Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Joe Won't Go
From TPM:
Senator Harry Reid just spoke to reporters after the private caucus meeting with Dems over Joe Lieberman's fate, and he confirmed it: Lieberman will not be stripped of his Homeland Security chairmanship, because the "vast majority" of the Democratic caucus wants him to stay.
"This was not a time for retribution," Reid said, quoting an unnamed Senator. We're "moving forward," Reid added.
Lieberman was removed from the Environment and Public Works Committee, a largely meaningless punishment, a committee where (unlike Homeland Security) he has no differences with Dems.
Asked about liberal "anger" towards Lieberman, Reid said: "I pretty well understand anger. I would defy anyone to be more angry than I was."
But he added: "If you will look at the problems that we face as a nation, is this a time we walk out of here saying boy did we get even?"
Sen. Reid, I was angry with Joe, very angry. To me, the Senate vote was not about getting even; it was about consequences for the vicious and stupid words he spoke about the Democratic candidate during the campaign. I expect the vote was secret because some of the senators are ashamed of their votes.
Democratic senators, this was wrong, just plain wrong. You still don't get it.
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This is not a comment.
ReplyDeleteRmj, you are, once again, free to comment. I've given up the pretense and stopped flogging myself. I've done penance enough.
ReplyDeletePublic humiliation is an excellent antidote to the poisonous sin of pride.
Even with their biggest election victory since 1964, it looks like Democrats are having a hard time of giving up old habits, like quitting the fight and surrendering even before it starts.
ReplyDeleteRabbits and Democrats are shy timid creatures.
Joe Lieberman on CNN: Obama wrong!
ReplyDeletewatch here
Not so bad! What does this mean?
Varniklili, I could not watch the video from your link.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe 'em, Counterlight? No spines. I read somewhere that the other Dem senators really like Lieberman. It wasn't about liking, either. It was about standing up. But when you have no spines, you can't stand up. I'm banging my head against the keyboard.
ReplyDeleteThere's an old saying that vengeance is a dish best served cold.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I think this is the politically correct decision. It robs the GOP of a "Look, they can't even get along with themselves, how are we supposed to trust them" argument.
Now is not the time for political retribution. Now say two years from now....
And I think Sen. Joe is going to find it much harder to get his phone calls taken for a while too.
This is Chicago style politics, always watch the OTHER hand, that's where the action is.
JP
JP, I appreciate your thoughts and your reminder of Chicago-style politics, but I fear that the senators will never do it. The Democratic senators have disappointed me so many times that I'm surprised that I had any hope at all that Lieberman would be removed from his chairmanship.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are right, but I fear otherwise. I don't see it as retribution, but as calling him to account for reprehensible words and actions.
They think they can control him "owing" them better than if they make him go off in a pout. Looks like his voters will take care of him in the next round of elections anyway. As to his effectiveness-- that is not a consideration in holding a chair -- so pathetic -
ReplyDeletewhile in theory I understand the decision, I don't think you can allow him to get away with that kind of behavior. He went beyond endorsing McCain, he willingly participated in some very ugly innuendos. I for one would rather struggle without his "help" and give him the kick in the arse he deserves.
ReplyDeleteWatch who you're badmouthing, Counterlight.
ReplyDeleteAnn, I thought surely he would be defeated in the previous election, but it did not happen. Perhaps they have in mind to twist his arm when they need his vote.
ReplyDeleteAFeather, I could understand his supporting McCain, but he was so vicious and untruthful about Obama. Maybe the Dems have a plan, but I doubt it.
I think this is similar to the ABC ignoring the actions of the four schismatic dioceses in TEC. Sometimes ya gotsta kick some people in the butt or they just does stupid stuff. Like Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller and Big John David and Bob "the Donut" Duncan and "Iker the Priss" and that mousey guy in Quincy.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I think this is the politically correct decision. It robs the GOP of a "Look, they can't even get along with themselves, how are we supposed to trust them" argument.
ReplyDeleteI do appreciate the reference to the Left Hand of Chicago Politics: thanks.
Still, how can "we" apply to the Democrats and the Senator from Likud? Nor am I sure who the "we" is that can't trust the Dems if party leaders give Lieberman what he very clearly asked for this year: to be bounced out on his arse.
As time passes, I appreciate the technical artistry of the Republicans making Wholly Joe their candidate in '06 without anything so crude as making it official.
Hey, we did our best; Deo volente, we won't have a chance to defeat him in '12. He'll be in Dubai with the rest of the gang.
Johnieb, there is no "we". I watched him on the tee vee, and he looked quite uncomfortable. Good. He should be.
ReplyDeleteBut the fawning lot of the rest of the Dems made me sick. The only small good that can possibly come of this is that we will be spared the sight of Joe the martyr. He's quite good in that role.
Yeah; he's always been drawn to playing the victim.
ReplyDeleteWe agree on the Senate Dems, with a few exceptions. Obama, of course, gave them the permission, which will be good for him; he looks good, the Senate looks ridiculous, and Holy Joe owes him big. It's not just the economic crisis that makes me think of FDR; I can easily imagine him doing exactly the same thing, in the same way.
Of course, Joe's self-righteousness may drive him to welsh, in which case he will soon be sleeping with the fishes, politically speaking, if my comparason holds up.
With my extremely MINIMAL PhotoShopping {*} skills (compared to Crazy Arse), I made the following visual comment (on my homeboard) last night.
ReplyDeleteI'm still quite proud of it (or couldn't you tell? *g*)
{*} I don't even have real Adobe PhotoShop---just a cheap knock-off.
JCF, very good.
ReplyDelete