Reid resists calls of stripping Lieberman's status: "Why would I want to throw away a good vote?"

[sabra]

http://www.lvrj.com/news/27217924.html

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., defended Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman on Wednesday after the former Democratic vice presidential nominee accepted a speaking slot at next month's Republican convention in Minnesota.

"He has a close personal relationship with John McCain. I don't fully understand why he does," said Reid, who said Lieberman called Tuesday from the Republic of Georgia to alert him to the move.

"I told him last night, 'You know, Joe, I can't stand John McCain.' He said, 'I know you feel that way,' " Reid said.

But Reid said he would continue to resist calls from the Democratic Party's base to strip Lieberman, now an independent, of his Senate positions for his disloyalty.

"All my close votes, he's always with me, whether it's the budget or energy issues," Reid said. "No matter what it is, he's always with us. He just does not vote right on Iraq. ... Why would I want to throw away a good vote?"

Reid repeated his familiar criticisms of McCain in a discussion with Review-Journal staffers Wednesday, calling the Arizona senator wrong on the issues and saying the Republican, who arrived in Congress the same year Reid did, "does not have the right temperament" to be president.

[marmar]

1. Same reason you get a rotting tooth removed, Harry.

:argh:

[Vinca]

2. Harry needs a spine. He's going to wait until Lieberbush declares

he's a member of the Republican party until he tosses him and that's going to make the Dems look like a bunch of wimps . . . again.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

You can't have turncoats speaking at the GOP convention, endorsing their candidate for president and then allow them to caucus with you.

If Lieberman is going to vote a certain way then why should you expect he would change after you kick his ass out of the party?

[DefenseLawyer]

4. It just comes down to math.

Hard to fault Reid for being able to add.

[sharesunited]

5. Would Lieberman vote against Reid's preferences just for spite?

Or does Lieberman vote according to his conscience and in the best interest of his constituents as he determines them to be?

If the latter, then being stripped of his majority party perks shouldn't matter.

[DefenseLawyer]

7. It's not his votes on bills that matter

It's his vote on leadership. If he stops caucusing with the Democrats, it is a 50 50 split and control of the Senate goes to the Republicans. That means they chair all the committees and control the agenda.

[sharesunited]

8. Ugh. What do I use to wash the taste of Lieberman's ass out of my mouth?

[DefenseLawyer]

10. Well take heart. After November his vote won't matter.

And he will be chairing the subcommittee on penguin affairs, requiring frequent trips to the South Pole.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. "Practical politics" at itr's smarmiest. And, they wonder why people don't vote.

[KharmaTrain]

9. More Reason FOR People To Vote

I know what you mean...Reid's looking short-term...and still thinks in "keeping the peace" and avoiding any "gridlock"...explanations, and lame ones, I've heard for why TraitorJoementum is kept in the caucus. I would have booted his ass a long time ago as I think of him as a mole and cancer.

Harry still thinks he needs the vote to get something passed before the election. I say let's just shut the Senate down and keep it in pro-forma session until after the elections...or debate things like renaming post offices...this Senate is OVER. Sorry, Harry, the less you do, the better it is for the country.

Getting 3 more Democratic Senators elected in November removes the draconian 60 vote rule that Reid uses as why he needs this slimeball around. Having a clear majority allows the Senate to "re-organize" next year without all the obstructions and games that a 50-50 Senate led to. It all goes back to the "organizing rules"...TraitorJoementum voted for Reid to be Majority Leader rather than Pruneface and Reid isn't man enough to say this is why he's still sticking with this shit-stick. If Reid doesn't give TraitorJoemenutm the boot the day after the elections, then he needs to be replaced as well.

Cheers...