Lieberman refuses to apologize: ‘You can take from the word “regret” what you will.’
By on Nov 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Lieberman refuses to apologize: ‘You can take from the word “regret” what you will.’
Speaking with Meet The Press’s Tom Brokaw today, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) refused to apologize for actively campaigning against and harshly criticizing Barack Obama, saying only that he “regrets” “some of the things” he said:
BROKAW: I hear the word regret, but not the word apologize.
LIEBERMAN: Well, I do — I regret it. I mean, you know, I’m going forward. You can take from the word “regret” what you will. I wish I had not said some of the things I’ve said. But again, we all do it.
Watch it:
Though Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) had said that Lieberman would need to apologize in order to keep the chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee, he has so far refused to offer an actual apology for his actions.
Update Lieberman also told Brokaw that he had called Obama but had not heard back -- though incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Vice President-elect Biden had spoken with Lieberman. "He's busy," Lieberman explained, referring to Obama. "In some sense he talked to me through Harry Reid and his spokespeople," he added.
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What a self absorbed d-bag. As a former Connecticut resident, born and raised, why do I need to apologize for my former state?? What the hell were you thinking….???
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pmBut again, we all do it.
No Joe, you are wrong!
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pmLieberman refuses to apologize
– - I’ve NEVER known a lawyer to apologize.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pmMethinks hiding behind the “we all do it” excuse is rather cowardly.
It is clear to me Lieberman will actively try to sabotage any initiative by an Obama administration.
He should be stripped of any position of responsibility, then kicked out, so he can go where his heart truly lies and join his fellow neo-cons.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 pmOld Joe is simply a callous tyrant
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 pmLieberman refuses to apologize
– - Joe the Regretter.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pmanyone else having a problem with the sound?
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 pmObama didn’t do it………that’s one of the main reasons he won.
Yeah, I wouldn’t sit by the phone waiting for that return call if I were you joe.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pmI kind of regret doing the following….
*pushing Joe LIEberman down the stairs*
I mean, really, I didn’t want to do it, but I had to, because it’s what the people of this country wanted at the time I did it.
See?
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pmLiverman is so into himself he can’t see the concrete wall he’s about to run into.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:21 pm“He’s busy,” Lieberman explained, referring to Obama. “In some sense he talked to me through Harry Reid and his spokespeople,” he added.
In some sense the entire country talked to you, Joe, by repudiating your BFF, John McCain. But you’re such an arrogant dick that you didn’t bother to listen.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pmThat’s O.K., Droopy, we will do the regretting for you.
¶ AIO
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 pmThe people of Connecticut regret not kicking LIEberman out of America’s lives in 2006 and also regret not demanding a full examination of the election results that year, which incidentally at one point in the evening had the same vote count as an election Joe LIEberman was in years before. Seems the Sec. of State was just stealing it for joe that year!
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:31 pmIn watching that interview this morning, he reinforced my low opinion of him — he is a self-centered, egotistical, untrustworthy, disloyal gasbag.
No apology. Little backtracking of his nasty and derisive comments about Obama of recent months. Still praising McCain (after all Liebermann can’t backtrack on that can he?).
I am glad Obama has not spoken to him except through his staff — Lieberman is an ingrate.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pmSeems we’re going to have to rely ont he voters of Conneticut to eventually get rid of Lieberman once and for all.
I’m really disappointed that the Democrats caved, but not surprised.
Well, we managed to get Obama elected, but our work is far from over. Now we have to start cleaning up the mess in Congress…
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 pmLieberman refuses to apologize
- – I’ve NEVER known a lawyer to apologize.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Lieberputz was a dickhead long before he became a lawyer…
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:36 pmI guess “in some sense” joe LIEberman “talks” to me every time I curse at him under my breadth too.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pmMy only hope in this situation is that the Senate Dems are waiting until all the new members are actually seated before pulling the rug out from under Holy Joe.
It is unconscionable that they’ve allowed LIEberman to keep his plum assignment. It is extremely depressing.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pmOf all the crap that this smirky, slimy, disingenuous prick puts out, his lack of a willingness to apologize for his B.S. is something I can actually respect. He wouldn’t mean it. He doesn’t feel it.
WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO APOLOGIZE FOR IF HE DOESN’T FEEL THE SLIGHTEST SENSE OF REAL REMORSE FOR WHAT HE DID?
Anybody? Is there really satisfaction to be derived from hearing him offer up one more dollopful of Leibercrap?
Where does this craving come from to hear “apologies” from people who don’t have a shred of sincerity backing those apologies up? Why can’t everybody accept that the thing they really and truly stand behind is the thing they did that pissed everyone off? Just badgering some jerkoff until they give in and say the words that everyone wants to hear hardly seems satisfying.
HoJo would do what he did again, hoping just as fervently for a McBush victory. HoJo knows that. Obama knows that. He has not changed his stripes. Hopefully, What Obama has in mind is to provid enough rope to HoJo to hang himself with, (professionally), and hopefully HoJo will use the slack up quickly.
Maybe we will get some satisfaction from seeing that happen but there’s no satisfaction, (to me), hearing him blather out some baloney to gain grudging forgiveness from a group of people he thinks are just as full of shit as we think he is.
Screw the culture of apology. Take them at their word and look at their walk, not their talk. Life will make more sense.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 pmEverybody who’s surprised, raise your hands.
… yeah, me too.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pmIt is unconscionable that they’ve allowed LIEberman to keep his plum assignment. It is extremely depressing.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
They are only doing what, under similar circumstances, they’d hope would be their own treatment.
It’s the Incumbent’s Golden Rule…
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pmLieberman is so far up the Republican’s butt he didn’t see this one coming. Obama put him in a corner and will play him like a piano as he did with John McCain. I guess Obama learned quickly from the Clintons. Now Lieberman will either cooperation or fold. As for his buddy McCain well he’s looking at not winning re election as his States she’s their Attorney General leave to head Homeland Security. Both Lieberman/McCain hugged Satan and now will pay the price as all do in the end.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 pmSorry, but I don’t get the premise of this post. If the dems refuse to hold him accoutable, why should he apologize?
From his point of view, everything is hunky-dory. Just like the rest of the criminal cabal behind dur chimpfurher, the dems have refused to take anyone to task.
And a “progressive” site wants blog about a lack or an apology?
Just like the neocon/repugs/criminal cabal in WH, the dems gave him a free pass.
So who is the real problem here?
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 pmI really loathe this person!
Take him back, please!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pmAn under the rock sort of critter. Put him back.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmThe whole show was disturbing. I haven’t heard that many “unprecedented’s” since Hurricane Katrina. The response seems as competent. After $4.28 trillion in federal interventions, credit remains locked up? Systemic risk remains on the table.
James Baker called Obama’s appointments “center right” within the Democratic party. When a Carlyle Group insider likes the Cabinet, that sends up my warning antennae.
Ricard Daely qualified Obama’s jobs plan as “creating or saving 2.5 million jobs”. That’s some sandbagging.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:59 pmstateofthedivision Says:
That’s some sandbagging.
Yeah, you would know sandbagging, since the subject of the thread is Lieberman, but you want to complain about Obama, even though he is not yet President and cannot actually do anything until sworn in.
Now the question is who is the biggest putz, you or Lieberman.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmWhat a disappointing morning. I heard numerous pundits say Obama will likely postpone his paltry 3% tax increase on people making over $250,000 a year.
Nancy Pelosi berated the Big 3 auto execs for a lack of a viability plan. Meanwhile CitiGroup, having already pocketed $25 billion in taxpayer money, races toward failure. Citi says they have plenty of capital and don’t want to change their business model.
Goldman Sachs got $10 billion, but their stock continues to fall as the market is unsure of how they will make money in the future.
I can’t tell the difference between the private jets landing in Denver for the DNC and the ones those evil auto execs took to D.C. Yet, Denver riders slammed their Detroit counterparts.
It seems the red and blue team expect Detroit to race quickly to the lowest global common denominator on worker pay & benefits.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 pmWayne, I’m still waiting on your Politico apology. But don’t smile, I’m not holding my breath.
Weeekends are difficult as there is no news summary post to use. If you paid attention, you’d know that’s where I put my “off topic” posts.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm.
… I think he regrets picking his nose.
.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 pmIt seems TRAITORS do well in the USA…
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 pmWell, duh: it’s Lieberman. What could any reasonable person have expected?
Contrition? A claim of responsibility? An acknowledgment of some less than stellar behavior on his part? Come on, kids: it’s Lieberman, for God’s sake. He is a pathetic excuse for an elected politician, by any reasonable measure. This is simply another sycophantic reinforcement of that observation.
Someone jot a memo to the Senate Majority Leader, eh? Expressing our ‘regret’ that he chose to instruct members of the caucus to forgive and forget. A pathetic excuse for a leader, apparently.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pmstateofthedivision Says:
Wayne, I’m still waiting on your Politico apology. But don’t smile, I’m not holding my breath.
Wow, you really are a dork.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 pmHopefully you don’t forget to breathe.
Explain exactly why you think I owe you an apology?
And you are still off topic.
Homeland security is a big joke anyway! Millions of dollars are just being wasted.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pmBy the way, for what it’s worth, Oregon’s new Senator elect Jeff Merkley voted to remove Lieberman. Maybe, there is hope…
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Merkley
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pmLiebermann took stands on both Renewable Energy and Climate Change. (see article)
I am willing to go along with President Elect Obama’s plan for him here, and move past this issue (which I see as nothing more than juvenile “name calling”) to address more fundamental ones: like why has the credit crunch not eased in spite of this “bailout”? The TED and Libor have both improved. So what?
I don’t care a whit about Liebermann’s apology, or his regrets at this point. It’s water under the bridge. We have Democrats in power who will/can not move forward a Progressive agenda. Time to vote them all out, and arguing about it today isn’t going to make it happen today. Monday Obama should announce his economic pics and I’m hoping the markets will show some sign of stabilization. Citibank is now up for sale, you know, the one that couldn’t possibly fail? Hah.
“Why daddy went to jail” (Keith Olbermann quote), indeed.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 pmIt seems the red and blue team expect Detroit to race quickly to the lowest global common denominator on worker pay & benefits.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
yup, it’s the ‘race to the bottom.’
I betch things will brighten up considerably AFTER the oligarchs and elites manage to kill off the UAW…
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 pmHomeland security is a big joke anyway! Millions of dollars are just being wasted.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
were it merely Homeland Security, it wouldn’t matter….but the committee has another charge: Governmental Affairs. Google it, and you’ll get some idea of the size oand extent of the hen-house St. Barry’s loosed that lying vermin, Jaffa Joe, onto…
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:36 pmI don’t expect an apology, as it would require you to remember what you upchucked on your key board.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/20/thinkfast-november-20-2008/#comment-5351316
I expect you to excoriate TP.
Also, if I seemed harsh, I regret it.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmI thought this was actually a pretty thorough humiliation of Lieberman by Brokaw. Old Holy Joe squirmed through the whole thing and was especially pathetic when he had to admit that Obama has not talked to him. The “I’m moving forward” line was also pretty sad.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmPost #39 is for Wayne. I apologize to TP posters for not making that clear.
Hopefully, TP’s musical post phenomenon will not reoccur.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 pmThey are only doing what, under similar circumstances, they’d hope would be their own treatment.
It’s the Incumbent’s Golden Rule…
Or they’re betting his constituents realize, that he lies to achieve political objectives (like electing his buddy McCain) with such apparent ease, that how can they believe anything he says, about anything? He just admitted to lying, and it makes his constituents look like chumps for re-electing him.
Sort of a reverse-Stevens Strategy.
——————————
stateofthedivision Says:
What a disappointing morning. I heard numerous pundits say Obama will likely postpone his paltry 3% tax increase on people making over $250,000 a year.
The ones I heard said he was just going to let the Bush tax cuts expire, and then see at that point what to do next.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:59 pmRegret means “knows he should apologize but doesn’t have the guts to.”
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pmstateofthedivision Says:
You linked to Politico that day, a right wing rag and you want ME to apologize for pointing that out?
Wow.
OK, I am sorry I pointed out you linked to a right wing rage and you thought it was based on facts.
Feel better now?
**shakes head**
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pmThere would be absolutely no political damage whatsoever to formally apologizing, and in fact it would help him with anybody he hopes to get votes from in Connecticut 2012. This is just a personal refusal.
I didn’t want an apology from him anyways, since I know he wouldn’t mean it. I just want him off the Homeland Security committee chairmanship. That’s all.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:13 pmWayne, can you read? TP linked to the same right wing rag. Like I said, I expect you to give the TP staff the same guff you gave me. That’s all.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:25 pmstateofthedivision Says:
Wayne, can you read? TP linked to the same right wing rag. Like I said, I expect you to give the TP staff the same guff you gave me. That’s all.
I send TP an email every time I see they got it wrong, even if they have a typo or when they leave a racist post from a troll up and even when I think they hyped something improperly in a headline, etc.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:31 pmBetrayal means never having to say you’re sorry.
Thanks for posting this. I’ll take your word for what he says — I haven’t the stomach for listening to Lieberman. I’m more comfortable watching his friend’s Sarah’s pals guillotining turkeys.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pmLieberman should be the Ambassador to Israel. Or Iraq.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:21 pmHow about Ambassador to Kazakhstan?
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 pmlieberman is a loose cannon.
“We all do it”
Obama didn’t do it. President Obama didn’t lie like you lieberman.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:31 pmI’m reminded of a gutted fish – their mouths still move even after you’ve decapitated them and removed their entrails. Time to toss the head in the garbage bag, America.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 pmLieberman is a PIG…
…which makes him extremely un-kosher as far as his religious background is concerned.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 pmWhat a sorry excuse for a human being!
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:22 pmJoe Lieberman did what he thought was right, not for his party but for his country. i’m not saying he was right, I’m saying that to hate someone for doing what they believe to be right only shows a lack a principles on the part of the hater. A man who would publicly kill his career for his beliefs is a man to be respected regardless of whether his opinion coincides with yours.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:34 amGollem….aka…LIEberman is so out of touch. Can’t wait for Conneticut to vote the old fart out and pick someone with a conscience and ethics.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:14 am