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Go Home Joe Lieberman's Odd Punishment

NOVEMBER 18, 2008

Joe Lieberman's Odd Punishment

BY EVE FAIRBANKS

Politico's Glenn Thrush makes an intelligent point in a blog post titled, "Isn't it ironic":

Some Democrats have sniped at Joe Lieberman for not grilling the
Bush administration hard enough as head of the homeland security
committee.

He gets to keep this job.

Democrats have (mostly) offered praise for his positions on the
Environment and Public Works Committee, where he has criticized the
Bush administration's global warming policies.

He loses that job.

Whether or not you think Joe's slap-on-the-wrist punishment matches his crime in scale, it certainly doesn't match it in content.

--Eve Fairbanks

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17 comments

The Dems are already showing they're being spineless.  It's one thing to be bi-partisan with the other side, but to completely let off the hook someone who claims to be your own but who stabs you in the back on multiple occasions?  Pathetic.  I just hope I'm proven wrong in thinking letting Joemuntum off the hook and Obama even considering a Clinton for any cabinet post is stupid and self-destructive.

- tnmats

November 18, 2008 at 2:00pm

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It is over, what is done is done. The big 3 automakers are about to go under, and many are losing their jobs and homes. Enough with the Goddamn navel gazing about one Senator from Ct. already.

The vote wasn't even remotely close, the Senate has its own ways so lets just put this inside baseball bs behind us. If Dems cave on health care then lets all get pissed off, until then less who is in and who is out in the Senate and more with what policies will be enacted.

- blackton

November 18, 2008 at 2:27pm

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The answer is simple, Eve.  For Democrats, Environment is a far, far more fashionable job then Homeland Security.

If the global environment fails, no one living today will be around to witness the event.  And, the punishment will be the event itself.

If Homeland Security fails-- and odds are, sooner or later it will-- then who wants to be the fall guy?

Hey, how 'bout Joe!

- ChanRobt

November 18, 2008 at 2:47pm

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The caucus's collective spine and Lieberman's integrity have apparently eloped -- run off together, never to be seen again.

- WoodyBombay

November 18, 2008 at 2:54pm

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He's going to have to be a good lackey now.  That's all there is to it.  

- dylanposer

November 18, 2008 at 3:00pm

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Actually, there was a suggestion from Reid to strip Lieberman of Homeland Security - it being one of the most coveted chairs, even among tree-hugging, terrorist loving Dems - and given a less high-profile chair. Lieberman said that was unacceptable. So, again, facts be damned - the Conservative narrative of facy pants hippies and military-haters lives on.

- mpatrickhendri

November 18, 2008 at 3:07pm

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Fact is, with Climate Change and a new New Deal in the background, Environment and Public Works will be the two pre-eminent committees in the Senate.  Regardless of his votes in the past, Joementum will be denied a podium in the future, while securing his vote and keeping him essentially in debt to Obama's grace.  Any way, Joe's there because O said, "I forgive you".  Everyone realises this.  That ought to hurt for someone of Joe's enormous ego.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Hillary is being considered for Sec Def or even Homeland Security.  And if the latter, it would effectively defang Joe.

- icarusr

November 18, 2008 at 3:23pm

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Man. I wish I had whatever it is Joe has. I'd give my id free reign, embark on a Jokeresque crime spree, and then tell the judge that his punishments are simply not acceptable.

- janus

November 18, 2008 at 3:36pm

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Before attempting to analyze this drama we should wait for the other shoe to drop...except that politicians are millipedes, so after the next shoe drops they'll be another, and another, and...

- williamyard

November 18, 2008 at 4:00pm

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As major issues, environment and homeland security are not that far apart, if we could only grasp Homeland Security as involving something more than putting Ted Kennedy on a no-fly list and floundering around after Katrina.

- ironyroad

November 18, 2008 at 4:00pm

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When Jeremiah Wright first became a bother to Obama, he thoughtfully rejected Wright's offending words without burying the man.  When Wright popped off again, Obama cut him off for good.

Lie-berman has been given grace,once.  We shall see what happens when/if he pops off again.  (And yes, that he owes his survival to Obama's good graces has got to sting for him, and I can't imagine that he will be able to bridle his tongue any longer than, say, six months.)

- cspencef

November 18, 2008 at 4:20pm

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Don't overlook the upside and remember that pride goeth before the fall: given what happened in 1994, would an extra senate seat cushion be that bad of a thing in case, you know, the nation isn't swooning over Democrats in 2010?  And say there is a terrorist attack and Obama doesn't handle it note-perfect -- wouldn't Leiberman be a good person to send out to blunt GOP attacks, having some cred for having bucked his party before?  And the Dems can crow about what a big tent they have.

- Lymon1

November 18, 2008 at 5:40pm

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"wouldn't Leiberman be a good person to send out to blunt GOP attacks"

I'll believe that when I see it. Actually, I'll believe that after I've seen it and had a subsequent eye examination.

It's 50/50 that Lieberman would be out blunting GOP attacks vs. leading GOP attacks.

- WoodyBombay

November 18, 2008 at 8:09pm

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Mberger81 (5:18:48 PM): obama names more clintons!

Mberger81 (5:18:51 PM): just fantastic

Mberger81 (5:19:01 PM): and he wins his first initiative

Mberger81 (5:19:07 PM): liebs keeps his chairmanship

Mberger81 (5:19:19 PM): such a better first battle to take on

Mberger81 (5:19:26 PM): then bill clinton's gays in the military

Mberger81 (5:19:30 PM): this obama so far

Mberger81 (5:19:35 PM): is the very best president ever

Mberger81 (5:20:03 PM): liebs publically thanking obama

Mberger81 (5:20:06 PM): liebs owes obama

Mberger81 (5:20:07 PM): owes him

Mberger81 (5:20:15 PM): great job by obama

Mberger81 (5:20:18 PM): simply fantastic

- jwred18

November 18, 2008 at 8:25pm

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icarusr writes, "...Fact is, with Climate Change and a new New Deal in the background, Environment and Public Works will be the two pre-eminent committees in the Senate..."

Ick, a first!  We are not only in agreement, you actually defended me against one of your allies.

The lions shall lie down with the lambs.  I got dibs on lions.

- ChanRobt

November 18, 2008 at 9:36pm

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This is a bad joke.  What Lieberman and his pals think of all the people who donated time and money to help increase democratic majorities in congress couldn't be clearer if Harry Reid had just mailed us all a water balloon filled sunburned horse piss. Maybe someone should return the favor with like a dead fish or something [hey if it's good enough for Rahm it's good enough for all of us].

- arsonplus

November 18, 2008 at 10:08pm

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arsonplus, keep your shirt on.  Smart warriors don't make humiliate defeated opponents gratuitously.

They've got Lieberman where they want now.  He's got a Chair no other Democrat wants very badly.  And he owes them.

Pantsing Lieberman in the Senate chamber might have made you happy, but it would have been stupid politically.

For starters, a lot of Jews are with Lieberman on the Iraq issue.

- ChanRobt

November 18, 2008 at 10:50pm

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