Lieberman: Take Public Option Off Table, Come Back To It In 3 or 4 Years

[Hissyspit]

Source: TPM

Lieberman: Take Public Option Off The Table, Come Back To It In Four Years
Rachel Slajda | October 28, 2009, 12:26 p.m.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) told Fox News today that Congress should strip the public option from the health care reform bill, and come back to the idea in three or four years.

"Take it off the table," he said. "Come back in three or four years, if other reforms aren't working. That's my position and I'm sticking to it."

Lieberman contended that the public option is "just not necessary to reform health insurance."

Read more: http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/liebs-take-public-option-off-the-table-come-back-to-it-in-four-years.php?ref=fpa

[Demeter]

1. How About Taking Lieberman Away From the Trough For 4-5 Years

See if he can live outside the DC bubble.

[lsewpershad]

21. How

much longer do we have to put up withthis creeep?

[robo50]

2. How much did the insurance companies pay him over all these

years? I hear it was a million or more. NO?

Loserman can just get out now, no Connecticut Dem wanted that to happen!

I wish they could hold a re-call election there!

[Lars39]

3. Worse than that....his wife is heavily involved, too...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8720036

[Zoeisright]

19. A cool million.

And his wife is an insurance whore too.

[No Elephants]

31. You can't go by that. Insurance paid off everyone. Kerry probably got a lot more than Lieberman.

[DonCoquixote]

4. The next time I hear

someone talk about how the South has no liberals and the North is some bastion of Virtue, I will gladly point to this most Yankee of Yankee Hypocrites.

[No Elephants]

29. You're going to try to turn this into a North-South issue? Defensive much? Obsessed much?

Here's a news flash: There are both racists and conservatives in each and every one of the 50 states (and I would add in every political party, too). And at ease. It's not 1863 anymore. You can stop trying to win the war against the North.

[Tunkamerica]

41. Just to be fair, ever time there is a story about a southern

republican someone says we should kick the south out of the country or blow them up or sink them in the ocean. It gets old and i think the previous poster's point is well made.

[LiberalLovinLug]

42. Seems to me he was saying what you were saying

That there ISN'T a North-South divide when it comes to producing asswipes

:shrug:

[MidwestTransplant]

5. Phone Numbers for him

One Constitution Plaza
7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
[phone] Voice
[phone] In CT
For TTY Call 711
Directions

706 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
[phone] Voice
[phone] Fax
For TTY Call 711

[Alhena]

9. Here's the video of the interview- he's not changing his mind

http://www.dailykos.com/tv/w/002303/

he's loving the spotlight and specifically said he wouldn't change his mind about supporting any kind of public option. We've got more chance of getting Olympia Snowe's vote than we do of getting Lieberman's. And she will only be on board for a "trigger option" not a public option.

It's looking like reconciliation to me.

[No Elephants]

30. Unless you live in Connecticut, I would call your own Senators. None of them listens to anyone

outside his or her own state. Reps don't even bother with anyone outside their own districts, even if in the same state.

[Big Orange Jeff]

45. You are correct, but it's interesting that they'll sure take money from those outside their district

Wanna bet that donors from other constituencies can get responses?

[BootinUp]

6. Go Fuck yourself Joe. nt

[Solly Mack]

7. Fucker was obviously feeling neglected

and felt the need to run his mouth.

Little man screaming, "I'm still here! Look at me!"

[Barack_America]

8. Stripped of his chair and tossed out of the caucus. NOW!

That's MY position and I'm sticking to it.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. I blame Obama and Harry Reid for not nailing this guy after the election.

It pisses me off that nothing has happened to this guy despite his back stabbing.

[Zoeisright]

20. Yep. After endorsing McCain he should be persona non grata.

LIEberman is an asshole.

[saigon68]

39. He's also a Fucking Draft Dodger

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

22. While I agree, how would this help change the current outcome?

We'd still need his, or another Republican's vote to achieve cloture and we'd still be right here.

[No Elephants]

33. I'd be surprised if Reid did not consult his fellow Democratic Senators, then. They may have

gambled on the effect of keeping him in the Democratic Caucus vs. the effect of having him caucus with the Republicans.

[supernova]

11. Take away his chairmanship!

Little fucker.

:grr:

[TheCoxwain]

12. That motherfucker would give Hitler a Blowjob if it got him $0.25

He is a sorry excuse for a human being.

[optimator]

13. take mandates off the table

it is "just not necessary to reform health insurance."

[bl968]

14. No conscience

45,000 people are year a dying over inadequate access to medical coverage. Over 3 years that's 135,000 people, over 4 years 180,000 people. How can that man suggest that, and sleep at night. We need this today, not tomorrow!

[Cass]

26. +1, well said.

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[left coaster]

15. Take Joe and drop him down a well..

..come back in three or four years, to check on him.. or maybe not..

Why is this assbonnet still in office? Talk about a thorn in the side.

[IndianaGreen]

16. Joe Conason: Sen. Lieberman Literally in Bed With Drug Lobby

When a Senator opposes the public option while his wife works for the industry, the wife becomes a fair target.

Joe Conason: Sen. Lieberman Literally in Bed With Drug Lobby

Posted on Jul 12, 2006
By Joe Conason

Editor’s note: In this column, Conason points out that the Connecticut senator who would lecture us on ethics drafted a bill in 2005 that made generous giveaways to pharmaceutical companies—one month after his wife went to work in the pharmaceuticals division of a major lobbying and PR firm.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lieberman dutifully recites his opposition to “tax cuts for the rich” and “privatizing Social Security,” and his support of “universal health insurance” and “affordable healthcare.” When he utters those phrases, unfortunately, they ring hollow to many rank-and-file Democrats.

Actually, the syndrome afflicting him is found among entrenched veterans of both parties, especially those who appear more concerned with connections and contributions than values or ideals.

Sen. Lieberman has long been known to cultivate the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, which provide jobs in his home state and contributions to his campaign fund. But he has literally been sleeping with one of their Washington representatives ever since his wife, Hadassah, joined Hill & Knowlton last year. The legendary lobbying and PR firm hired her as a “senior counselor” in its “health and pharmaceuticals practice.”

This news marked Hadassah Lieberman’s return to consulting after more than a decade of retirement. “I have had a life-long commitment to helping people gain better health care,” she said in the press release announcing her new job. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with the talented team at Hill & Knowlton to counsel a terrific stable of clients toward that same goal.”

It would be uplifting to imagine that Hill & Knowlton—after spending the past decade as a defendant in tobacco class-action lawsuits because of its role in propaganda disputing the deadly effects of smoking—is now devoted to improving everybody’s health. More likely, the firm remains devoted to improving the profits of its clientele, which has historically included Enron, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, Saudis, Kuwaitis, American International Group and Boeing.

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

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20060712_conason_lieberman_drug_lobby/

[bc3000]

17. Make them filibuster it... actually filibuster, not just say that they intend to do so.

I want this bunch of asses receiving government health care while they block health care for other Americans to stand up and be counted.

Sometimes one needs to step back and lose a battle in order to get real reform. But do not let them do it quietly. I want a Jimmy Stewart type of filibuster.

[atreides1]

23. Agreed

But Harry Reid should let it be known that until the bill is up for a vote, no one gets to leave D.C.

No Thanksgiving, no Christmas, no one leaves until the filibuster is done and the bill comes to the floor of the Senate for a vote!!

[peaches2003]

49. Absolutely!

Make them stand there and talk for days, weeks, months if necessary. Harry doesn't have the balls to do it. He will whine in front of the camera and do nothing else. And why hasn't Lieberman lost his chairmanship TODAY when he just announced he will not vote for cloture?

[wroberts189]

51. +1

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

18. 180,000 deaths in four years due to lack of insurance

based on the figures in the http://www.harvardscience.harvard.edu/medicine-health/articles/new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-lack-health-coverage">Harvard study released last month.

Nearly 200,000 dead because this guy wants to keep feeding at the trough until the end of his Senate career. And so he can then become a corporate lobbyist, I'm sure.

Add another year of delays, and it will be nearly a quarter of a million dead.

How do these people live with themselves?

[Zodiak]

47. Because none of us have punched their teeth down their throats yet

But I have a feeling that it is coming one day.

Americans are too genteel.....if French politicians treated the French to a 45,000 person sacrifice for the sake of one industry's profits, they would dust off the guillotines again. Here we mewl like kittens, roll over, and get screwed.

[Journeyman]

24. When you're married to a Health Care lobbyist, you dance like a whore. . .

Al Gore has penance to pay beyond measure for elevating this disgusting slice of humanity to a position of public prominence from which he can pontificate his foul ideas. . .

[cyclezealot]

25. Likely Joe is preparing himself for his next job

A lobbyists for America's Health Insurance Plans.. His wife is already an insurance lobbyists. Instead of the senator from Hartford, he'll be the lobbyist from Hartford.

[Soylent Brice]

27. now, see Joe, now you're just fuckin' with us.

[Are_grits_groceries]

28. Reid and whoever else are to blame.

Jane Hamsher pointed out last night on Rachel's show that they were idiots when they gave him the chairmanship he wanted and didn't at least demand he vote for cloture.

If he wants to vote sideways after that, then who cares. It was beyond stupid and the height of hubris to think they could control him.

[No Elephants]

38. I'm not sure they thought they could control the guy who went from Democratic VP candidate to

campaigning for McCain Palin. I think that, for whatever reason, they did not want him caucusing with the Republicans. I think it may have been a case of "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

[47of74]

32. How about reading my fingers, Senator Iscariot

And I mean that from the very bottom of my heart too!

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

34. "just not necessary to reform health insurance"

is a more apt description for Joe Lieberman...

Hey Harry, can we please strip him of his seniority now??

[global1]

35. Take Lieberman Out Of The Senate - Don't Let Him Come Back Ever......nt

[AlinPA]

36. He is not a Democrat. He campaigned for Palin. He's doing what we should expect. nt

[krispos42]

37. Reading this gave me a flash of anger

I actually saw myself doing something that I am prohibited from describing on DU, to him.


Wow, he's pissing me off!

[No Elephants]

40. We should all call the DNC and volunteer to work for the Democrat who runs against him, or at least

pledge to donate.

Losing his seat is the only thing that will stop this turd. Sure, he'll only get a higher paying job on K Street, but at least he will not be voting in the Senate anymore.


"He tasks me! He tasks me and I shall have him!"

[Dr.Phool]

43. Lieberman, take some cyanide, and don't ever come back!

[theFrankFactor]

44. Lieberman:ALMOST V.P.

Think about this... we almost had this fucking asshole as V.P.! Hmmm, I guess choosing a Vice President is like picking drapes or something.

Democrats, the Party of Lowered Expectations

[BluinTX]

46. Uh,

Joe in three or four years your sorry ass won't be in the Senate, and your POS opinion won't matter to anyone -- not that it really ever did. In the meantime, just STFU!
:mad:

[DollyM]

48. take away his health insurance and wait 3 or 4 years to see if that is working for him . . .

People like this make me so angry, while they sit back all smug and go to the Dr. any time they want because they have the coverage they need and the money to meet thier expenses. He needs to try coming and living in a house with two unemployed people for a week and seeing how the real rest of American lives that is barely eaking by. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET MEDICAL CARE!

[yellowcanine]

50. Once again Lieberman revels in being relevant. What a total tool he is.

Biggest mistake Al Gore ever made was picking him for VP. Al needed a pit bull and he got a poodle. Should have gone with someone like Barbara Boxer. She would have kicked Cheney's ass in the V.P. debate. Jebbie and Katherine would probably still have stolon Florida and the election but at least we wouldn't have had Holy Joe sniveling about how military votes should be counted.

[yellowcanine]

52. If Lieberman joins the filibuster he definitely should be booted from the Caucus.

It should be "all hands on deck" for a procedural vote like that, no free passes if it means cloture fails. If we have an extra vote to give, ok. But otherwise, no.