Comments on: Lieberman

By: Let Lieberman Live - Brave New Films press

Let Lieberman Live - Brave New Films press — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:41:52 +0000

[...] that they do the same. Joe Klein, who refers to the “flagrantly dreadful” Lieberman, writes that allowing him to keep his committee chairmanship but revoking his seniority is “far more [...]

By: Hammerlock

Hammerlock — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:17:22 +0000

billie--Reid's best answer is what's he's already said: the subcom chair/committee member is the most lieberman will see. If he chooses to reject that and gets a caucus deal from mcconnell, he'll get a whopping consolation prize of....ranking minority member on a committee. Which is even less prestigious and influential.
.
In short, Lieberman's options are jack and sh!t. And jack left town.

By: billiecat

billiecat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:26:03 +0000

Of course, since this was all written, Lieberman indicates he thinks he's got a hand to play here. From Politico: . "Senator Lieberman's preference is to stay in the caucus, but he's going to keep all his options open," a Lieberman aide said. "McConnell has reached out to him and at this stage his position is he wants to remain in the caucus but losing the chairmanship is unacceptable." . At this point, Joe Klein, don't you think Reid's best answer is "don't let the door hit you on the [expletive deleted] on your way out?"

By: billiecat

billiecat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:18:45 +0000

Trying to free this from the moderatron . . . Rusty, good to see you! I was worried you and your other personalities had committed ritual seppuku Tuesday night. As for Lieberman, looking at the Sentate seniority list he's 29th, below Chuck Dodd, the senior Senator from Connecticut. That means he has no power over appointments in CT, and seniority has very little other perks. So letting him keep his seniority will have little practical effect. So if that were all there was to this issue Reid and Obama can afford to be generous and while it's fun watching Lieberman's posterior tighten ("The election is over, and I completely agree with (Democratic) President-elect (Barack) Obama . . . " LOVE it!) stripping him of his chairmanship is all that really is needed. The real issue is if he acts as a "mole" in the Democratic caucus. There was some concern that he did so during the campaign. Of course, his best buddies on the R side, McCain and Graham, don't look likely to be the toast of the town over there, either, so the risk may be minimal. If Reid doesn't kick Lieberman to the curb, there it is.

By: edtalkingbird

edtalkingbird — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:40:47 +0000

Am I missing something? Didn't Leiberman run and get elected as an Independent? Good, let him caucus with the Independents. Then elevate a real Demo to the chair currently wasted on Connecticut Joe.

By: billiecat

billiecat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:32:55 +0000

Rusty, good to see you! I was worried you and your other personalities had committed ritual seppuku Tuesday night. As for Lieberman, looking at the Sentate seniority list he's 29th, below Chuck Dodd, the senior Senator from Connecticut. That means he has no power over appointments in CT, and seniority has very little other perks. So letting him keep his seniority will have little practical effect. So if that were all there was to this issue Reid and Obama can afford to be generous and while it's fun watching Lieberman's butt tighten ("The election is over, and I completely agree with (Democratic) President-elect (Barack) Obama . . . " LOVE it!) stripping him of his chairmanship is all that really is needed. The real issue is if he acts as a "mole" in the Democratic caucus. There was some concern that he did so during the campaign. Of course, his best buddies on the R side, McCain and Graham, don't look likely to be the toast of the town over there, either, so the risk may be minimal. If Reid doesn't kick Lieberman to the curb, there it is.

By: joyomama

joyomama — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:30:32 +0000

One of Leiberman's roles is chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection (under the committee on Environment & Public Works). You'd think this might be a body with some interest in greenwashing and such, but they are not THAT interested; their last posted hearing is November, 2007. Given that, I'm all for replacing Joe with someone who might actually do something. After all, if the new President wants to empower and engage individual action on the important issues of our time, this subcommittee might want to get up to speed.

Posted from my soapbox at: http://nicewhitelady.blogspot.com/2008/11/election-connection.html

By: whenrepublicansattack

whenrepublicansattack — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:17:18 +0000

Joe Klein's suggestion is not only humane but practical. Anything harsher than these recommendations will generate media flurries (particularly from Fox and Fiends) and distract from the important issues that must be handled quickly and thoughtfully.

By: bitterpill8

bitterpill8 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:58:53 +0000

Joe: I have come to this late. I don't buy your "let's be generous" meme. This man campaigned at McCain's side when McCain made some of his harshest charges against Obama. He attended the RNC Convention and spoke there (shades of Zell Hell). I don't want Democrats to be magnanimous with this man. He did not accept his defeat by Ned Lamont with an iota of grace and turned to the Republicans in Conn. This guy is a serial offender. No: he should be given no chair, no seniority and keep his independent status. For once I want Democrats to make it clear that on this issue going along to get along is pure bs.

By: southernbell49

southernbell49 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:38:15 +0000

I definitely think Dems should be gracious. The kerfuffle with Lieberman was/is a high profile affair and it doesn't hurt for the public to see us being magnanimous toward Lieberman, it reinforces a message that we are serious about the country's business and have no intention of acting like vindictive Republicans.