“At This Point Lieberman Cannot Expect To Keep His Seniority" - The Hill

[kpete]

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

The Hill: Lieberman Could Be Stripped Of Seniority

Alexander Bolton reports for The Hill on rumblings in the Democratic Senate caucus, where Democrats have apparently been taken completely aback by Sen. Lieberman's vicious attacks on Democrats during his first week as the Lieberman Party/de-facto GOP candidate.

Check out these anonymous quotes:

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....

.....................

“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.”...

.......................

“At this point Lieberman cannot expect to just keep his seniority,” said the aide. “He can’t run against a Democrat and expect to waltz back to the caucus with the same seniority as before. It would give the view that the Senate is a country club rather than representative of a political party and political movement.”

more at:
http://lamontblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/hill-lieberman-could-be-stripped-of.html

[MadMaddie]

1. Hunh....what a concept...holding someone accountable for

their actions....I like it...I really... really like it!!:applause:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. I think it could catch on

At least I hope so! :D

[MadMaddie]

13. I hope so too!!

Maybe if Americans see that Dems will hold their own responsible....and that means they will hold them the * cabal responsible....one can only hope!!

[marions ghost]

28. good point!

;)

[Ken Burch]

2. Yes. Yes. HELL YES...

Lieberman ain't a Dem anymore. His seniority doesn't belong to him now.

[The Magistrate]

3. The Man Is Self-Destructing, Ma'am

The general election will follow a similar trajectory to the primary's course....

[Mr_Spock]

32. Are you thinking he will lose

...due to the bad taste he is leaving in the mouth of his voters in CT?

[Lasher]

39. I predict Lamont will win in the general election

The polls do not currently reflect this but Lieberman is shooting himself in the foot with his increasingly cozy relationship with Junior, Elmer Cheney, and the GOP in general. And his perpetual mouthing of neocon talking points about Iraq helps seal his fate.

[Mr_Spock]

40. I sure hope this is what happens.

How can any good Democrat vote for him after he linked their candidate with Al Qaida?

[The Magistrate]

55. Exactly, Mr. Spock

No one likes a cry-baby, no one likes a sore-loser, no one likes a man who thinks the fate of all turns on him alone.

"Graveyards are full of indispensible men."

[Eric J in MN]

4. Bad response.

Democratic Senators should be doing fundraisers for Ned Lamont NOW if they're upset by Lieberman's statements.

If Lieberman wins the general election, unfortunately the correct response then will be to be nice to him so that he rejoins the party.

[longship]

8. And if we be nice to the Repugs, they'll reward us, too?

It *is* tough love time for Joe. If he doesn't like it, let him bolt to the Repugs. If he does that, he'll not win in November. (He probably won't win anyway.)

This man is on his way to perdition and obscurity. Let him self-destruct.

Dems should strip him of his committee assignments as soon as Congress reconvenes. Then, let him cry about the mean Democrats. All his visible support is coming from the Repugs anyway.

Screw Joe. Let him fade away.

[Eric J in MN]

10. If they want to strip Lieberman of his committee assignments now, fine.

But it doesn't make any sense to wait until AFTER the election, and strip him of the assignments if he wins.

We need to maximize the number of Democrats in the Senate, which includes getting Lieberman to re-join the party if he wins.

And if a Republican wants to switch parties, then yes they should be nice to him.

[longship]

20. You have a point.

But my strategy as a Dem leader would be to force him out of the race using his committee assignments as pressure. I'd be telling Joe that he's messing with his legacy and his future.

If he refuses to cooperate and continues to wage war against the Democrats, I'd jerk his committee assignments immediately and inform him that his seniority position in the caucus is next.

If he again refuses, those would go next. As Senate party leader I would announce all such changes publically. Then, Joe can stew in his own juices.

If he manages to win in November, which would be very doubtful, let him go fishing to the Repugs.

[ktlyon]

27. I agree cut him loose

make him pick the red team or step aside.

[Jawja]

35. Yep.

Don't see the logic of trying to convince him to become a Dem again after he defies the party, bashes it's candidate, and runs against it.

[Bucky]

15. I understand where you're coming from & kinda feel the same. But....

And this the Big But... Lieberman has already said that if he wins he'll caucus with the Democrats. If they have to be nice to him after he's trashed our party just for the priviledge of seeing him keep his promises, he's not worth having aboard. If he wins, they'll be nice. Until then, they're right to open fire on anyone running against a Democrat.

FWIW, I think this was a conveniently leaked story. Someone is sending a signal up to Connecticut that Lieberman needs to reel it in a bit. There's no way they'd fuck with the seniority system. They'd screw around with parking priviledges and the Senate barbershop perks before they'd touch that golden goose.

[Jesterstear]

25. Wrong...

"If Lieberman wins the general election, unfortunately the correct response then will be to be nice to him so that he rejoins the party."

That would be par for the course, and a great example of why Democrats have been getting their asses handed to them the last several years. Just rolling over for Lieberman would be the typical spinelessness the Dems have been showing. Dammit, Dems, grow a pair NOW and throw Lieberman out of the party. Take a stand for once.

[CTLawGuy]

26. that would get a short-term gain in exchange for long-term damage

if Lieberman gets away with this, we can kiss our primary system goodbye, as it gives the impression that the party will tolerate circumvention of the primary process.

If Lieberman were to somehow win, he should get NO committee seats from the Dems. It's the loss of a seat but it's a statement that the Dems respect the primary process.

[rinsd]

58. The party does tolerate the circumvention of the primary process

On edit: I just wanted put out a few exceptions to the rule.

Bob Torricelli was removed because of his ethics problems, replaced late in the game by Lautenberg.

Cuomo ran against Koch in the late 70's for mayor of NYC even though he lost the Dem primary.

The Dems in VT are purposefully going to put Bernie Sanders under the Dem banner even though he will reject it so that no other candidate's can run under the Dem banner and take votes away from Sanders.

[CTLawGuy]

68. not really the same thing

Bob Torricelli dropped out, which he is allowed to do, even if he is the nominee.

Cuomo vs. Koch: Not familiar with that race and it's a local-level race in ultra-liberal NYC anyway. Thus it doesn't compare in importance to a US Senate race.

Re: Sanders: Dems may endorse whoever they want, including non-party-members. In CT, the party explicitly chose someone else over the incumbent and the incumbent ran anyway. In VT, the dems chose Sanders. He may not want their endorsement but he has it.

[endarkenment]

52. Sorry no.

I agree on part 1, support Lamont, but couldn't disagree more about part 2, make nice to Joe. Screw him. We need an opposition party and we don't have one. After 50 years of ruling Congress the Democratic Party has been at a total loss about how to behave as the minority party in Congress. 12 years after the debacle of '94 and we are still unclear on the concept. It takes discipline and strength to oppose. The other side is playing for keeps and we are still trying to run for Miss Congeniality.

[carl_pwccaman]

63. I would think the idea of getting him back would be worth considering

But at the same time, IF he wins through smearing Democrats in an underhanded way, why should he have seniority in that case?

I think it depends on how Lieberman conducts himself, and whether he wins or not.

I do think there should be an effort to win him back to the party if he wins. But depending on how alienating things get, depending on whether he is slandering Democrats or being verbally abusive, well that could make him not worth the wooing.

[AzDar]

5. Righteous! Now...GO AWAY, Joe-hole. n/t

[oasis]

6. Joe Oblivious. It's a seperate reality thing.

:crazy:

[niallmac]

7. Joes behavior is reminiscent of Nixon IMHO. n/t

[DURHAM D]

14. Actually - he reminds me of Bush. If George ain't winnin' the

game he just takes the ball and goes home. When Joe doesn't win he insists on overs. Not much difference - still a cheap bully.

I have an acquaintance who worked at DOJ, State Department and on the Hill (Senate side) during the Clinton years - before that he was career military and always a Democrat. Starting in 2002 or 2003, whenever I ran into him I would ask him to tell me something about a U.S. Senator I didn't know or would be surprised to hear. He would never rat out anyone, in fact always went out of his way to say something positive about any senator I brought up - from either side of the isle.

Finally one night he said he realized I would never stop asking so he would tell me the one person in the Senate that he could not stomach - you guessed it - Joe. My friend said that whenever he had to brief him or attend a meeting in which Joe participated he felt that he needed a shower - he just got a feeling of complete slime (his word) after being in his presence.

Back then this was a surprise to me but gave me a heads up to begin watching Joe more carefully. My friend was right.

[niallmac]

18. Cool inside bit of insight.

If I had to guess what was creepy about being in Joe's presence it would be
that namby pamby insincerity. Apparently he hasn't been too
sincere about being a Democrat.

[geardaddy]

46. Joe should just change parties.

Look at Norm Coleman (R-MN). He did it and has become one of the biggest * lapdogs. Normy first ran as a Dem for the mayor seat in St. Paul. Then when he'd finished his first term, he ran as a repuke.

edited for clarity

[BlooInBloo]

9. To say nothing of his dignity, masculinity, and honor.

[chaumont58]

11. Seniority? The DSCC is insane, why would holy joe even want

to keep his seniority?
If one should ask why the DSCC is insane, I would reply that the vice chair of the DSCC is a certain senator from Arkansas, who is backing Lieberman against a duly elected Democratic Party candidate in CT. The vice chair? Tell me any sane person would want to contribute money to an organization as fucked up as the DSCC?

[Bucky]

16. Fun as the story is, I don't buy it.The seniority system is their Holy Cow

I think this was a conveniently leaked story. Someone is sending a signal up to Lieberman's Connecticut campaign that he needs to reel the rhetoric a bit. His desperation to keep his seat can't provide ammo for Republicans to win other races--which is the real danger here (besides the usual wounded Senatorial egos0.

But that given, there's no way they'd fuck with the seniority system. They'd screw around with parking priviledges and the Senate barbershop perks before they'd touch that particular golden goose, which is the basis for most of the power bases within the Senate.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. Cynthia McKinney was not given her seniority when she returned to Congress

in 2005 from her two year vacation.

[LeahMira]

30. Sounds like people really think ...

... that Joe Lieberman has a chance as an independent. Otherwise, why the rush to punish him at this point?

I'd rather see support for Lamont's candidacy.

This is an anti-war phenomenon. There are other issues.

Is Lamont everything positive about Lieberman, but minus the negative, pro-war position? Lieberman is touting his liberal voting record over many years. If he's telling the truth (other than his support for the Iraq invasion), can/will Lamont also deliver? If Lieberman's voting record is really not so liberal it's time to mention that fact, and Lamont needs to state his thoughts on those issues. He needs to separate himself from Lieberman as well as from Republicans, not only on the war but maybe especially on domestic issues as well. Now that Lamont has the nomination, time for him to be not only not like Republicans but also not like "some Democrats."

[Joe Bacon]

17. LIEberman should be stripped and expelled NOW!

Let's see how well he works with NO assignments and the Nazis turn on this Quisling!

[Ken Burch]

21. You do mean stripped of his COMMITTEE assignments, don't you?

A naked Lieberman is something nobody wants.

[Joe Bacon]

29. But Tar and Feathers would be so pleasing!

I'm willing to toss 50¢ in for the tar! Anyone want to donate the feathers?

[Leopolds Ghost]

57. A Naked Lieberman = Good Name for A Band

Alongside Dick Army, Reagan Youth, etc.

[Strawman]

19. But the Senate IS a country club

And if he manages to win they won't strip jack shit from him unless they're sure he's going to caucus with the Republicans. If the fundies in the Republican party couldn't strip the chairmanship of the Judiciary from Specter, no way will the Senate Democratic leadership strip Lieberman of his seniority. I'm sure people are not happy (and rightfully so) but I don't buy this for a second.

[Richard Steele]

22. Why the HELL is there even a debate?

The man should have been stripped of his committee assignments
and seniority a week ago when he QUIT being a Democrat!

[D23MIURG23]

44. Self interest.

A lot of Dems are scared that the same thing will happen to them in '08. This whole thing seems very uncomfortable for a lot of them. I hope they get over this fast, as Lieberman seems willing to do whatever it takes to hang onto power, including undermining the message of the party at large.

[Tesha]

23. "taken aback"

> where Democrats have apparently been taken completely aback
> by Sen. Lieberman's vicious attacks on Democrats during his
> first week as the Lieberman Party/de-facto GOP candidate.

Okay, I give up. Were our senior Democrats really so surprised
that Joe was immediately in full-Republican attack-dog mode the
week after the primary election?

WERE THEY NOT PAYING ONE DAMNED BIT OF ATTENTION
DURING THE PRIMARY ELECTION?

IN THE SIX YEARS SINCE JOE STABBED US ALL IN THE
BACK IN THE 2000 ELECTION, HAVE THEY NOT GOTTEN
EVEN ONE CLUE AS TO WHAT SORT OF A BASTARD JOE
LIEBERMAN ACTUALLY IS?

Thanks, I feel better now. But our party is obviously led
by dolts.

Tesha

[professor_grove]

31. what a piece of garbage

and what an ugly person Lieberman is, inside and out!

There ought to be a law against lawmakers who don´t accept the will of voters.

[newyawker99]

41. professor_grove!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[cyclezealot]

33. The attack on Bernie Sanders was my last straw.

The guy is as honest as DC comes. Who else has he attacked.
and furtther, should Dems' like Sen. Ken Salazar of COlo not be offended, we need take offense at him.I would have expected more of a good Democrat like Lieberman as he calls himself, to not become a Zell Miller.

[w4rma]

34. LIEberman is ranking "Democrat" on the Committee on Homeland Security

and Governmental Affairs in the Senate. This made him the first "Democrat" to hear about the plane bombing plot. He heard about it on Wednesday.

He has this power because of his Seniority. He abused this power by using this **national security** information *against* the Democratic nominee. He should lose his Seniority.

[dwnforthecount]

36. and this is surprising, how?

funny how betraying a party tend to make people within that party mad? seriousily, he's gambling too much on this independent run. WHEN he loses his seat, he'll no longer have a party willing to take him in.

sorry joe, you lose.

[newyawker99]

42. Hi dwnforthecount!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Cha]

37. lieberwhiner Is a sideshow and

not a very pretty one. This is good news that lieman's actions have consequences, duh!

[gorekerrydreamticket]

38. If he should win, he will side with whoever gives him the best deal....

He might even go out and out Repub...anything possible at this point with the guy...

[warrens]

43. I still think he will drop out

Unless the polls say he has an easy win, which they don't, he can't take the chance of completely ending his political career. If he drops out, the Dems will find something for him to do until he can run for governor or something.

[hootinholler]

45. Why hasn't it been stripped already?!?!

He should have been excised when he filed as an independant.

-Hoot

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mrsadm]

48. Did Jim Jeffords keep his seniority?

when he became an independent?

[endarkenment]

53. His Republican seniority?

I believe the Democratic caucus did give him his seniority. What is the point? Jeffords was given an incentive to switch parties. Why are we giving Lieberman the time of day?

[BlueEyedSon]

49. About freaking time. Kick his disloyal ass out of the party!

[FSogol]

50. Do it already. What are they waiting for? n/t

[endarkenment]

51. "It would give the view that the Senate is a country club"

No shit. So when is party discipline about to befall those Democratic Senators who are supporting this asshat?

[endarkenment]

54. And he will lose.

Runs a lousy campaign. Lamont will beat him.

[TankLV]

56. Strip this sonofabitch of ALL committees - make him just sit in his

goddamn chair like a nobody.

It's PAST time for the so-called dem leadership to grow a SPINE, dammit!

And we wonder why we lose elections...

[Time for change]

59. I firmly believe that if Lieberman wins, he'll caucus with the Repukes

Everything points to it.

The Democrats hate him, and the Republicans are sucking up to him.

He hates the Democrates and sucks up to Bush.

If the Democrats are smart they will put every bit of their full hearted support behind Lamont.

[kentuck]

61. Bingo!

If Lieberman wins, he will caucus with Republicans. They are not supporting him just because he's "willing to stand up for what he believes in". They are supporting him because he is willing to stand up for what they believe in....

[cmkramer]

65. No he won't

He's already promised to support Harry Reid as Majority Leader. That's a signal that he's going to be caucusing with Democrats.

By the way, Lieberman votes with the Democrats the vast majority of the time. He disagrees with the GOP on almost everything so why would he be expected to join them?

[Time for change]

67. George Bush promised that if he was elected Gov. of Texas he wouldn't run

for president until his term was up.

What was that promise worth?

Politicians can and do change their minds. And the way that Lieberman castigates Democrats these days, it sounds to me like he's preparing the ground.

[FighttheFuture]

69. Goddam, you are stupid and gullible... let me guess, Republican?

Or is it "libertarian"?!

[pa28]

62. Yep. That's why we need to make it clear he'll be expelled.

Make his party affiliation an issue in the campaign. Make him say one way or the other what he plans to do if he wins.

Please please don't let this guy weasel through the campaign without having been pinned to the wall on this question.

[lonestarnot]

60. kick

[tbyg52]

64. Taken completely aback?????!!!!!

What in the **** did they expect?! He did just what *I* expected him to do.....

[redqueen]

66. Call Sen. Reid and let him know what you think. :)

888-355-3588

:kick: