ted Stevens and unresolved races may have some effect as well. That’s why they call lame duck sessions, “lame duck sessions”.
What could be interesting though is what Obama and Biden do with their remaining time in the Senate. It’s a unique situation that hasn’t been drawing much attention. They could use their mandate, and the disruption in the GOP ranks, to get a head start on policy. Though most efforts would, no doubt, be effectively blocked. But, it might be worth it just to keep Bushco busy.
As for “Holy Joe”? It depends on who’s ass he kisses while the transition is incomplete. And, frankly, he isn’t worthy of much discussion at this time.
November 9th, 2008 at 7:10 pmGive ‘Em Help Harry strikes again!
*sigh*
November 9th, 2008 at 7:16 pmIf they can’t find someone better than Lieberman then the Democratic party is in a world of hurt!
Dump him or resign. And take Palosi with you.
We Can/Must Do Better.
November 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pmThat’s very nice of you Harry; now shit-can Lieberman’s ass.
Lieberman went way too far over the line to welcome him back with open arms. Lieberman is and independent and does not deserve to caucus with the Dems or keep his chairmanship.
November 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pmSenator Lieberman can do the Democrats, and the USA, a great deal of harm if allowed to keep the position as chairman. And I think he will. Whether he is working on behalf of Israel, or the Corporate Society which wishes to rule the world, or just an extremely vain and petty man; or all 3: He must be removed from Homeland Security.
Reid’s comments sicken me.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:20 pmReid’s comments sicken me.
It seems he won’t find his sack, until we have the mythical “veto-proof majority.”
He’s playing as if dems are still in the minority.
November 9th, 2008 at 9:12 pmReid must be replaced if the Democrats plan to be successfull in the Senate.
November 9th, 2008 at 9:52 pmThree Joe’s gotta go, LIEberman,plummer and scarface of msnbc.
November 9th, 2008 at 9:53 pmEven 56 seats will get the job done as the repubs know if they piss off the folks back home, the’ll be OUT.
JOE HAS GOT TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 9th, 2008 at 9:55 pm(Reid) “And I want to remind all of the people that are watching this newscast or however this program is going to air that I would not be majority leader but for his vote.”
Awww, there’s the rub.
The Blue Dog Democrats. Can’t live with them. Can’t live without them.
But Harry Reid just confirmed what I’ve long suspected.
In both the Senate and House following the Democratic Party landslide in November 2006, the minority Blue Dog Democrats demanded and got members of their minority caucus placed in leadership positions, with Blue Dog Democrat Joe Lieberman in the Senate getting his Blue Dog friend Harry Reid the “Majority Party” position.
Lieberman could have “switched” parties at that time, so I do give him credit, but he is hardly a friend of liberal, progressive, non-religious-fundamentalist-fanatic Democrats.
So, Reid (who is orthodox Mormon) just confirmed that even though Lieberman (the orthodox Jew) disloyally sided with the Republicans against President-elect Barack Obama, that Reid will not punish Lieberman for his disloyalty to the Democratic Party because Reid, even with a clear Democratic Party majority coming to the Senate in January, puts his loyalty to Blue Dog Democrats, like Lieberman, above the interests of the Democratic Party, and therefore, our country.
In other words, just as Lieberman sided with the Republicans and John McCain because Lieberman is more conservative (being an orthodox Jew) than he is a liberal, progressive, Senate Majority leader Reid is now indicating that he is siding with Lieberman over all the liberal, progressive Democratic senators who feel betrayed by Lieberman, both for what he did in the presidential election and for what he hasn’t done as head of the Homeland Security committee in the past two years.
There is no doubt that Joe Lieberman, the Blue Dog turncoat and traitor, will reverse course from his previous Republican-butt kissing nonexistent Homeland Security meeting agenda and with a President Barack Obama in the White House decide that “oversight” is now required. In fact, Lieberman will probably hold so many hearings starting next year that he’ll make the Republican witch-hunt hearings against President Bill Clinton back during the prosperity-days of the 1990s look relatively tame in comparison. And Harry Reid has just signaled that this is quite alright with him.
All the Blue Dog Democrats have perverted the liberal, progressive Democratic Party…and compromised our Constitution and country in the process, too.
With the Democrats soon to have a clear majority in the Senate starting next year, Harry Reid should not be Senate majority leader and Joe Lieberman should not be heading any committee…period…because they have clearly shown over the past two years that they prefer corrupt Republican Party policies (retroactive immunity for telecom companies, not impeaching Bush and Cheney, letting the financial crisis reach critical mass) over the overall interests and safety of our nation. Enough is enough.
Just as a large majority of U.S. voters just decided that culture of corruption conservatives need to be put in a corner, sitting on a stool with a dunce cap on their heads, for hopefully a long, long time, the Blue Dog Democrats should similarly be censored from positions of public trust…otherwise no real change in the direction of our country will be possible…not with Blue Dogs like Reid and Lieberman running things in the Senate and Blue Dogs like Pelosi and Hoyer running things in the House…along with a Blue Dog like Rahm Emanuel running things in the White House as Obama’s chief of staff.
As patriotic liberal, progressive Democrats, we still have a lot of work to do. I just hope and pray that President-elect Barack Obama, soon to be our nation’s 44th president, is more liberal, progressive than Blue Dog…because our nation desperately needs a healthy dose of liberal, progressive right now after all the corrupt and insidious conservative Republican/Blue Dog years that have done so much harm to our country and the future of our nation’s children.
November 9th, 2008 at 10:03 pmreid and pelosi need to GO!
November 9th, 2008 at 10:36 pmLieberman is a serious threat to the United States:
Lieberman is a serious threat, a clear and present danger to the safety, security, and freedom of every American and to the peoples of the world.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Lieberman voted for the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the “Protect America Act”.
He has voted, at every turn, to destroy the Constitution as it pertains to “equal protection” of the American people and to all of the prohibitions against tyranny that protect us.
Far from being progressive, he is treasonously right wing extremist, fitting in with the entire “Unitary theory of the Executive” crowd.
There is something seriously and dangerously wrong with the Democratic Party leadership in both houses, doing nothing (for years) to throw out the traitors (Bush, Cheney, Lieberman etc) while the country is destroyed and the Constitution is reduced to (in GWBush’s words) just a god-damned piece of paper.
Lieberman, and also Reid, Pelosi, Hoyer, Emanuel and every other member of Congress that helped enable or voted for the Military Commission Act (and the Protect America Act) are not fit to hold public office.
If this country is to be saved from both tyranny and enduring hardship, all of the American people need to become involved and demand accountability, reform, prosecution and where necessary, impeachment.
This is nuts.
Peace,
JK
JK
November 9th, 2008 at 10:54 pmHow about an email campaign to oust Reid. What would be the most effective way to do that? I’m not sure who the emails should be addressed to. Any suggestions?
This may be a good time; as the troops are still fired up.
November 9th, 2008 at 11:06 pmIt’s time to go, Harry. We’re going to need someone with a spine to run things.
November 9th, 2008 at 11:43 pmGee Harry, you might check with Barack. He might have further instructions for you. Like “kick the prick to the curb” or something. I have no confidence in Reid as senate leader.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:19 amAnd Henry Kissinger was never tried for war crimes. Somehow the powerful Zionists never seem to go down they way they deserve for doing harm to their Party or the American people.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:02 amJohn Murtha was bumped for Steny Hoyer, once described as the “best friend Israel has in Congress”.
This is not anti-Semitism. This is stating the obvious, that powerful Jewish Zionists seem to never go down the way others who have done similar injustices would.
Any other Democratic politician would be kicked out immediately for having campaigned against the Party’s nominee. The Clintons have been treated like trash for doing much, much less than did Lieberman.
With Ken Adelman endorsing Obama and Rahm Emmanuel running his administration, does anyone seriously contend that Lieberman will pay for his treason to the Party?
Note to (no-balls) Reid:
“And I want to remind all of the people that are watching this newscast or however this program is going to air that I would not be majority leader but for his vote.”
WTF ?!
So, this about patronage now? Not principle?! You’ve got to be kidding me!
We wouldn’t have extracted a delaying action ‘win’ in our retreat down Lake Champlain v the British during the Battle of Valcour Island and/or the subsequent BIG win at Saratoga as they tried to split the Northern Colonies but for the heroic leadership and guile of Benedict Arnold BUT we didn’t let THAT get in the way of calling him what HE was in later years, a TRAITOR.
You spineless Mormon political hack, TRY doing the right thing, FOR ONCE! Send LIEberman across the aisle.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:40 pmThe reason both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have made themselves such dubious characters among Democrats is because they have been so willing to make compromises with the other side when they didn’t have to. Before the election, we conned ourselves into buying their wimpy excuse that the Democrats were still too weak, but now that we have won a clear majority and mandate, why is Harry Reid kissing up to Joe Lieberman, a man whom most Democrats clearly dislkie.
Is it because he’s a fellow Zionist? Is it because they play golf together through thick and thin? Because Joe and AIPAC have too many people by the balls? Maybe Joe wants to join the Christian Church and Harry is helping him with the transition?
God forgive you’re gay lovers.
Hummm….so many possibilities.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pmFirst of all, Harry Reid is a Morman — a group that funded a significant amount of funding to support California Prop 8 — a measure to deny Gays and Lesbians the legal right to marriages — a legal arrangement between couples and their government what with all the benefits the U.S. government grants married couples. There is nothing sacred about it. The Democrats gained only 5 seats in the Senate, far less than expected. Reid should lose his leadership or renounce his church. However, he seems to passionless to express any outrage. Just because a politician doesn’t favor an issue doesn’t mean he/she should act against it.
Secondly, people quickly forget contemporary history. Joe Lieberman is certainly not one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut. The could be Lowell Weicker, a liberal Republican Lieberman defeated in Weicker’s 1989 reelection. It was a collusion between Reagan Republicans (Weicker earned Reagan’s wrath by, among things, playing a key role in the Senate’s defeat of Reagan’s proposed constitutional amendment to permit spoken prayer in public schools) and Democrats (they shortsightedly wanted the seat in their column). Lieberman was recognized as more conservative than Weicker and
Lieberman has shown his true colors with his undying support for McCain and vicious critism of Obams. Reid seems to lack basic leadership skill with his passionless persona. Both should step down from leadership; they lack what it takes to lead during an Obama administration.
November 15th, 2008 at 7:31 amHe is a lousy turncoat. I hate that ….. guy with passion.
But hey, let us forgive him.
People of CT will judge him accordingly; come next senatorial election
November 15th, 2008 at 9:32 pm