Lieberman: 'I Fear' That 'America Will Not Survive' If Dems Get 60 Senate Seats

Think Progress:

With the possibility that Democrats might soon gain a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has been openly flirting with thoughts of voting with his conservative colleagues. Last week, ThinkProgress noted that prominent conservatives like Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) said he would welcome Lieberman "with open arms."

Today, in an interview with right-wing radio host Glenn Beck, Lieberman made clear that he firmly opposes Democrats gaining 60 seats in the Senate, saying that the survival of the country is in doubt if Democrats break the filibuster threshold:

BECK: But do you agree that Senator Hatch said to me that if we don't at least have the firewall of the filibuster in the Senate that in many ways America will not survive?

LIEBERMAN: Well, I hope it's not like that, but I fear.

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[tonydon]

This man is the reason we Got bush 2 in the first place, bad choice for VP

[Whinger]

Could be much worse Joe, if your mate John got elected I doubt if the planet would have survived!

[MalamuteMan]

Bipartisan cooperation will still be needed to get anything done. Reed needs to have a little talk with Lieberman to let him know that if he wants to keep the privileges he enjoys as a member of the Democratic caucus he had better start acting more like a Democrat. If Lieberman continues his turncoat ways, then Connecticut voters should throw him out the next time he comes up for reelection, and the FIRST time he refuses to block a filibuster his Chairmanship should get yanked!

[missjabez]

This traitor should be drummed out of the Democratic Party;he should join the Republican party since he he is always toadying for them.

[mshazen]

He needs to go period, out gone please people get rid of him. I want people who want to get things done not try to stop them. He is a team player all right for all the teams.

[nubret2008]

What he really means is ' I don't know If I can politically survive if Dems get 60 Senate seats'

[SlithyTove]

Just think what might have happened if the Republicans had indeed followed through on their "nuclear option" to do away with those pesky filibusters standing in the way of their brave new world.

[MalamuteMan]

It's a double edged sword...

Giring and gimbling in the wabe are you???

[cobraxus]

Joe Lieberman picked a good time to go republican­.I'm sure they'll welcome him with open arms.The question is will he get re-elected in 2012?

[Marlyn]

Now that we will have a Democratic President, the Democrats won't need 60 seats in Congress. They only needed that to override Bush's veto.

[EverAnOptimist]

It still takes 60 votes to break a filibuster, a tactic the Republicans have used frequently to block Democratic iniatives. Maybe some of the more moderate Republicans will come around now.
EV, Taylors, SC

[MalamuteMan]

Time to brush up on your civics Marlyn... A 2/3 majority in both houses of congress is needed to override a veto... But anyone can talk endlessly "ostensibly" about a proposed bill as a way of preventing it from coming to a vote... that is called a filibuster­... and the only surefire way to halt this tactic is to have 60 votes in the Senate to force a vote. If someone wants to filibuster, they can see to it that a bill will never be seen by the president.

[Bronx56]

I fear Lieberman will soil his shorts when he finds out he's been tossed from his commitee chair, and has to face an electorate that overwhelmingly rejected his pal Sen. McCain....­.

[Jesster]

I really had no opinion of Joe Lieberman until Al Gore (mysteriously) chose him as his V.P. - and he almost immediately emerged looking kind of like a clown. Since then, my impression of him has gone steadily downhill.

I wish he would just make his alliegence to the GOP official - I'm tired of the Dems having to kiss his butt - a position he obviously loves.

Just the sight of this guy makes my skull prickle.

[suziq]

America will be fine, BETTER even!! Joe's only fear is for his political future - he should be affiliated with the gop since he shares their ME-FIRST attitude.

Joe, the country just OVERWHELMINGLY told you who your friends should be in the 21st century. Pay attention.

[JeanneArc]

America will not survive? Seriously? And how has it been doing these past 8 years? Joe Lieberman sold his soul to try to achieve power, and is now as rudderless as John McCain. Both deserve -- and hopefully will be -- marginalized now, as the new administration works to undo the damage this previous administration has wreaked.

[MadFae]

Give. Me. A. Break.

[Golfer59]

Joe has to GO!!!!!

[troika]

Joe can buy a WINTER HOME in Sedona.

[Blue in NH]

Judas Joe: no one cares what you think.