Lieberman's Colleagues Ticked Off By His Support Of John McCain

New York Times:

Joseph I. Lieberman, lapsed Democrat of Connecticut, strolled into the weekly lunch of the Senate Democrats last Tuesday, unaccompanied by a food taster.

He greeted his colleagues, including some who felt he should not have been there. He ate his lunch (salad, eschewing the mac and cheese) and sat through a discussion about gasoline prices and Medicare.

Then the conversation veered into the danger zone, the presidential election -- specifically, Senator John McCain's recent votes, or nonvotes, on energy policy.

At which point Mr. Lieberman walked out.

"I just didn't feel it was appropriate for me to be there," Mr. Lieberman explained the next day.

"It was the right thing to do," said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the Democratic whip, who said that a colleague approached him afterward to complain about Mr. Lieberman's showing up. "This is a delicate situation," Mr. Durbin summed up.

It has grown increasingly so for Mr. Lieberman, once his party's vice-presidential candidate and now a self-styled "independent Democrat." He has zigzagged the country on behalf of Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and, in recent weeks, amplified his criticism of Senator Barack Obama to a point that has infuriated many of his Democratic colleagues.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[MikeDu]

Its finally dawned on me what he's up to. Lieberman is pandering to McCain in the vain hope of becoming the next 'Rumsfeld'. No way in hell Obama would think to name Lieberman to a fancy-pants cabinet post.

[jupitor]

lieberman has no right at any DNC function from this time forward! He make his choice and it's very plan. Sense Mccain has once again fired his staff, maybe old joe can join old john on the bus to no where land!

[booker52]

Why doesn't this guy just change parties?? He certainly isn't a dem anymore.

[frankifrost]

BECAUSE HE IS A RABID DOG:
HE WON'T DRINK THE WATER,
BUT WON'T ALLOW OTHERS TO DRINK.

[loax]

You feel badly?? To bad Joe, you made your bed, now keep lying with the dogs who have ruined this country, and keep supporting McBush to continue wars we don't need. I hope you are shunned not only in DC, but back in Ct. Just switch parties to what you really are - a Rethuglican!

[keepemhonest]

Lieberman said, "“I feel badly about this turn of events.”

... is that so, Joe?

[MyThought]

It wouldn't matter which party Lieberman belonged to - he gives me hives. I can't stand watching him talk. He thinks he is owed a position in government, that it belongs to him without hesitation.

He's an opportunist and a backstabber.

He needs to be brought down a peg - needs a lesson.

[lewby54]

I think your right! Joe would do well in the knesset.
What we have in our congress is a representative from the israeli gov't,
He belongs in Israel, not in an American congress. Truth is this man has
no loyalty, at least not to anyone here. His loyalty blows in the wind.
It won't be long he wont win re-election. Since Connecticut is not israel,
their is no loyalty there either.---Maybe he could get a job as ambassador
FROM Israel.

[Zentomato]

Joe should consider running for a seat in the Israeli Parliament and just move there permanently.

[tchristin]

He was hoisted to national prominence by running for national public office as a Democrat and was happy to take the money of the party to do so and was happy to have the help of Senator Obama when he needed to raise money. His mouth should earn him a big defeat in coming years. I hate to say it, but I'm glad he isn't our Vice President. We might not have had an Obama candidate otherwise.

[mamacat]

If the Dems antagonise Sen. Lieberman, and if he then caucuses with the Republicans, the Dems will lose their one vote majority in the Senate. In a tie, the Vice President becomes the deciding vote, which means the Republicans set the agenda again in the Senate.

[Helzapoppin]

wont matter in 5 months. Holy Joe's power to antagonize the Dems will be gone.

[truthyguy]

Unfortunately that is the ugly truth.

Fortunately that will only be true until January when the newly elected and re-elected democratic members of both houses of Congress are sworn in. After that Lieberman and McCain will be irrelevant.

[truthyguy]

If Lieberman was smart he would realize this and stop acting the role of swing vote power broker since come January there may be more than just a little revenge taken against him.

[meanguy]

yea, heaven forbid anyone express support for the candidate he thinks would be a better president...

[Grunty1]

If he thinks Mc'Cain would be a better dog-catcher, let alone president, it certainly calls his judgment into question.

[meanguy]

oh, sure...and supporting the guy who spent 143 days on the job, accomplishing exactly ZERO, before deciding he was to be the savior of the nation, is an example of 'superior judgment?'

[olivia]

McCain and Lieberman are on the same page on the topic each holds dearest:

Bombing the Middle East.

The Democrats need to kick Joe out.

[olivia]

I don't understand why Lieberman has not changed parties. What's in it for him to claim to be a Democrat?

[billrott]

A committee ship is in it for him to stay. If he switches, he ha little to no seniority with the other party, so he will not head a committee. It is simply about what is best for Joe. The guy only seems to care about himself these days.

[kasv]

This term is Joe's last, unless CT voters elect him as a Republican next time around.

[Dmitriy]

I'm just speculating, but don't people in "last term" usually seek to further their political careers? I dunno, maybe like a cabinet position?

[lorla]

He figures Mc policy will more quickly produce The Rapture.

[GoldCanyonGal]

...it's about time...I wonder how they are reacting to Obama visiting Irag with Repubs? Oh that's right...they're mostly dead from the neck up anyway (re: FISA vote).

[AnnieinOR]

Hagel is not running again - and is an outspoken anti-war republican - so that is neither here nor there, and Jack Reed is a democrat from Rhode Island... duh.

[ladeyday]

When he approaches the table, they should either all get up & leave or not acknowledge his presence.