Bayh Expects Lieberman To Apologize For Attacks On Obama In Order To Keep Committee Chairmanship
Bayh Expects Lieberman To Apologize For Attacks On Obama In Order To Keep Committee Chairmanship
Riding the wave of electoral victories on Nov. 4, some Senate Democrats began hinting that they might remove Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) from his post as Homeland Security Committee chairman in part because of ad hominem attacks he levied at Barack Obama during the presidential campaign in support of John McCain.
Last week, however, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) sang a more forgiving tune. “[W]e should have a spirit of forgiveness with regard to Joe Lieberman and reconcile and move forward,” Bayh said, suggesting that Lieberman apologize and “let bygones be bygones.” Last night on MSNBC, Bayh said Lieberman should be stripped of his chairmanship unless he offers a “sincere apology” for his “unacceptable” rhetoric during the campaign:
BAYH:[Y]ou got to, you know, expect an apology — a sincere apology — and you got to keep tell him, “Look, we’re going to give you a chance here. But if you don`t do the right thing as chairman, if, you know, we see any continuation with this kind of behavior,” well then at that point, you know, the game is up at that point.
MADDOW: And — but the game would be up in the sense that he would get stripped of his leadership positions?
BAYH: The chairmanship. Yes.
Watch it:
Bayh complained that during the campaign, Lieberman had said that Obama “was basically for defeat in Iraq.” Lieberman also suggested that Obama could be a Marxist, linked his policy proposals to socialism and said his economic proposal would bring about a depression. He even said he “fears” for the survival of the country if the Democrats won 60 Senate seats on Nov. 4.
At the end of the segment, host Rachel Maddow said, “You’re giving me a great prompt to ask Senator Lieberman to come and deliver that apology on this show. So, thank you for that.” “Issue the invitation,” Bayh said.
Check out ThinkProgress’s new report, “Joe Lieberman: The Progressive Who Lost His Way.”
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No finger crossing behind your back, Joe.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:53 amMethinks an apology is too little, too late.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:55 amAn apology? He accused Obama of treason in essence.
He’d better say it like he means it! Dems are such wusses.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:55 amGo Rachel! Get that get!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:58 amBayh the CorporaDemocrat invites Red Joe back to the fold? They really will sell their integrity for power, for the chance at a filibuster proof majority.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:58 am‘BAYH:[Y]ou got to, you know, expect an apology — a sincere apology — and you got to keep tell him, “Look, we’re going to give you a chance here.’
Well, he prefaced his sentence with “Look,” so I guess he must be serious!
If Joe does apologize I hope it’s not one of those fake apologies where they say, “I’d like to apologize…” but then they never actually DO apologize. All they did was express a (fake) desire to apologize.
That would be great if Joe resigned! If he resigned what would happen then? I like Jodi Rell, the governor, but, she IS a Republican. Whose hands would the decision about his replacement be in?
November 13th, 2008 at 10:04 amAlso during the segment, Bayh suggested that if Lieberman is stripped of his committee chairmanship, “he might very well decide to just resign from the Senate.”
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The governor of Connecticut is a Republican, so I assume if Lieberman resigns his senate seat, he would be replaced with a Republican. But at least we’d know what we were getting.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:05 amWhat an idiot.
I watched this last night, and all I could think of was the totally inadequate mother of a teen-aged girl saying, “I could never make Tiffany do her homework, SHE’LL BE MAD AT ME!!!”
November 13th, 2008 at 10:06 amBayh is kidding himself if he thinks Lieberman would resign in ‘protest’ of being stripped of his ‘chairs’. What power then would Lieberman have to stab the Dems in the back, as he already has done?
Lieberman took GOP money to run as an Independent.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:07 amHe’d be much more likely to complete the switch to the GOP–even though he wouldn’t get any seniority with them (I guess), he’d still have the satisfaction of still being in the Senate (and of course he’d enjoy a celebrity status amongst the Republicans).
Lieberman absolutely should apologize, but honestly an apology coming as a condition of keeping a committee chairmanship would be absolutely hollow. Elections have consequences and apparently Lieberman’s consequence for campaigning for Republicans up and down the line and actually *against* the Democratic nominee for President will be a simple public statement?!
I know the Democrats want to pass their agenda, but there must come a time when enough is enough. Lieberman is *not* a member of the Democratic party. He is apparently engaging in some behind the scenes blackmail in order to keep his committee chairmanship. If the Democrats don’t stand up to Lieberman then it is a sad day for America.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:08 amI like the part where Bayh suggested an option of voting against things out of spite If that where the case do we really need a man of such low integrity anywhere close to power. That’s the kind os s*it 2nd graders use to threaten their parents.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:08 amIf they trust this guy for one second–he will make Obama’s life pure hell.
He will instantly find his nose for ‘investigating’ Obama’s administration. Joe Lieberman is a snake, a liar, a traitor and a moral fop. He deserves NOTHING.
This will be the first SERIOUS mistake by Obama, in not getting rid of this man when he had the chance.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:09 amConsidering how Lieberman lied, smeared, and trashed the Democratic party in general and Obama in particular, this would have to be one HECK of an apology to convince me of his sincerity.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:09 amThe Dems need Lieberman for now. And he needs them, to keep his status so his wife Hadassah can kvel. Otherwise she might file for divorce…
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November 13th, 2008 at 10:09 amLIEberman doesn’t have to resign, nor will he.
This joker is a lifetime beltway boy, and has no intention of going anywhere.
He can stay an (I) or switch to what he truly is, (R).
Yes, he’ll lose his chairship, but he lost his integrity in ‘06.
If the Republics want another tired, prejudiced old whit guy, I guess he’s for sale, but would they?
November 13th, 2008 at 10:10 amBsyh’s offering of Lieberman resignation is a veiled threat. I.e., if Democrats don’t take him back in the fold, he’ll quit and a Repugnicant will be appointed.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:10 amfl3tcher wrote:
“…I know the Democrats want to pass their agenda…”
They will get it passed whether Lieberman keeps his chair or not. If the Republicans want to obstruct a REAL mandate, let ‘em. If they’re too stupid to recognize which way the wind is blowing, and they (with Joe) obstruct what they sent Obama to do, they will pay by losing even MORE seats.
It’s as simple as that. Boot Lieberman; if they try to bite back by obstructing the Democrats, time is on OUR side.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:12 amAll of this dance by the dems is nonsense. If you can’t be tossed from the dem caucus for being a repug, then what do they stand for? If anyone thinks that holy joLIE is the 60th vote against a rethug filibuster, then he/she bought into the “thanks, but no thanks” for the bridge to nowhere. If there are no consequences for caucusing with the dems then running to the repugs to vote, the dem party is just a wing of the repugs.
Where is the CHANGE? Obama, no matter what posters here say, is getting involved in Senate business. There is no upside to this for the dems; they look weak because they are weak.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:12 amstate: You don’t REALLY think there’s a chance in hell that Lieberman would…resign?
Now THAT’S a BLUFF! That man will give up power when they take it from his cold stiff fingers.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:13 amI fail to understand how any amount of ’sincerity’ would make any difference at all. They lie, lie and lie, then smear. Nothing this man says is relevant.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:14 amAre we dealing with elderly statesmen or second graders? He did have a point that if he is stripped he could resign then be replaced with a solid republican.
He needs to come on Rachel’s show and apologize.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:15 amJoe Lieberman’s staying on in the role of chairperson will do MAJOR damage among progressives support for the democrats and Obama ! He is seen as a hawk , a traitor to the democrats and a liability ! I have seen 1 post here on TP in support of Joe Lieberman and 100’s of posts for his IMMEDIATE removal from the position !
November 13th, 2008 at 10:16 amPerhaps Barrack Obama is uninterested in the opinions expressed here en masse of Joe’s future in the democratic party ? 99.999 % against vehemently !
His support and the support of the democrats of Joe Lieberman will erode more trust among progressives and many independents , who are still reeling from his about face on FISA which most if not all posters here took very personally !
Joe must go !
What BS
There is nothing LIEbermann can do at this point to save his chairmanship
November 13th, 2008 at 10:16 amEven toying with the thought of keeping Lieberman shows what is wrong with the Democrats. They have no use for progressive morals or turning their mandate” into a broader progressive movement in politics.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/
November 13th, 2008 at 10:17 amDaddy-O Says:
This will be the first SERIOUS mistake by Obama, in not getting rid of this man when he had the chance.
I’m sorry, but what exactly could President Elect Obama have done to “get rid” of Lieberman?
For the last eight years, we’ve been appalled by the Unitary Executive and now we’re criticizing Obama for participating in the separation of powers by staying out of the Senate’s decisions?
No, this is squarely on the heads of the Senate’s Democratic leadership. Hell, on all the members since they will all vote in secret.
But an apology from Joe is a joke. People apologize for little mistakes or for blurting out something stupid, not for two years of campaigning for the other side and maligning someone as thoroughly as Lieberman did. If he wants to apologize, then he should also do penance, preferably for as long as his misbehavior persisted. If he spends two years keeping his lying mouth closed, maybe then he can be given some grace.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:20 amScrew ‘em
Make LIEberman apologize , and then strip him of his chairmanship anyway……….
November 13th, 2008 at 10:21 amAsking for an apology from Lieberman is joke.
He has been lying for sometime and by just giving Democrats an apology he can keep his chairmanship seat,I say how fool is Senator Bayh is to believe such nonsense?!!
A man who switched parties, was DEMS VP running mate for al Gore, turned later to be the biggest cheerleader for McCain can give Democrats an apology…that’s not hard for him to do…he is a liar so what if he apologizes.!!
Democrats should ignore him.
And if he wants to leave the Senate…let it be.
Democrats won majority in Senate with peoples votes.
Why should they keep a guy who campaigned against them for the other party,pretending to be an Independent.
Can’t Democrats find another Democrat to fill his seat.
If he did this to Republicans,he will not be given anything.
Playing nice with Lieberman will not not help Democrats.
And an apology will not make Lieberman change his behavior and will stop him from lying.His history proved that.
Just ignore him..and if he wants to leave the Senate,that’s a good sign…let him do it,and he should be encouraged to do it.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:21 amI believe that this position belongs to a loyalist of progressive ideas.
There are plenty of good people out there and joe will just keep the wound open by his very presense.
As missmolly has pointed out. Even if we have 60 democrats without joe, we still can’t count on the dems to vote as a block. They aren’t republicans who will support the party over the country.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:22 amSo? I say, let him resign. But, he won’t. Look how he lost the dem primary and switched to independant and won. He likes being there. He likes the power. He won’t resign. He may caucus with the repugs, but he won’t resign.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:24 amYou can’t even keep your own party on track. Where do you get the nerve to criticize progressives?
You just lost big time because you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:25 amAlso during the segment, Bayh suggested that if Lieberman is stripped of his committee chairmanship, “he might very well decide to just resign from the Senate.”
This is NOT a fraternity! It’s the U.S. Senate where you’re suposed to be doing the People’s work – which includes kicking Lieberman out of the club!
We signed petitions making it quite clear that we didn’t want a Republican (because he is) running Democratic committees.
We also voted recently and reduced the number of Republicans in genral, for a very good reason.
Ivy League educated or not, some of these people “representing” us lack critical thinking skills…
November 13th, 2008 at 10:26 amDaddy-O Says:
……………
This will be the first SERIOUS mistake by Obama, in not getting rid of this man when he had the chance.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:26 am……………..
I believe the jury is still out on Rahm Emmanuel as well . He is at least as hawkish as Lieberman or worse ! If Obama remains the “decider” and keeps Emmanuel muzzled in terms of foreign policy , especially that related to the Mid East than he may well be an asset , but in either case his being tapped as the first move by Obama as Chief of staff makes many in the peace movement and among the progressive community in general very nervous !
Throw us a bone here democrats and toss Joe now or keep him at your own risk !
Holy shit
Bible Spice is speaking at the Repugnants governor’s convention , and is prattling on about ……..You guessed it ; Joe the Plumber ,AGAIN……..
November 13th, 2008 at 10:27 amDr. Hussein Matt Says: The ONLY thing I can rationalize as why the Dems want this POS is that he’ll be the 60th vote if the Dems win the seats in Alaska, Minnesota, and Georgia.
Oh great, he’s been in that situation before where he was the “deciding vote”, who could blackmail the Democrats in order to do his Republican bidding. Look how that turned out…
Keeping Lieberman is like trying to keep Dick Cheney. Unacceptable.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:30 amI think that the moment that Lieberman is asked to apologize, then the apology becomes meaningless.
If was truly contrite, he would have apologized without having his chairmanship held over his head.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:31 amRuss Feingold or the other Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd are perfect replacements for Joe as chair of the Homeland Security committee . Both of these men have shown their passion for protecting our civil liberties , which is exactly what is needed on this committee !
November 13th, 2008 at 10:33 amIf he did resign (a longshot with his lust for power), and it was up to Jodi Rell to replace him, I really doubt she’d replace him with a hardcore republican. She’s not one herself.
And considering that Obama won with 60% in CT (90% in Hartford!), whoever got the job wouldn’t want to piss the people off by getting in the way of Obama.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:33 amWhy are they pussyfooting around? Are they unable to make up their feeble minds? Does Lieberman have incriminating photos or recorded conversations that gives him a free pass?
November 13th, 2008 at 10:33 amBible Spice is speaking at the Repugnants governor’s convention , and is prattling on about ……..You guessed it ; Joe the Plumber ,AGAIN……..
Is she still wearing that Carharrt jacket with the Wasilla Public Works patch?
November 13th, 2008 at 10:34 amNevar Says:
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Bible Spice is speaking at the Repugnants governor’s convention , and is prattling on about ……..You guessed it ; Joe the Plumber ,AGAIN……..
Is she still wearing that Carharrt jacket with the Wasilla Public Works patch?
November 13th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Nah , she’s wearing her black Wasilla meth-lab worker top ….
November 13th, 2008 at 10:36 amBayh suggested that if Lieberman is stripped of his committee chairmanship, “he might very well decide to just resign from the Senate.”
With the result that McCain would be heart-broken? This is just insane on the face of it, I’d be very interested to know the real reason why Judas Lieberman is such a protected specie.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:37 amMcMetal – you made me look! I tuned in to the Palin speech just in time to hear her whiney voice talking about medical savings accounts! Oh yeah, that would work with today’s markets!
Now I have to go shower…
p.s. are all of this country’s governors republican or something? All I’m hearing about is the republicans at that convention!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:38 amp.p.s. Palin just finished up with a, “God bless ya.” Shudder.
mary Says:
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McMetal – you made me look! I tuned in to the Palin speech just in time to hear her whiney voice talking about medical savings accounts! Oh yeah, that would work with today’s markets!
Now I have to go shower…
p.s. are all of this country’s governors republican or something? All I’m hearing about is the republicans at that convention!
p.p.s. Palin just finished up with a, “God bless ya.” Shudder.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:38 am
She is such a goddamned phony (as are all Repugs).
I’m tired of hearing their mantra of the retarded : smaller government , strong on national security , lower taxes , blah blah blah……..They haven’t been that way for several decades ; they’re going to return to that NOW ?
BTW
Sorry to make you look.
PS
Lieberman sucks ass
November 13th, 2008 at 10:42 ammary Says
November 13th, 2008 at 10:38 am
p.s. are all of this country’s governors republican or something? All I’m hearing about is the republicans at that convention!
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The convention is only for Republican governors — of which there are 22. Not counting the governor of Guam or the newly-electing incoming governor of Puerto Rico.
I don’t know if Democratic governors have their own shindig, or if this is just a special conference for the GOP to lick their wounds.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:43 amAsk a politician to apologize?
What a waste of time.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:43 amDaddy-O, Bayh’s bluffing. Of course Lieberman won’t resign. Bayh threw out a political straw man to justify his open armed, “prodigal father”, bear hug of Sleazy Joe.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:43 amLieberman is capable of giving a phony apology,after all he has been lying for years.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:45 amOnly a fool Democrat like Bayh will trust Lieberman’s so called ’sincere apology’.
Excuse me..The election was over one week and 2 day’s ago…Why didn’t traiter Joe apolagize for his miss deed’s then….This crap isn’t gonna fly by me…Kick his ass out period….Let him flap around on someone elses pier….He’s no good and need’s to be handled as such….If this is the best the spinless dem’s are gonna do now is the time to start up a 3rd party for 2010……Blessings
November 13th, 2008 at 10:46 amDaddy-O Says:
This will be the first SERIOUS mistake by Obama, in not getting rid of this man when he had the chance.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:09 am
________
How is it a mistake by Obama? The actual decisions on Committee chairmanships don’t get made until January, right? When the Senate Democrats decide on Leiberman’s fate, Obama will no longer be a Senator…
November 13th, 2008 at 10:47 amJoe is still taking care of Joe. Nothing he says now will change what he’s done or is willing to do to stay in office in the future. He has shown that he doesn’t support the democratic party so how will keeping him in his current position change him?
November 13th, 2008 at 10:47 amfreeman Says:
Russ Feingold or the other Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd are perfect replacements for Joe
I think I just read that Sen. Dodd has gone to bat for Joe related to keeping his position. I don’t get it. Maybe it’s like Dr. Hussein Matt wrote and it’s a 60th vote. But if he can’t be counted on for his vote …
November 13th, 2008 at 10:48 amThis would be the article.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:54 amThe least Obama should be doing is telling the people what’s going on. He could say the Dems might need L’s vote if they get to 59 in the Senate. Or he could say L has powerful supporters that the Dems don’t want to alienate if they can avoid it. This might sound bad but secrecy sounds the worst to me after the last 8 years. No matter what, only the truth can begin to set Obama and the rest of us free from the neocons and the lobbyists…
November 13th, 2008 at 11:15 amCareer politicians have no balls but just love to kiss ….
November 13th, 2008 at 11:17 amgovinda Says:
I agree with toasterhead on this. What has Obama got to do with it? This is a senate decision.
I hope they kick him to the curb, we have plenty of good progressives to sit in the chair.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:26 amKeith H. Says:
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freeman Says:
Russ Feingold or the other Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd are perfect replacements for Joe
I think I just read that Sen. Dodd has gone to bat for Joe related to keeping his position. I don’t get it. Maybe it’s like Dr. Hussein Matt wrote and it’s a 60th vote. But if he can’t be counted on for his vote …
I’m thinking Mr. Dodd is playing it safe in order not to lose the his support among his constituency in Conn. that voted for Joe .I was disappointed in this too but that’s why it’s called politics !
November 13th, 2008 at 11:35 amObama may also be playing the same game as Dodd in his support for Joe but quite possibly at his own risk among progressives ! WItness how little support for Joe is found on this website .
November 13th, 2008 at 11:37 amI thought is was supposed to be the REPUBLICAN party that used FEAR to meet its agenda. I guess it still works. At least on Senator Bayh.
I had no idea that Lieberman’s time with the Republicans would cause Senator Bayh to be SO AFRAID of Joe.
Wow! Senator Bayh’s entire argument for keeping Joe the Traitor in place is FEAR! He’s AFRAID of JOE! I never saw anything like it and it makes me sick to my stomach.
By Sentor Bayh’s rational, we have to keep Traitor Joe happy because we need his vote. I’ve got new for you Senator Bayh. Joe takes care of Joe! He will vote HIS best interests at the moment. Nothing and no one else comes into consideration with him. Why is Senator Bayh so convinced that reasonable people in the Senate, REPUBLICAN and DEMOCRAT won’t vote together on important upcoming issues? After all, the Republican’s are left with the smoldering ashes of the Bush regime – Mr. 22%.
Bayh’s argument allows all Dems to be painted with the broad brush of Gutless. Way to go Senator. With all due respect, Please. Fix this.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:18 pmI think it’s obvious that someone must have pictures of Evan Byah doing something which might be described as morally repugnant. Either that or he’s fallen in love with a Jewish Princess.
Mrs. Smith, this is Officer Krupke calling you about your son, Bill, who is facing multiple rape charges. We’ve thought about this and we feel that we don’t want to go on any witch-hunts. Would you be agreeable to the state dropping these charges? We’re contacting the victim, Jane Doe, and telling her that revenge is not a very holy attitude. Pointing fingers solves nothing, Mrs. Smith. Haven’t enough people already been hurt by this silliness? We think the alleged victim should just forget about it. It just makes people mad to dwell on subjects like treachery and rape. This is no time for revenge. Remember what Jesus said? We’re going to get into trouble if we start blaming each other. Can’t we all just get along? Everyone knows Joe is a nice guy and wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Mrs. Smith, I know you’re not part of the criminal rich groups which we belong to, but we sincerely believe that everyone should just forget about this whole thing.
Thank you,
Officer Krupke (shalom)
November 13th, 2008 at 2:15 pmWhat Byah said to Maddow last night is that the Democratic Party is allowing Joe LIEberman to blackmail them into allowing him to stay. What a wonderful way to start off on a new foot…NOT! If they allow LIEberman to suffer no consequences for his actions, the Democrats will be showing the nation that they are no different than the Republicans.
The only thing I found encouraging in this episode was finding out that the Democratic Caucus can strip LIEberman of his Chairmanship at any time. I think that the Democrats are making a huge mistake with this one.
November 13th, 2008 at 2:43 pmI hope that everyone has gone to “change.gov” and told Obama that our vision for his country is not to become Republicans. By allowing Joe to get away with no consequences for his bad behavior, they are telling the nation that the Democrats are no different than the Republicans. I thought that the Democrats were all about accountability. Apparently I was wrong.
November 13th, 2008 at 2:57 pmI got so angry at what was gong on in this show, I turned off the TV. Did Rachel let Byah get away with his acquiescence to LIEberman blackmailing the Democratic Party?
November 13th, 2008 at 2:58 pmSo, ol’ Joe will stay with the Democratics, as long as there are no repercussions for his unforgiveable behavior. Seems reasonable to me. Altho . . . It’s kind of hard understanding what the mandate for change is all about, if Democrats can’t even stand up to one of their own. One who so richly deserves being kicked to the curb.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:08 pmSeveral days ago I said that Lieberman needed to be stripped of his Chair position on Homeland security and instead be given the Chair of a lesser Committee following an apology with the understanding he could get his Chair position back on Homeland security in 2 years by playing ball.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:25 pmIt is time for the democrats to be ruthless and demote Senator Lieberman from his chairmanship and not reassign him to the chairmanship of a subcommittee. He has to suffer the consequences of his bad behavior! An apology is too little, too late.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:41 pmWe have a majority of democrats without him, we don’t need him, and he has proved that he is not with us.
Bayh isn’t doing anything his father wouldn’t have done. He also was a lickspittle democrat, who wouldn’t stand up to Nixon. And his son is a continuation of his father’s weakkneed legacy.
Moral cowards. The both of ‘em.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:35 pmBayh is a coward? Unfortunately very many of the Democrats are weak, but not Bayh. Actually, Bayh is anti-people and pro corporate elite freak. He belongs in the morally corrupted Republican party with Lieberman.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:03 pmJOE HAS GOT TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 6:14 pmBayh has been all over this story — maybe he likes the publicity?
November 13th, 2008 at 9:35 pmI hope Bayh remembered to pick up his testicles before he left the studio. What an ideal spokesman for the pussy wimpocrats.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:49 pm