Dem Angst Escalates (Lieberman becoming a big problem)

[kskiska]

A group of Senate Democrats is growing increasingly angry about Sen. Joe Lieberman’s (D-Conn.) campaign tactics since he lost the Democratic primary last week.

If he continues to alienate his colleagues, Lieberman could be stripped of his seniority within the Democratic caucus should he defeat Democrat Ned Lamont in the general election this November, according to some senior Democratic aides.

In recent days, Lieberman has rankled Democrats in the upper chamber by suggesting that those who support bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq by a certain date would bolster terrorists’ planning attacks against the U.S. and its allies. He also sparked resentment by saying last week on NBC’s Today show that the Democratic Party was out of the political mainstream.

(snip)

“I think there’s a lot of concern,” said a senior Democratic aide who has discussed the subject with colleagues. “I think the first step is if the Lieberman thing turns into a side show and hurts our message and ability to take back the Senate, and the White House and the manipulate him, there are going to be a lot of unhappy people in our caucus.”

more…
http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/081606/news1.html

[eleny]

1. Cool! Some pressure is in order

[caligirl]

40. I called Reids office with the following msg: Punish them. Punish those

senators like Salazar and Carper who are hurting the dem party by supporting Liberman now. Take away their funding take away their committees and make them feel the pain of their decision against the party interests. This is more than about power, this is about young American mens lives and America's reputation in Europe. Young men are loosing their lives because of people like Lieberman and Bush. So punish Salazar and Carper and others who support Lieberman.

[TrueFunkSoldier]

43. The Dems need to whip their members into shape...

just like DeLay did, but obviously not in the mean-spirited, corrupt way that he did it. In other words, if LIEberman is no longer a Democrat, then why wait 'til the election??? Strip him of his committee status NOW. Now I realize that to do so now would be used as a tool against the Dems, but since LIEberman is no longer a Dem...well...you get my point.

[patrice]

2. Someone should ask Lieberman this question:

Take the whole story, keep every fact the same, but switch the names, Lieberman and Lamont, what would he think of Lamont under those circumstances?

[Hawkeye-X]

3. He needs to have his committee assignment stripped ANYWAY

because he's nothing but a worthless punk for the Republicans.

[JohMunich99]

17. Bingo!

[saigon68]

21. He is delusional and a TOOL of the NeoCons

He is increasingly mouthing the line of the Chimpanzee and Cheney.

He is a modern day Benedict Arnold, without Arnold's past credentials

[kskiska]

4. Here's the danger:

(snip)

The issue of Lieberman’s seniority would arise most dramatically if Lieberman wins re-election and Democrats recapture control of the chamber. That would slot Lieberman to take over as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the panel primarily responsible for investigating the executive branch.

[beltanefauve]

6. I didn't realize that!

Is THIS the reason the Repugs seem to suddenly be supportive of this so-called, "Democrat"-turned "Independent"?

[leesa]

14. They aren't SUDDENLY supportive of him. He's been their's for a long time

They do need to protect that position though.

[DURHAM D]

7. What if the Repugs keep control of the Senate - Joe gets

elected as an Independent. He changes his affiliation to (R) because they offer him any committee chair he wants ? Slime ball Joe then becomes the most powerful man in the Senate.

Everyone most slowly through this process - nothing is what it seems.

[OregonBlue]

36. Is that what KKKarl called him about the day he lost? Have a little

proposal for you?

[54anickel]

10. DOH!!! Well that puts it all into a new light. Thank you for pointing

that out. I hadn't bothered to read the entire article before perusing the posts.

[Lochloosa]

26. If Lieberman wins that is no guaranty that he will get his choice

committees. He will have won as an Independent not a Democrat.

He says he will caucus with the Dems if he wins but they don't have to give him the committees that he is in line with as a Dem.

[Matilda]

33. So he would lose his seniority if he ran as a Republican,

(which would be more honest than running as an Independent?)

But would he hold seniority as an Independent?

[Jawja]

35. But if he wins

re-election as an Independent and the Dems take back the Senate, Lieberman should NOT Chair any committee! He will not be a Democrat! Those Committee chairs should go to Senior DEMOCRAT Senators!

[Bluestar]

5. Wimp Ass Democrats!

What are they waiting for? Surely they have some skeletons in old Joe's closet they can drag out to threaten him to get out of the race. I can't believe how wimpy our Dem leaders are.

[KurtNYC]

Here it is -

When a Senator’s wife works for one of the capital’s largest lobby shops—and others have—appearances tend to matter. In this case, something happened immediately that didn’t look very good.

Mrs. Lieberman signed up with Hill & Knowlton in March 2005. The firm’s clients included GlaxoSmithKline, the British pharmaceutical giant that manufactures flu vaccines along with many other drugs. In April 2005, Mr. Lieberman introduced a bill that would award an array of new government “incentives” to companies like GSK to produce more vaccines—notably patent extensions on other products, at a cost of billions to governments and consumers.

That legislation provoked irritated comment by his hometown newspaper, the New Haven Register. In an editorial headlined “Lieberman Crafts Drug Company Perk,” the Register noted that his bill was even more generous to the pharmaceutical industry than a similar proposal by the Senate Republican leadership. “The government can offer incentives and guarantees for needed public health measures,” said the editorial. “But it should not write a blank check, as these bills do, to the pharmaceutical industry that has such a large cost to the public with what may be an uncertain or dubious return.”

http://www.observer.com/printpage.asp?iid=13051&ic=Joe+Conason

He doesn't even try to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Literally in bed with a lobbyist and producing legislation for her clients.

[theanarch]

8. the problem is that should Leiberman win...

...and in such a way that exacerbates the antagonisms of Democrats, stripping him of seniority just might compel Holy Joe to become a Republican, in name as well as in fact...and in the event the Democrats take the senate (50 D's + 1 Ind. vs. 49 Repukes), and Leiberman switches, it's 49+1 vs. 50...with Unka Dick casting the tie-breaking vote. Should Lamont lose (and at this point i wouldn't take any bets on him winning), it's seven senate seats the Democrats have to win this year to regain control.

[okieinpain]

48. if the repugs win it won't matter if joe decides to join them. n/t.

[theanarch]

49. the only way the GOP candidate wins...

...is if Leiberman IS that candidate, officially or otherwise. Schlesinger has been polling 20% for some time, and even if it stays the same through election day, there's no mathmatical way 20% wins a three or four-way race. I do agree that it won't matter anyway, in the same context as you say, but for a different reason. To me, the question is not if Leiberman becomes a Republican, but when and how; he could even remain a Democrat and probably do more damage to the DP in that sense than as a GOP (like making Harry Reid the majority leader and keeping Pryor as DSCC chair and sharing their secrets with Mr Rove will be doing the party any big favors). For all practical purposes, Dem's need seven seats to take back the senate...as of now, i'd give you favorable odds on two and a half of them...and it's not like i want or need to be right about this (i'm a big boy and can handle the occasional disappointment).

[truthisfreedom]

9. liberman needs to STFU now. right now. strip him of his powers NOW.

not wait for him to tear away at the party zell-style.

[fujiyama]

11. I think a few are starting to finally getting the idea

But I'm not really convinced until they really start playing Hardball with Joe. Stripping him of committee assignments is very tempting, but I think Joe is a vindictive bastard and wouldn't think twice about the ultimate stab in the back by caucusing with the republicans if he wins. But if Joe doesn't quit undercutting the party's message and trashing the party, it may not matter anyways.

Rahm Emanuel seemed absolutely pissed after the primary calling Lieberman "Bush's love child". I'm sure at this point, Reid and Schumer really want to take the senate back and Lieberman is starting to hinder those chances.

These are not "rock the boat-extremist-whacko liberals" as some posters would have it. Emanuel, etc are centrists.

[WatchWhatISay]

12. What took them so long to see it

This guy hasn't been one of us for quite some time.

[fooj]

16. He's been a mole for over 10 years...

http://www.commondreams.org/views01/1213-05.htm

:grr:

[demgrrrll]

13. I really wish he would drop out. Joey won't leave

unless he absolutely has to go. Someone needs to step up to the plate and make that happen.

[CreekDog]

15. call his bluff, expose Joe's plan before the election

I'm worried that Joe uses the excuse that he can serve Connecticut better with the (insert Republican-offered perk here).

But I'm worried that he would do that regardless of whether or not the Democrats pushed him.

It's just whatever excuse he gets to use to make himself kingmaker.

No way.

"I see dead people...Joe Lieberman lost the election."
--Chris Matthews

[WI_DEM]

18. Joe doesn't care if they strip him he'll caucus with the GOP who

will give him anything he wants.

[PBass]

19. Very few Republicans are going to embrace Lieberman.

Let him threeaten to become a Republican... DARE him.

He has a 90% Democratic voting record (votes with Dems 90% of the time).

Only a few Republican 'pranksters' would waste a vote on Lieberman. He doesn't represent their views on most issues.

DEFINITELY strip him of his seniority, ASAP.

[robcon]

22. I disagree.

"Very few Republicans are going to embrace Lieberman"

The Republican candidate is polling in single-digits. The rest of the Repugs are voting for Lieberman (in the polls so far), IMO.

[xchrom]

20. lol -- ok beltway dems -- joe has you by the balls --

what are you gonna do about it?

i mean in front of god, tweety, tim and wolfie?

stand there and fume?

stamp your feet and whine?

better get your collective act together and make sure lamont wins -- and make sure that the whole nation knows what lieberman really is.

[Binka]

51. Oh Goodness Dear The Dem's Have No Balls

But if a brat is tugging at your skirt long enough you finally whack it upside the head with your purse and say "honey knock this shit off or Mommy is really gonna get pissed." Just sayin'.

[xchrom]

53. day-yum, Mommy! -- that was harsh! -- lol!

:rofl: :hi:

[stepnw1f]

23. Hello???? DO They Really Need More of a Reason?!

Drop his weasley ass "yesterday".

[spooky3]

24. Hey, Senators, stop getting angry and start taking action.

[BlueJac]

25. Just flush the turd.......

If not he will raise a stink that might stick on the Dems. These Senators should stick together and stand strong against Joe the Turn Coat Sore Loser.

[saigon68]

27. Here are a few piles for LIMPMANN

[Barrett808]

28. This is a situation in which party discipline must be enforced

If he's really an independent, then he's left the party.

[0007]

29. Joe is indeed worse than Zell

[Barkley]

30. He "could be stripped of his seniority within the Democratic caucus"!?!

anything less looks as he's being coddled.

[patricia92243]

31. He is a problem if they LET him be a problem. The fact that some Democrat

Democratic leaders support him is MORE disgraceful than his being a sore loser.

This would never happen to the Republicans. I know we take pride in that Democrats do not lock-step like the Republicans do, but this is one occasion where the Democratic party should stick together or the deserters should be punished by their party leaders.

[elehhhhna]

32. Lieberman isn't becoming a problem. He's BEEN a problem for 6 years

at least.

[leesa]

34. Harry Reid should have stopped this from happening.

He needs to take control.

[bluedog]

37. He Lost...whats his freaking problem.his EGO???

it was a fair and square election...........theres always a winner and a loser.............he talks so much about democracy in Iraq and how the people have spoken.well..the people of Con. have spoken......and he is not their choice.

he should be a man about it and stop his whining

[Zorra]

38. Maybe somebody bought some favors from him and he can't back out.

Maybe he owes some lobby big time, and they expect their payback?
:shrug:

[caligirl]

39. If Joe should win SOMETHING FAR WORSE HAPPENS Read the whole

article for this:Lewan said that the issue of stripping Lieberman’s seniority did not come up in any of his conversations. He also said he has offered to share Democrats’ concerns with the Lieberman campaign.

""The issue of Lieberman’s seniority would arise most dramatically if Lieberman wins re-election and Democrats recapture control of the chamber. That would slot Lieberman to take over as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the panel primarily responsible for investigating the executive branch.""




Looserman is in bed with fascists. He should not be allowed to get that chairmanship, much less stay in the Senate.

[yurbud]

41. I hope they figure out a way to neuter him

[Matariki]

42. Democratic party "out of the political mainstream"???

uh, that's why YOU LOST pal...

[The_Casual_Observer]

44. Let the good old american political process work this out

He will run out of money and we will never hear about him again.

[theanarch]

50. reality check time: Leiberman doesn't have to worry about...

...money: as long as he's competitive in the polls, the cash will flow like mother's milk from the tits of every corporate/ideological special interest that's bankrolled his entire career. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Leiberman could pump $30-50M. of other people's money into this race (interesting side effect of possibly forcing Dean to reprioritize the DNC's financial strategy: hello CT; good bye the 49 other?). Geez--i was going to dismiss a previous poster's comment that Joe is worse than Zell; but on reflection, i appreciate the deeper insight--Joe can do far, far more damage and harm than that bombastic bouffon, From-Hell-Zell.

[damntexdem]

45. Unless the Dems take the Senate, ...

Joe will be rewarded with good committee spots by a GOP majority. If the DSCC were serious, they would not have high-ranking members of their own committee supporting Joe.

[flaminbats]

46. the war in Iraq is only pouring gasoline on the fire!

I still don't understand why Lieberman thinks spreading our military out so thinly to police the world, and waging war in a country which had nothing to do with 9/11..somehow weakens terrorism! Lieberman is resentful and bitter after losing the primary. And this resentment comes out in strange and disgusting ways. But as most DUers know, patriotism has nothing to do with it.

But what about Bob Kerrey? I thought that he opposed this war in Iraq, he supported single-payer healthcare, and he disagreed with Lieberman on sending in troops during the Persian Gulf war! How can someone with the guts to speak out against Republicans who overwhelmingly won his state in the 90's be so afraid to speak out against such slimes now? He lost a leg in combat during Vietnam, but how many have to do the same in Iraq before he wants to bring them home? What makes Bob Kerrey so eager become involved in a Senate race which has little impact on him?

[ChickMagic]

47. Why can't he get it through his thick noggin

that the voters fired his ass? This whole thing steams me.
He seems to think it's his seat no matter what.

[theanarch]

52. well, not really...

...to Leiberman's mind, he won the "Democratic" primary, in that Lamont's margin of victory came from late registering unaffiliateds and new voters, who put a D after their names just to get red, white and oh, so blue with Ned. The DailyKos/blogger voters, if you will...as distinct from 'genuine'organization Democrats--like the 60% of unions and a (near?) majority of blacks who voted him. Given Lamont's less-than-3% MOV, it would have taken a much, much higher MOV (say 15%+) for the message penetrate through his ego to his brain.

As for his entitlement mentality towards the seat, i find it remarkable how few people here get it: Joe has tens of millions on tap to blow on ads, endorsements and GOTV, has more media and State DP organizational support than Lamont, and the last poll on the race posted here has him up by 5%. Don't you get it folks? Lamont may have the Party Line, but it's still liberal/progressive Democrats, Bush-hating independents, a few bloggers and the anti-war movement against the RNC, the DLC, the M$M and Wall Street.