Senate Democrats allow Lieberman to go unpunished: We ‘feel good about what we did today.’
Senate Democrats allow Lieberman to go unpunished: We ‘feel good about what we did today.’
Today in a closed-door meeting, Senate Democrats voted 42-13 to allow Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, despite his attacks on Barack Obama during the campaign season. Shortly afterward, Senate Democrats held a press conference during which they stood by Lieberman and surrounded him with their support. Some highlights of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) remarks:
– “We’re looking forward, we’re not looking back.”
– “I understand anger. … I would defy anyone to be angrier than I was. But is this a time when we walk out of here and say, ‘Boy, did we get even?’”
– “I am satisfied with what we did today. I feel good about what we did today. I don’t apologize to anyone for what we did today.”
– “The question is, do I trust Senator Lieberman? The answer is yes, I trust Senator Lieberman.”
Watch the press conference:
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
This is bullshit.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pmThis crap makes me so mad I could flippin spit…they are spineless! GRRR!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pmNo, Harry!
You and 41 of your colleagues are looking like A$$HOLES!
Moderate this, TP!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pmI believe in letting bygones be bygones, but this is ridiculous. This man did everything in his power to help the right demonize the man that came to CT to help him beat Ned Lamont when he was badly in need for Black support. Mr. Obama is a hell of a man, and I’m sure this happened because he truly wants to change the tone in Washington, but Mr. Lieberman just got away with murder, plain and simple.
RIP
November 18th, 2008 at 12:18 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
You can look forward with a new person. In fact, it’d probably be easier.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:18 pmI still want to see whatever is in those pictures Lieberman keeps in that safe
November 18th, 2008 at 12:19 pmYou should have known that the fix was in when Harry scheduled the vote for this Senate and not the next.
¶ AIO
November 18th, 2008 at 12:20 pmMust be nice to be a member of the Senate where you’re never held accountable for anything.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pmMeet the new boss, same as the old boss, except the old bosses (Republicans) have backbone.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pmShould we trust YOU, Harry?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm@#$%^$^&$#$!!!!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pmWhat a bunch of spineless whimps these dems are..Judas should have been taken off the Homeland as punishment, but as usuual the dems show no spine!!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pmChange you can believe in? Yes We Can? Change the way Washington does business? looks like it was all a just slogans and we bought their bullsh*t hook line and sinker… Way to go Obama, you sold out faster than a “flandip on payday”!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pmDoesn’t look like a shred of f’n change to me. The prince of smarmy smiles really has something to grin about today. He flipped everybody off and they laughed and told him he could do it all he wants.
You’ve got 42 Senatorial smootches on your weaselly little ass. They love the smell of sellout in the morning.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pmMaybe they just want to use him for their own purposes. He will never be re-elected in 2010.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pmI guess that frienships forged on the Hill are more important to our elected representatives than how their decisions appear to the world. Lieberman didn’t diss Obama at some private DC party, he did it for the world to see. On several occasions. While stumping for the opposition. The citizens of Connecticut have been outspoken in their dis-stisfaction with Benedict Lieberman. The voices from the left on practically every blog and the posters on their threads overwhelmingly support stripping him of his chairmanship while split on allowing him to caucus with Dems. History clearly has shown that actions such as his have had serious consequences however this Congress has decided to allow this shill full access to oversight and subpoena power over Obama while removing him from the one commitee where he followed the Democrats. I guess we’ll be seeing droopy dawgs self satisfied face for a few more years until the people of Connecticut finally do what Harry Reid and the rest of the slap-happy pals on the Hill wouldn’t. AND DO THEY STILL WONDER WHY THE WORLD SEES THEM AS SPINELESS???
November 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pmDirty Harry sold his soul to devil for a chance at 60 Senate seats.
Elections are a con, otherwise Joe’s turncoat role would come back to haunt him. Give him an Oscar for his performance.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pmThe Democrats, failures in victory.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:26 pm@APEC not OPEC:
I’m pretty sure he’s not up for re-election until 2012.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:28 pmNice to know that these 41 Senators just ignore petitions with 10’s of 1000’s of names on them calling for his removal.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pmLungman424 Says:
Change you can believe in? Yes We Can? Change the way Washington does business? looks like it was all a just slogans and we bought their bullsh*t hook line and sinker… Way to go Obama, you sold out faster than a “flandip on payday”!!!
What did you expect. Think back, can you remember an election where *change* was not used to garner votes? I can’t and that’s why I voted 3rd party. Rs and Ds both suck, bigtime.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pmA lot of independent voters out there are convinced that there is no real difference between the parties.
The fact that a leader of one party can openly campaign for a candidate of the opposing party without fear of consequence only fuels that idea even more.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pm“I am satisfied with what we did today. I feel good about what we did today. I don’t apologize to anyone for what we did today.”
Folks, It looks like it is time to start replacing these regressive Bush lapdogs with real progressives or it is time to start a real 3rd party from the grass roots, first replacing the inept corporate lackeys in congress so that eventually a 3rd party presidential candidate has a chance to break the stranglehold of the 2 inept parties currently at the top.
It may be time for both the Republican and Democratic parties to both to become extinct.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pmThe democrats are champions in deceit. They pretend to side with the people who voted them in, but when the crucnh comes, they stab you in the back with a smile on their faces and some discourse of ‘noble’ intentions… Obama’s choice for inteligence adivizer is same of the same of what we have had for the last 8 years… Where is the CHANGE????! Lieberman should go. I dare them to make a referendum asking the people what they think!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
——————————————————————————–
Obama didn’t make this decision. He’s not even a Senator. You’re having a hissy fit.
He sets the agenda, if you don’t think he didn’t tacitly endose keeping Joe, it wouldn’t of happened.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pmShameless.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:31 pmWhat a bunch of spineless bastards. The Repignofascists would do the same for one of their own. Damn is the Senate ever a closed club.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:31 pmPelosi is a typical example of what I just said… voted in for change of course, as soon as she is in: “Impichment is out of the table”.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:31 pmI see they have decided. I immediately made a decision of my own to write to my own Senators to register my opinion.
Unfortunately, I remembered that both of my Senators are Republicans (Hagan hasn’t taken office yet).
Oh, well…
Anyone here have a Democratic Senator? Have you let him/her know how you feel about this vote?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pmAlways no sometimes think it’s me, but you know I know when it’s a dream.
I think, er No, I mean, er Yes but it’s all wrong.
That is I think I disagree.
Let me take you down, ’cause I’m going to Strawberry Fields.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:33 pmThe beatles
Obama did endorse Lieberman to keep him from voting straight Republican. Why don’t we wait for the new Senate to start voting and see if his vote makes any difference.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:34 pm.
Well, they sure are earning their DO NOTHING crown… NO?
So, I can be a Democrat AND campaign against the Democratic Party because the Democratic Party Leaders are weak and ineffectual.
Is anyone surprised that Bush and members of his Administration have gone unscathed in the light of this?
What’s accountability to these spineless slugs? Why do they act as if accountability is anathema to their nature?
Who are they beholden to?
.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:35 pmRaptureReady Says
November 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
No guts, no glory. Wow, I can really say that not one socialist bill will be passed by the Democratic Congress/Senate.
__________________________________________________________
There you go again. If you’re going to use the word “socialist”, you need to convince us you know what it means.
However, since you used it in this context, I’ll be satisfied if you describe an example of a “socialist” bill — and explaining, of course, why it’s socialist.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:36 pmBrings out the bully in me. I want to take their lunch and bus money, give them wedgies, and kick their wussy asses. They just do not have the steel to be effective. Poor Obama, maybe he can make deals with the goopers.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
Lungman424 Says:
Change you can believe in? Yes We Can? …
Way to go Obama, you sold out faster than a “flandip on payday”!!!
Obama didn’t make this decision. He’s not even a Senator. You’re having a hissy fit.
Take a look at press reports on this. They’re all reporting that Obama requested Lieberman be coddled, presumably so he wouldn’t bolt the caucus.
I think it’s a mistake, and chickensh!t behavior, just like the Republicans and their chickensh!t failure to boot Ted Stevens.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pmObama gave us fair warning when he voted for the FISA sellout for no obvious reason.
It was stupefying: an expert in constitutional law voting against the 4th amendment. Why?
Now most of Dem Congress voting to keep a weaselling traitor in their midst. Why?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pm#12
November 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pmI totaly agree with you! We must watch who obama is picking for his cabinet. He has a mandate. People voted for it. But Knowing these democrats… it will same of the same with a new slogan and a new package.
Reid:
“I understand anger. … I would defy anyone to be angrier than I was.”
Okay Harry, I’m defying you! Now what? What a wuss he is.
Reid:
The question is, do I trust Senator Lieberman? The answer is yes
Well now you’ve lost any trust I may have had left in YOU Harry! Because if you really, truly, think that Lieberman is trustworthy then you’re not only a wuss but you’re ridiculously gullible and stupid!
I’m hoping that they’re just playing the chess board. In which case I wish they’d just be honest with us instead of trying to make us believe all that nonsense!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:38 pmJoe Lieberman should become a weather forecaster.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:38 pmWhen the wind changes direction, so does he.
RHL, Obama resigned his senate seat LAST WEEK. Where has your head been?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:38 pmBi partisanship in action ….
November 18th, 2008 at 12:38 pmhttp://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/11/17/emanuel/index.html
republicans hate facts Says
November 18th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
ROTFL!!!! Yes he is UNTIL JANUARY you IGNORANT TARD!
____________________________________________________________
Before you call people “ignorant tards”, you might want to get your facts straight.
Obama resigned his Senate seat on Sunday. He is no longer a Senator.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/16/AR2008111600753.html
November 18th, 2008 at 12:40 pmLast straw?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pmThat’s funny RHF, you’re the big Hillary supporter and now you’re complaining that Obama is Bill’s third term.
Obama explained that he why he voted on that FISA bill because it was the only way to get some oversight, there had been none, and he didn’t think the immunity wording was technically accurate enough and that it wouldn’t hold up. Maybe I got this in a letter from him since he’s my senator and he answered these questions with letter but I thought he explained this publicly.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pmDid one have to buy wine and bread from Jesus?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:46 pmuh….he already resigned from the senate….tard makes you look like…..well, a tard.
Hillary was on board too……..tard.
I’m with Shayne, we shouldn’t read too much into this. We get stabbed in the back all the time and this is for the senators to deal with……they have reasons even if we don’t agree with them.
Let’s see what they do despite all the Obama and democrat haters that have clustered here to bash them pre-emptivly.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:46 pmGee RHF, my “head” knew Obama wasn’t going to be a Senator until inauguration unlike your firmly wedged one.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:47 pmThe DINO’s define insanity; doing the same thing over and over and over and over and expecting different results. Good luck with your comity, you jokers you!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:47 pmSo Reid trusts him? Well, let’s see when the first Supreme Court nomination is up for a vote in the Senate. What are the odds Trusting Joe will have to exercise his independence?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pm@ #35 Fact hater…
Obama resigned his Senate seat…
November 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pmhttp://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/11/the_actual_obama_senate_resign.html
… SUNDAY!
Did anyone really expect anything other than this ?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pmNo, probably not, but there was always a shirt-tail chance, right? No, not really.
As near as I can tell, this government functions as an extension of corporate interest, which has one item on their plate demanding action 24/7: Record profits derived from exploiting the people of this country until there’s nothing left.
But you see, they keep recruiting new troops to suck the life out of. They do it in cycles. A period of time (in this case, the last eight years) for destruction and incurring outrageous debt. Followed by a period of time for everyone to repay the outrageous debt and repair the destruction. It’s really pretty much mass slavery.
So you say wow, this dude is a nut-case. Yes, yes I am.
Lieberman had indicated it would be unacceptable for him to lose his chairmanship.
First the Wall Street bailout, the TARP is now at $4.3 trillion. That was to address an unacceptable collapse of our financial sector. The plan is yet to work.
Now we have the CARP or Chair A$$hole Rescue Program. I expect it to work as well as its TARP predecessor.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pmLiarman really has not done a very good job as chairman. Rubber stamp for bogus Bush policy. Truly bad for our country that he will retain this position.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:49 pmReally Fred, you have to wonder about so called progressives who think things would have been better if McCain or even Hillary had been elected. Both Hillary and Bill were to the right of Obama. And Obama didn’t get elected by just progressives. And even here we don’t all agree on every issue. But just go ahead and whine every time Obama doesn’t do exactly what you want him to people and in 2012 you can have Mitt Romney for President.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pmFred, I’m not a Democrat or Obama “hater” but this is ridiculous.
If Harry said that we want to move forward, we want him in our corner or whatever then at least I’d understand where they’re coming from.
For Harry to say that he thinks Lieberman is “trustworthy” is makes me really question his judgment! Either that or he’s lying.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:51 pmFu(k ‘em all.
I’m officially unregistering myself as a Democrat today.
FISA and Obama’s vote as almost my last straw.
Obama picking Emmanuel put the straw in my hand.
The coddling of Lieberman gave me a match to light that straw on fire.
I’m done with the Democratic party, or at least being officially affiliated with it, until Pelosi, Reid, and a host of others are GONE.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:51 pmThis would not be my first choice, and it appears leadership is putting strategy ahead of emotions and the opportunity to teach someone a well deserved lesson. I hope they are right.
If this is the case, then Democratic leadership better keep an extremely short leash on ‘Benedict’ Lieberman and be fully prepared to cut him off at the knees (or to cut off a part of Lieberman’s male anatomy) at the first appearance of him pulling this crap again. Joe better tow the line.
I guess this is in keeping with Obama’s healing and reaching-across-the-aisle philosophy, but I do think they will live to regret this decision.
And you can bet that the Republicans are going to capitalize on this action as another demonstration of the Democrats’ inability to be tough on an issue when they need to be, or are justified to be.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:52 pm.
I quit being a Democrat long ago…
… Because the Democrats quit being For, Of, and By the People.
.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pmOh, I’m sure if Clinton was pres. elect then liarman would be drawn and quartered. Fat chance.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pmrhf
November 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pmIn theory, weeks begin on Monday and end on Sunday (at least for the working class). So Shayne is correct, he did resign “last week”.
Of course, with the amount of time Congressmen have “off”, it’s hard for them to differentiate what constitutes as a working week.
Just sayin…
If an extremely progressive candidate could get elected Kucinich would be president. Progressives are worse than young children when they believe everybody wants exactly the same thing out of government and every one of their wishes should be met.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pmI can hear Reid now:
“We didn’t have the numbers. That’s why it’s important we do well in the 2010 elections”.
Bunch of GD gutless f***s.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pmTYPICAL SPINELESS DEMOCRATS. I AM SICK TO DEATH OF THE BENDING OVER FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
first off- He is not a Democrat- doesn’t vote with the Democrats, doesn’t caucus with the Democrats, HELL, he wasn’t even voted in as a Democrat- HE IS AN INDEPENDENT!
WHY, OH WHY, is he chairing such an important committee??? Give it to a Democrat. The Chairs are for the Majority party, which He is no longer part of.
I knew this was going to happen. THEY SUCK (except for the 13 who voted to boot him) A$$! Things will never change. That iS a BS moniker used to win elections.
Imagine if this was the other way around and let’s say, Chuck Hagel campaigned with Obama, and spread OUTRIGHT LIES about McCain- and then McCain won? Do you think that he would have been part of any inner workings of the Republican Party? Much less keep a chairmanship of such an important committee.
Ridiculous!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pmActually no.
It’s textbook FASCISM.
The banks and the corporate financial institutions of this world control everything.
You, me, everybody here, Obama, our government…it’s all one big dog-and-pony show and we’re just unknowing pawns.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:55 pmI still don’t think we need Liarman. I’m sure there are a few moderate Republics that would be easier to work with than Joe of no soul. We don’t need his stinking vote.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:55 pmSo, really, all the election was asking you was whether you wanted to die tomorrow or next week, so to speak.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:56 pm“Change You Can Deceive In”
What’s this egg all over everyone’s face?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:57 pmWe feel good about what we did today
Well, of course you do, because it keeps the Dems slim majority afloat.
That being said, I firmly believe in “forgiveness”, but I also believe in “no crime should go unpunished”.
There should be some repercussions for LIEberman’s morphing to the right (and who now, apparently, is shape-shifting back to the left).
But tolerance, unity, and forgiveness may be the new standards (unlike the last 7 & 1/2 years).
Oh, and cRaptureReady:
November 18th, 2008 at 12:59 pmHAPPY HOLIDAYS!
What next. Reaching across the aisle to give Lindsey Graham a hand job? Don’t we have any principles?
November 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pmEven if your assumtion is true…..it’s a step up from where we have been. I will gladly go back to Clinton era life in America. Guess you guys think mccain or mitty would have been better, right?
I agree, we wanted to get rid of the emotional right wingers running around like a chicken with their head cut off and screaming abortion, god, gays, etc.
Now the (i)’s here think they can cry and change things. You have democrats for a while fella’s. You will like it better than what you have seen the last 8 years, I promise.
America gave the reps 8 years so now we are going to give the dems a few years to see what they do.
You can’t just throw a shoe every time they do something you don’t like……Their term hasn’t even started and you are here pre-emptivly dooming them to failure….HOW DO YOU KNOW?
Grow up and try to think rationally instead of crying and running backwards.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pmThis does separate democrats from republicans. There’s not all this punishment stuff and disloyalty crap. Other then the war and McCain, Lieberman does side with democrats most of the time. I can see the logic. They do need his support.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pmThese spineless Dems have caved to the Right at a time when a progressive agenda was clearly mandated by voters. This is the time to remove Lieberman from office, not reward his actions.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/
November 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pmWHEN IS REID’S RE ELECTION?
November 18th, 2008 at 1:03 pmCowards.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:05 pmFU(K YOU, HARRY!!!
I feel sick to my stomach!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:07 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
I say, just enjoy Bill’s 3rd term, cause that’s what you got…
Well then, you should be one happy puppy given your love of Hillary.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:07 pmmisshusseinmolly says:
Anyone here have a Democratic Senator? Have you let him/her know how you feel about this vote?
Yes – one. And I think he’s blocked my emails since the FISA vote :). But I keep giving him hell and my opinion anyways (even though he’s usually on the right side of issues).
I had two, but one took a job at the White House.
DICK DURBIN FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pmThis guy is a known right wing troll and he is singing the same song you guys are singing…….hello, is this thing on?
The dems have just executed a rout of the right wing. I am going to go along with them for now.
Anger is not a good means for making decisions. Lots of anger here and you act like you are mad because lieberman betrayed the democrats…….yet you are attacking the democrats…….
November 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pmDump Pelosi and Reid.
Appoint Feingold and Kucinich.
Simple. Unless the dems want to keep up the back room circle-jerk with the republicans. Hell, if they can Lieberman, somebody might replace him and open up a real investigation, then where would the surrenderDems be?
“Change You Can Bereave In.”
November 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pmI don’t apologize to anyone for what we did today.
Okay, fair enough harry.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pmBut do you apologize for what you have and haven’t done in the last 8 years ? Okay, how about just the last 4 ? Fu[k it, just consider the last 2 .
republicans hate facts Says:
ADDdaddy Says:
TYPICAL SPINELESS DEMOCRATS. I AM SICK TO DEATH OF THE BENDING OVER FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
first off- He is not a Democrat- doesn’t vote with the Democrats, doesn’t caucus with the Democrats, HELL, he wasn’t even voted in as a Democrat- HE IS AN INDEPENDENT!
Actually he DOES caucus with the Democrats – that’s kinda the point…
Thanks- I was in rant mode as i typed. i almost seconded guessed, but then left it in.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:10 pmI’d rather see Hillary as leader of the Senate than Sec/State.
Reid needs to go. Somewhere. Anywhere, but not in the Senate. His public charisma comes off like a marshmallow and his record on standing up to the Republics is dismal.
LIEberman should be booted out of the Dem caucus, but then kept around as a non-chair, totally ineffective on important votes.
Again, we need Hillary in the Senate as the leader. We have none now…
November 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pmPunishing Lieberman would FEEL good. But, keeping him close to the Democratic Party may help Obama’s Administration DO good.
This IS change from the uber-loyalty of the previous 8 years.
Punishing Lieberman is NOT the best way to spend some of the political capital gained in this election. There are much bigger issues to tackle and, IMO, Lieberman is psychologically primed to aid in joining the more progressive solutions to those issues.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pmI think the problem most of us have about Holy Joe is that the Dems are always painted as weak and scared of action. They seem to talk a good game, but flake out at the last minute. This behavior seems to feed the right wing idea that Dems are inherently (sp?) weak and spineless.
We had Holy Joe doing everything in his power to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin – against Barak Obama. That should be seen as a treasonous act against the Dems, and it was. Holy Joe may be a good Senator (I don’t think so, and apparently neither does CT.) but his behavior should have warranted severe punishment, not this wrist slap. This will again feed the narrative that Dems can’t survive a fight – even within their own ranks. We need a strong third – or fourth – party in this country. The Repubs and Dems are all cut from the same cloth, and they watch each others backs to the detriment of the country. What a sad spectacle.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pmI think that it’s entirely appropriate for progressives to voice their opinion every time they feel they should.
We’ve been sucking it up for ages! I found Clinton to be too right of center and needless to say the Bush years have been excruciating.
We progressives need to speak up and make our wishes known! If we just sit quietly we’ll never see real change!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:12 pmThanks- I was in rant mode as i typed. i almost seconded guessed, but then left it in.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:12 pmGutless, spineless wimps. They have been bending over & taking it from Bush & company & the repuglican thugs for years. Nothing will change. Our ELECTED officials refuse to listen to and enforce the will of the people. Now we have LIEberman on tv saying “some of the things they said I said are simply not true. He is a traitor and should have been treated as such.
Our government is a renegade agency that feels they no longer need to account to the people who elected them.
And while i am on the subject “Impeachment is off the Table ” Pelosi and the new administration will not pursue investigations and prosecutions of 8 years of impeachable offenses by these war criminals and hijackers of our constitution and laws of governance.
We are screwed no matter what party we voted for – the only people they look to protect are each other.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:16 pmToday in a closed-door meeting, Senate Democrats voted 42-13 to allow Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
Yep, a closed door meeting says that they don’t want you to know who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. Chicken shit piled upon chicken shit.
And lieberman’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee makes me want to run for the hills.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:17 pm.
Harry Screed said:
Does Harry mean that getting screwed up the behind should mean nothing to America because we should all look forward and never look back at who’s doing the actual screwing?
.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:19 pmTime for Feingold and Kucinich to be elevated.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:19 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
Zimzone Says:
I’d rather see Hillary as leader of the Senate than Sec/State.
I agree but that’s why Obama is trying to hire her as SOC. He needs her out of the way so she won’t champion progressive ideas like Univeral Health care and be an antagonist for his DLC oriented leadership.
You really are utterly and completely full of it, rhf. Making up silly crap like this just makes you look even more foolish.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:19 pmWHERE’S THE CHANGE?
November 18th, 2008 at 1:19 pmLook, I’m really tired of defending the democrats. I defended Jimmy Carter, I defended Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry.
All are better leaders than what the gop offers, period.
You guys are angry about this……so am I and you can bet that there are many in the senate who are angry too.
Still…..calmer heads will prevail. That is what happened in the election that just passed.
Rant and rave here all you want. Write letters and emails. That is your right……to voice your opinion on these matters.
Just don’t condemn the democrats to failure and abandon them because you are angry…….just sayin.
A little time might sort all of this out in a way that you might just say……”hmm, I don’t like it but it makes sense”
Time will tell. It is simply too early to be declaring this administration a failure unless that is your hearts desire.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:20 pmBoy! Reid and his spineless Dems may feel good about what they did today, but excuse me while I puke!
Isn’t it wonderful to see “King 60 Vote” flip Obama, Reid and the sorry spineless Dems the bird? Yeah. That feels good.
News for the Dems on Capital Hill -
Main Street is PISSED! In a single afternoon, before President Elect Obama even gets through the door, Reid and the Dems who voted to leave King Joe alone have instantly sucked the wind out of the sail of eager motivated CHANGE across this country that put Obama in the White House.
Reid must go! We need new – hell, scratch new – we need Leadership Now!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:20 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
RaptureReady Says
November 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
No guts, no glory. Wow, I can really say that not one socialist bill will be passed by the Democratic Congress/Senate.
__________________________________________________________
There you go again. If you’re going to use the word “socialist”, you need to convince us you know what it means.
However, since you used it in this context, I’ll be satisfied if you describe an example of a “socialist” bill — and explaining, of course, why it’s socialist.
But Miss Molly, Daryll does not do explaining, debate or discussion. He only does hypocritical pontificating.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pmCould I make a couple of points here?
First, how did a thread about Lieberman, Reid, and the Senate Democrats get to be about Obama?
And second, why are people jumping ship before Obama has even taken office? On the other hand, those who are going to condemn Obama at the very first sign of his doing or saying something questionable are advised to jump overboard now and save yourselves the trouble later.
Can we contain our criticism of Obama to specific things he says and does, and not condemn him at least until he takes office? It’s a bit early for “Obama lost me”, “Obama is a sellout”, or “That’s the last straw”.
Besides, this wasn’t even something Obama had direct control over, although he does arguably have influence. What’s the problem — Obama didn’t act dictatorial enough? He was expected to expend political capital over this?
On January 20, we will have the swearing-in of the President.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pmOn January 21, we can start swearing at the President. Until then, I’m gonna go out on a limb and give the guy a chance.
Democrat leaders are good at disappointing their constituents.
Nothing has been done about the war or Bush since Democrats won the House in 2006 as leaders of Democratic party promised before the elections of 2006.
America has more soldiers now in Iraq than before 2006,and Bush got more money than before Democrats win in 2006.
Again Democrats appointed Lieberman to his chairmanship against the will of voters who helped Democrats win many more Senate seats in a big majority support. 42 Senators out of 55 is a very big but disappointing margin.
Lieberman is not even popular these days in his own State of Connecticut. Latest polls is showing him at lesser than 34% acceptability.
If Democrats can’t handle this issue, I don’t know what else of importance to voters they can handle….
Did Lieberman apologize…?
I think voters have the right to question the leadership of
November 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pmHarry Reid on this issue.
misshusseinmolly Says:
First, how did a thread about Lieberman, Reid, and the Senate Democrats get to be about Obama?
This is from the NY Times:
I don’t think that’s terribly ambiguous.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:25 pmWayne says:
Daryll does not do explaining, debate or discussion. He only does hypocritical pontificating.
I did that once, but blew out a hamstring.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:25 pmNever been the same since.
:-)
misshusseinmolly Says:
Can we contain our criticism of Obama to specific things he says and does, and not condemn him at least until he takes office? It’s a bit early for “Obama lost me”, “Obama is a sellout”, or “That’s the last straw”.
True, Obama did not make this decision, 41 Senators did, and frankly each and every one of those 41 should be a target for replacement in their next Democratic primaries.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:26 pmObama is building his team now, he’s not waiting for January 21. If progressives are to weigh in, now’s the time.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/us/series/the_new_team/index.html?offset=0&s=newest
November 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pmFred says:
Just don’t condemn the democrats to failure and abandon them because you are angry…….just sayin.
GD voices of reason….
Yes, Fred, let’s give ‘em a piece of our mind as Americans, but not lose sight of the bigger picture. Joe the Traitor has voted with the Dems 90% of the time. Can’t Reid at least make him clean out the Capital Building sh*tters for a week?
It is hard, though, after the past 8 years, to see what appears at face value to be a continual rebuffing by the Democratic Leadership of the will of their party.
However, we owe it to Obama to give him the room to set his own path, his own agenda – and judge him and the Democratic Party on their results.
The Chimp still lurks. Let’s focus on him as he attempts to loot the government and the people on the way out.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pmHarry Reid says he trusts Joe Lieberman. There is no reason to trust either Reid or Lieberman. They both voted for the bankruptcy bill. They will both vote against the interests of the little guy when offered the chance. No suprise here, just more disgust!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pmFred Says:
You guys are angry about this……so am I and you can bet that there are many in the senate who are angry too.
Still…..calmer heads will prevail. That is what happened in the election that just passed.
You becha, I am angry. It is actually time to start putting real pressure on the Democratic leadership though, Fred. The only thing that I see that will accomplish that now, is to get them replaced in the primaries with ral prograssies or start building a viable 3rd party alternative. The time to start building that 3rd party is now, if it is going to be effective in the next 2 election cycles, to really get the message to thse ineffective corporate lackys
November 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pmLet’s be clear. It was not Obama’s job to punish or remove traitor Joe, now “King 60 Vote” from his gavel or the Dem caucus. Frankly, he should never have had to deal with Joe in a leadership position as Obama starts his administration in the first place. It was Reid’s job as Senate Leader to Lead. To represent the change in the Senate that Obama represents on main street and pull joe’s gavel at the very least. Obama gave Reid a chance to lead. Today’s Epic Fail is the result. I would not want this type of so-called “leadership” in the Senate if I had 8 years of Bush crap to clean up. Tell me? Who has Obama’s back? These are going to be VERY tough times ahead. I say again…Who has Obama’s back? Reid? Pelosi? Please.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pmral prograssies = real progressives
Yegads, I need more coffee, lol
November 18th, 2008 at 1:43 pmgummitch Says:
This is from the NY Times:
But Mr. Obama signaled that he did not want Mr. Lieberman thrown out of the Democratic caucus, since expelling the senator could prompt him to align himself with the Republicans
I don’t see how that would be any different from what is happening now.
Lieberman did campaign for McCain and against Obama. That, IMHO, means that Lieberman is already aligned with the Republicans. Unless I am missing something…
November 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pmMaybe the Democrats are following LBJ’s advice.
When faced with a similar situation, LBJ said “It’s better to have him inside the tent p*ssing out than outside the tent p*ssing in.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qi4ezdmO08
November 18th, 2008 at 1:48 pmYeah, just because you don’t chant “you’re either with us or against us” they are considered weak.
Because they believe that the American people have issued a mandate that not even the republicans can ignore…….that we want health care, education and an end to the war in Iraq.
That democrats intend to hold even the republicans to these ideals and to do that we have to be politicians not dictators as the bush admin was…….
I believe the republicans will be hard pressed not to go along with a new progressive agenda in the coming years. If they do not then the people have spoken and they will be replaced and they know it.
democrats are not republicans. Democrats truly do work across the isle and don’t just give lip service to it.
This has been used by rove et al to make it look like dems are weak……it has been proven to be eronious and I think what you are seeing is exactly what the American people at large want to see happening. People in congress working together for a change.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:52 pmOh but Perry,
Lieberman has been in the tent, pissing in the tent.
KICK LIEBERMAN OUT AND SHUT THE DOOR!
Problem solved!
.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:54 pmWayne @121
No, just an edit feature.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:55 pmLOL
Gregor Samsa Says:
gummitch Says:
This is from the NY Times:
But Mr. Obama signaled that he did not want Mr. Lieberman thrown out of the Democratic caucus, since expelling the senator could prompt him to align himself with the Republicans
I don’t see how that would be any different from what is happening now.
Lieberman did campaign for McCain and against Obama. That, IMHO, means that Lieberman is already aligned with the Republicans. Unless I am missing something…
November 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
_______________
Thank you Gregor Samsa – it needs to be repeated. There’s no difference between JL staying or going – he’s proven that! What more did the dems need?
November 18th, 2008 at 1:57 pmWe voted for Obama..we put him in the White House..we wanted change and Lieberman was one of the changes we wanted..we wanted justice…we wanted accountability….we put Obama in..and he is telling us never mind..turn the other cheek.. let them all stay..the torturers, the liars, the murderers, no we won’t investigate or prosecute, (Is Obama afraid of the mean white men?)…Obama will ignore justice..he will do politics as usual..hire the lobbyists, he said he wouldn’t…the same old Alan Greenspan/Friedman economists…be that black man President who is to scared to stand up to the rich white folk….
November 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pmPerry logan Says:
Maybe the Democrats are following LBJ’s advice.
When faced with a similar situation, LBJ said “It’s better to have him inside the tent p*ssing out than outside the tent p*ssing in.”
Except for the fact Lieberman was already pissing in and on the tent. Most people with common sense throw a dog that pisses on the carpet out the door.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pmI cannot actually accuse Reid of having common sense though can I?
I disagree, he has voted with the democrats 90% of the time. Many with a D behind their name don’t have that good of a record…….where’s the outrage?
November 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm[supposed Senate Majority Leader Reid]: – “I understand anger. … I would defy anyone to be angrier than I was. But is this a time when we walk out of here and say, ‘Boy, did we get even?’”
Look, azo: You don’t have to be angry (particularly when you aren’t doing anything about it when that is in your power). I can handle the anger part. I’m angry at Lieberman for his back-stabbing. And now I’m angry at you for letting him get by with it. GFY.
Cheers,
November 18th, 2008 at 2:05 pmDemocrats only need their constituents for money or a vote. When will they confide in them for anything else?
November 18th, 2008 at 2:06 pmHarry is wrong, AGAIN!
Speak for yourself. I personally am not naive enought to not understand that justice in America is for sale……see OJ.
The change we voted for was not to put people in jail, it was to end the war and behave as civilized people instead of as empire builders.
We voted for health care, living wages, taxing the wealthy who benifit from our nations prosperity, a new rational forign policy, an end to torure, etc.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pmI just sent this message to Reid through his Nevada constituent contact portal. It wont do any good but it was helpful in reducing my blood pressure if even for a minute
November 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Fred Says:
Yeah, just because you don’t chant “you’re either with us or against us” they are considered weak.
Chanting jingoistic slogans and cheerleading is for the right side pundits and watercarriers. Dems are not very diciplined compared to the repubs, and the Dems don’t seem to hold grudges as much as the right side – so they are considered weak. The Rovian way of campaigning has solidified these feeling towards Dems (San Francisco liberals!) so the right side uses the schoolboy tactic of name calling to get their point across.
The Dems should have governed for America in this decision about Holy Joe. Instead, they validated lots of peoples opinions concerning the incestual relationships which live on in the Senate. They want to save themselves first and foremost – America second.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pmToday in a closed-door meeting, Senate Democrats voted 42-13 to allow Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee,
People, did no one do the math? 42+13 = 55. Since when are their 55 Democrats in the Senate?
November 18th, 2008 at 2:52 pmHillary is the Junior Senator from New York. She doesn’t have enough seniority to get a big time leadership role in the Senate. I understand that’s why she’s interested at all in the Secy of State job.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pmCorporate “democrats” are mostly just traitors to democracy and the rule of law, turncoats and whores for bush fascism. Lieberman, Pelosi, Reid: human garbage. Where’s the garbage truck? We have a large load of garbage to be picked up ASAP.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:56 pmProgressives want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Conservatives stay in power by being loyal. Most voters aren’t as progressive or informed as the people who come to blogs. The Democrats are far from perfect but they at least make an attempt to support people more than corporations. Republicans proudly support corporations.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:09 pmthe definition of spineless.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:28 pmRaptureReady Says:
No guts, no glory. Wow, I can really say that not one socialist bill will be passed by the Democratic Congress/Senate.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Sure you can say that. Its ignorant and meaningless but then you are far too stupid to know what Socialism even is. You are a brainwashed moron. I flush things everymorning that could bring more to a discussion than you ever could. Thanks for the free clown show though.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm______
dbadass Says:
I still want to see whatever is in those pictures Lieberman keeps in that safe
November 18th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
______
You all must think the Dems are a corrupt lot, as often as that blackmail excuse comes up to explain unpopular actions.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:36 pmDon’t give a penny to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. If you are going to donate to Franken, or Martin, do it direct to their committees. Screw these dorks. Pick the ones you like, donate directly to them but not through the Democratic Committee. Harry Reid should be dumped. What a pansy. If he was a boxer, he must have thrown a lot of fights.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:37 pmNo, we know the republicans are a corrupt lot…..see ted stephens, etc.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:04 pm______
Fred Says:
No, we know the republicans are a corrupt lot…..see ted stephens, etc.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
______
Granted, but what all about all those Dems that are supposedly being blackmailed every time they vote contrary to the wishes of the left?
November 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pmState of the Spineless/CorporaDemocrats:
The topic is the $140 billion tax cut for merged banks, done with the swipe of Hank Paulson’s pen:
Staffers with Senate Finance Committee chair, Max Baucus, a Democrat, reportedly asked that an administration briefing on the tax code change be kept secret. One congressional aide said, “We’re all nervous about saying this was illegal because of our fears about the marketplace. To the extent we want to try to publicly stop this, we’re going to be gumming up some important deals.”
NAOMI KLEIN: Right. I mean, this is—that’s an incredible statement, Amy, because really what they’re saying is, we can’t afford to enforce the law, because there is an economic crisis, that somehow, because there’s an economic prices, legality is a luxury that Congress can’t afford. That is a very scary statement.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/17/naomi_klein_on_the_bailout_profiteers
November 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pmThis makes the Democrats looks weak.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:56 pmActually upright left the pictures thing is a joke. Sorry you missed the concept
November 18th, 2008 at 5:01 pm______
dbadass Says:
Actually upright left the pictures thing is a joke. Sorry you missed the concept
November 18th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
______
Yeah, I’m sure all the others were joking as well. ;)
November 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm______
republicans hate facts Says:
That would make them the victims of coercion and unethical and illegal behaviors. Funny how conservatives keep showing up when illegal acts get done, and thanks for pointing out another case of just how desperate, immoral and inept your side is.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
______
So after taking care of those responsible for the coercion etc, how about the problem of the Dems some seem to think are so susceptible to blackmail?
As for “my side,” I voted almost equally among Dems and Reps. Some people consider the candidate rather than just the party. ;)
November 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pmThat must have been quite a sight today: 43 democrat senators bending over and kissing each other’s asses. I wonder how much lipstick was applied.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pmLieberman will reward the Dems stupidity in trusting him by stabbing them in the heart and snarl an Obama agenda with his DHS/Govt. Affairs committee chairmanship.
Make no mistake, the Dems have basically given Lieberman veto-type power over any legislation he doesn’t like if it has even the most minute connection to DHS.
Don’t expect any bold Obama initiatives to get through a Lieberman committee, especially relating to warrantless spying, torture as official US policy, indefinite detention and suspension of Habeas Corpus.
As I wrote about on my blog, this is the Senate Dems “Heck Of A Job Brownie” moment as it relates to rewarding the spectacularly incompetent Senate DHS Committee chairmanship of Joe Lieberman, with his being loath to hold Bush Jr accountable for W’s inefficient and lethal response during, and immediately after, Katrina hit perhaps the most infuriating of Lieberman’s clear failures.
There’s absolutely nothing the Dems, or Obama, will be able to do to stop Lieberman once he’s assigned his DHS gavel, and they’ll deserve every bit of grief not-so-holy-Joe will be more than happy to throw the Dems way for their unwarranted show of trust with an obvious backbiter like himself.
Tactically, I’ve never seen a political move so solely dependent upon one person’s “character”, “integrity” or “honor”, especially when that person hasn’t done anything positive in those regards to indicate trust in him is warranted.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:23 pmLiebermann told the other senators that their checks were in the mail.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:49 amWhen faced with a similar situation, LBJ said “It’s better to have him inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.”
– I think you’ll find they’re keeping that line for the (hopefully upcoming) controversy over continuing Chertoff’s appointment as head of DHS.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:35 amI can’t do any more than agree with the #1 post, This is BULLSHIT!!!
Way to alienate your [fired-up] base right off the bat! And like I wrote on Twitter, Why not just make him Defense Secretary? Give Bush & Cheney Medals of Freedom for ignoring the Constitution?
Get rid of these self-serving scumbags! DAMN I’m pissed..
November 19th, 2008 at 4:44 amWhat in heaven’s name are the clod “leadership” of the Dems up to? These congenital capitulators shouldn’t be in the lofty positions of leadership of a kennel, let alone the US Congress. I have one message for the hapless Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Diane Feinstein, and their happy band of genuflectors – DROP DEAD ALREADY.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:40 am“Leaders” like Harry Reid should share the blame for our current financial predicament. This spineless twat allowed the passage of bills that have stolen the futures for too many of our best. Whilst in the minority he offered token resistance to Frist and his band of crooks and allowed the SCOTUS appointments of the likes of Roberts and Alito. With marginal authority he allowed the appointment of Mukasey as AG. Now, with the increase given by the people, he’s pretending that the magic number of 60 is all so important that he is forced to accept a poisonous reptile like Joe Lieberman within the tent. Fact is Harry Reid is not a leader and the sooner the Democratic Party come to realize that the better. We are in dire need for real leadership in this country.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am______
sicnarfe Says:
“Leaders” like Harry Reid should share the blame for our current financial predicament. This spineless twat allowed the passage of bills that have stolen the futures for too many of our best. Whilst in the minority he offered token resistance to Frist and his band of crooks and allowed the SCOTUS appointments of the likes of Roberts and Alito. With marginal authority he allowed the appointment of Mukasey as AG. Now, with the increase given by the people, he’s pretending that the magic number of 60 is all so important that he is forced to accept a poisonous reptile like Joe Lieberman within the tent. Fact is Harry Reid is not a leader and the sooner the Democratic Party come to realize that the better. We are in dire need for real leadership in this country.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
______
Easy, there. Bashing Reid is allowed, but assiging any responsibility for the financial mess to Dems is strictly forbidden. Stay in line.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:33 pm