Democrats give Lieberman a slap on the wrist
posted at 12:45 pm on November 18, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Joe Lieberman will remain in the Democratic caucus and keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. On a 42-13 vote, the Senate Democratic Caucus settled on a less drastic punishment for Lieberman’s vocal opposition to Barack Obama in the presidential election:
Senate Democrats have voted to allow Sen. Joe Lieberman to retain his chairmanship of the powerful Homeland Security Committee.
The secret-ballot vote was 42-13.
We noted yesterday the irony and political courage of Senate Democrats who insisted on a secret ballot for this vote but who won’t extend that right to American workers in organizing elections. In this case, it probably helped Lieberman. In a public vote, some of his colleagues would have been hard-pressed by the Left to either commit political suicide or to vote Lieberman off of Democratic Island.
Maybe Senate Democrats can remember that vise when they consider Card Check.
Instead of losing his Homeland Security slot, Lieberman will lose his chair on an environmental subcommittee. Lieberman had been a strong voice on global-warming issues and had tried to partner with John McCain on a cap-and-trade system. This may cut off the Democrats’ nose to spite their face; without Lieberman in the lead on this issue, they may have more trouble finding a Republican partner.
Democrats caved to Lieberman … again. I’m certain Lieberman is particularly enjoying this term in office.
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Was it from Barney?
kybowexar on November 18, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Was it from Barney?
kybowexar on November 18, 2008 at 12:46 P
LOL might have been!
sheebe on November 18, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I hope Liberman doesn’t start behaving as though he owes anything to Obama.
Tacitus_SGL on November 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Yet another EPIC FAIL for being on Team Maverick! Way to go, McCain!
Weebork on November 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Tee Hee! Lieberman gets the last laugh again.
Illinidiva on November 18, 2008 at 12:49 PM
I hope Joe has a lot of KY. He’s gonna need it.
HornetSting on November 18, 2008 at 12:50 PM
At least he is still in there. I still laugh about Global Warming. Almost 10:00 here in Ca. and is already 85 degrees! Will gladly accept snow, or some rain. Send it UPS thanks!
sheebe on November 18, 2008 at 12:50 PM
He doesn’t owe anything to Obama. ;) BTW, let’s put some Kos Kids reaction up soon! I want to see the epic meltdown over there.
Illinidiva on November 18, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Goddamn my spelling has been terrible today :(
Tacitus_SGL on November 18, 2008 at 12:52 PM
I knew Reid would crack. The man has no BALLS
Go Joementum!
lodge on November 18, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Two things.
1.) Those who voted to keep him should all email Joe to tell them they supported him, that way, he knows who voted against him.
2.) Markos is going ballistic in 3…2…1…
rightside on November 18, 2008 at 12:52 PM
What in God’s name are you talking about? They were talking about censuring Liebs, kicking him out of all sorts of committees, etc, etc. And they have basically given him a “tsk, tsk” punishment and walked away.
Liebs wins again!
mjk on November 18, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Did they give in? Or just kept him from switching parties.
broker1 on November 18, 2008 at 12:54 PM
The Democrats wanted to keep Lieberman in their Senate caucus and Obama said he wasn’t out for revenge on Lieberman either, which obviously strengthened Lieberman’s bargaining position. So he gets off lightly in exchange for remaining in the caucus and the Democrats also get a higher chance of Lieberman coming down on their side on a number of issues, including health care reform. Time will tell if it was a good bargain for the Democrats and if those more partisan Democrats who are angry over Lieberman not being punished will in the end be mollified by future legislative results. While the urge to punish Lieberman is understandable, it isn’t as if making him an example is necessary either as there aren’t any Democratic Senators looking to jump to the GOP anytime soon.
starfleet_dude on November 18, 2008 at 12:55 PM
This Just In: Joe Lieberman new Security of State.
Firebird on November 18, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Dear Liebs,
We love ya guy. Can we start calling you #60?
Hugs & Kisses,
Harry and Nanc
fogw on November 18, 2008 at 12:58 PM
They know perfectly well what Card Check does. They just don’t care.
But Bush was a fascist, don’t you forget it.
BadgerHawk on November 18, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I hope this is a sign they know they won’t have a fillbuster proof senate…one can hope after all that is the message of the one – hope.
Dr Evil on November 18, 2008 at 1:02 PM
This was all a sham “conflict” for Obama to stand up to Reid… nothing more than Hollywood magic going on over here…
gatorboy on November 18, 2008 at 1:04 PM
heh, they have a secret ballot. how covinent, guess that means there are 13 dems who are real radicals, the rest just caving to political pressures
jp on November 18, 2008 at 1:08 PM
They caved. Didn’t want to lose his vote.
Exactly.
davidk on November 18, 2008 at 1:09 PM
The Democratic leadership remembers 1994 and don’t want a repeat of 1994 — that doesn’t mean they don’t want to get all of their agenda passed, but they realize doing it overtly will make 2010 into a potential disaster.
The problem is the netroots have a hard time remembering more than a year or two in the past at a time. To them, 1994 has no meaning because THEY WON THE #$^%#*%$@! ELECTION FOR OBAMA, MAN, so they’re not going to take Barack, Reid or Pelosi caving in on things like Joe Lieberman, Hillary Clinton or major tax increases opposed by the Blue Dog Democrats with much grace or civility.
jon1979 on November 18, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Were you channeling your inner Quick Draw MaGraw?
(”I’ll do all the thinn’n around here… don’t you forget it!”)
kybowexar on November 18, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Lieberman should still pull a Jim Jeffords
jp on November 18, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Perhaps that is why they had to keep Lieberman – there has to be at least one intelligent Democrat in the Senate.
kybowexar on November 18, 2008 at 1:15 PM
32 Degrees, 3 inches of snow (Just this morning. More on the way!) and the nation’s highest gas prices here in Buffalo, NY. I’ll swap with you ANY DAY pal.
wearyman on November 18, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Sunny and, well, sunny. Haven’t seen rain in about two months. About $500,000 dollars away from being a third-world country. Home of the Fairness Doctrine Fairy, Senator Bingaman and the dumbest population, current person is a transplant, in the nation. New Mexico.
HornetSting on November 18, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Joe vs. the Dhims yields yet another victory for the one with the moral courage and conviction to stand up for his beliefs.
Go Joe!
SimplyKimberly on November 18, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Two sets of rules. One for the aristocracy, the other for hoi polloi.
Senate Dems’ votes need to be kept secret because those casting them are important individuals. Wal-Mart greeters and cashiers and the like are interchangeable and easily replaceable with any other set of organisms.
That’s what Card Check really is. Ruling-class Dems view “workers” on the slime mold model – cells attach to each other and form a membrane. Only the collective entity counts to them. Employees aren’t people, really, they’re just politically-useful biological units.
Gilda on November 18, 2008 at 1:36 PM
I wonder how many of those votes came from Democrats who know the nation needs to keep a semi-hawk in that position.
njcommuter on November 18, 2008 at 1:41 PM
This was all about the ability to pass close-vote legislation where Lieberman will agree 8 times out of 10.
okonkolo on November 18, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Apparently, when the voting is done in secret, more Dems support Senator Lieberman than are willing to do so in the light of day.
This is one of those cases in which I hope the Republican party can deal with the realities of Connecticut politics and find a way to back Lieberman when he stands for re-election. His wisdom and judgment on issues of great importance would be difficult to replace.
Unequal Time
bryanmyrick on November 18, 2008 at 2:15 PM
It’s interesting that the Democrats get a secret ballot but the don’t want workers to have the same right. Interesting indeed!
dalec on November 18, 2008 at 2:21 PM
He should wait until they reach 60, one way or another (Stevens, the comedian, Snow joining the O admin, etc.); then he should switch parties immediately.
Schadenfreude on November 18, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Man, those Democrats really showed some guts, didn’t they?
They got the white flags ordered yet?
GarandFan on November 18, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Can they change their mind if Saxby Chambliss wins?
YYZ on November 18, 2008 at 3:21 PM
As a democrat myself, I have no great love for Liberman. But I think the democrat caucus did the right thing. No reason to throw away a perfectly good senate vote for revenge.
Ric on November 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM
I really do not understand him. He ought to just step up to the next level and become a full fledged RINO and be done with it. The Democrats have treated him like scum.
JellyToast on November 18, 2008 at 6:19 PM
What a champion “player” Joe is. He has successfully played both sides and continues along!
Monkei on November 18, 2008 at 9:27 PM
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