Joe Lieberman To Be Stripped Of Committee Chair?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will meet with Joe Lieberman on Thursday to discuss how the disaffected, controversial Connecticut Democrat-Independent fits into the future of the party.

A source with knowledge of the situation says that Reid will likely tell Lieberman that he is being stripped of his committee chairs -- a retributive move for the former vice presidential nominee's anti-Obama, anti-Democrat advocacy on behalf of John McCain.

A second source on the Hill could not definitively confirm that this would happen. But he said that leadership was far from the position it held back in February, when it was assumed that Lieberman's committee chairmanships would be safe.

There are still various outstanding issues that have the potential to prominently change the composition of the Senate. As of now, races in Alaska, Georgia and Minnesota are still undecided. Moreover, it has yet to be determined what will happen with the spots currently occupied by Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And on a process level, the Senate's Steering and Outreach Committee also has the opportunity to make recommendations about committee assignments.

"There are," the source says, "a lot of moving parts. There is genuine suspense around what is going to happen to Lieberman."

Lieberman chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection, and the Subcommittee on AirLand Forces. If he is booted from these posts, he very well may leave the Democratic Caucus entirely. What he can be offered by the Republican Party in terms of committee assignments remains to be seen.

Comments

[artbcpa]

Taking Joe Lieberman off his chairmanships sends exactly the wrong message to start Barack Obama's administration of reconciliation. Why not have him become part of the administration so there will be no issue as to his Senate position? Other than the war, Joe Lieberman has voted with the Democrats 90% of the time. His expertise in a number of positions would be a valuable asset to this country.

[NOLAMoCity]

The winner does not HAVE to reconcile with everyone that bashed him. Lieberman is being punished for breaking his promise to refrain from verbally abusing the democratic candidate. He is not being punished for supporting his long time friend. He crossed the line with his disparaging words about Senator Obama.

OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[rnadna]

Amen to that!!

[babali]

Removing Mr. Lieberman off his chairmanship is not sending a wrong message. No one was offended for his support of Sen. McCain, but to diminish President-elect Obama is unforgivable and should carry consequences. A man such as Mr. Lieberman, with such lack of integrity and decorum, should not have a ranking position in the Democratic Party.

[Gusto2]

He voted 90% with the Democrats because he needed those democrats votes in his state.He should resign all his chairmanship if he had any decency.

[Davwbaird]

He needs to be removed he is an abomination to all democrats and folks of careful reason.

[Am-Expat]

A committee chairmanship is not just an honorary position. The chairman has a great deal of influence on the legislative response to issues. So the question should not whether he angered some Dems, it should be "is he the best person for the job?"
The answer is obviously No, he has shown erratic behavior, tends to put personal advancement ahead of country, and has been blatantly wrong on most issues he has voice support for.
He should not even be on a committee, let along being its chairman.
He should be booted but give a rehabilitation path where he has to prove himself with less selfish positions and clearer thinking. As he is now, he is of no good to the country, or the Democratic Party.

[jaygirl]

Lieberman is the worst example of a crooked politician that I have seen in my 75 years on this earth. He stands for NOTHING but money, power, greed, avarice, bigotry, desperation, sensationalism, ugliness, and betrayal. He has spent many, many years as a Democrat and then, because he betrayed the Party, he became a Republican in independent's clothing. He is so totally despicable that it is hard to watch him or read about him. A turncoat in any clothing is not to be trusted with great responsibilities or power in the Senate. I say, strip him of his committee duties and ostracize him as a member. He no longer stands for anything and is totally useless in all ways.

[mudhenjim]

My 8 year guilt trip for not voting Gore/Lieberman is over. I loved Gore but if you recall, Lieberman threw Bill Clinton under the bus during his troubled times. Who says you don't vote for Vice President. Because of Lieberman, I voted Nader in 2000. Yes, it was a mistake but Lieberman was the same then as he is today and I could see it clearly. I am vindicated. Show him the door now. I don't think the good people of his state will hire him again.

[kasv]

Lot of trolls on here taking up Lieberman's cause. Whenever you see one of the posts urging Obama and Dems to keep to "our" bipartisan promise, just click on the profile, then click on the comments tab. You'll see very quickly where the trolls are coming from.

[Davwbaird]

are not trolls abusive to the body politic on here.In my book they are. A civil discussion would be nice.

[rnadna]

And not all are snakes! There is a Limit, and in this case egegiously way over the limit!

[lpcon]

Get rid of him. He is duplicitous and a weasel

[Dhorl]

So much for bipartisianship. I'm a democrat and voted for a republican - should I be punished for voting outside of my party!!! It's about time we started looking to the future as a united country and not a red and blue county.

[Davwbaird]

It s not a manner of red and blue or anything its a matter of being a Lieberman aka Benedict Arnold. Its a matter of trust.

[rnadna]

That's fine. You voted your conscience. But if you were Lieberman, you's now vote Democrat, to keep your seat! Not much of a conscience there now, is there!!

[babali]

No, you should not be punished, but you should not be rewarded either unless the person you voted for gets elected

[Gusto2]

You have a right to vote for whom you want and should not be punished, but what he did does not compare to you at all. This man should not be in any position of leadership/chairmaship in a Democratic administration period. Like I said before, if he had any kind of integrity he would have resigned and not wait for a meeting with Reid. Next the people of his state should send him a message next time he seek reelection. Don't he as any shame.?

[mpg422]

I can't decide whether or not I think he should be stripped of the position or not...On one hand I think absolutely yes he should, not because he chose to support a friend, but because of the nasty things he said about Obama. On the other hand, if they do strip him, most likely he'll remain with the Democrats, and thats good. The bigger coalition the Dems can drum up, the more they can get done.

[JohnBryansFontaine]

Joe Lieberman To Be Stripped Of Committee Chair? One can only hope so. And I was dumb enough to actually vote for this disingenuous conniver.

[Adamwestiii]

Take Liberman for an airplane ride then kick his ass out! He's no different than most of his ilk! He is nothing but a husler who knows how to take advantage of people. Look how he followed McCain around believing McCain would win the presidency knowing John would giv'em a job. In fact, remember when Liberman travelled to Israel with McCain hustling up as much support as he could by praising McCain while in Israel.

[greguva]

The man said he feared America wouldn't survive Democratic control of the executive and legislative branches. Why would the Democrats possibly want to keep him in the fold?!

[sch123opinion]

Joe Liebeman should not hold any special committee positions with the Democratic Party. This man is up for sale to whom ever he thinks will give him some big Washington job. Well his one selling point was his ability to appeal to the Jewish vote. Guess what Joe, the Jewish vote was not yours to sell and that was proved in this election. You are yesterdays news, friend to no one to be trusted by no one.

[helgathewitch]

Just the kind of guy who needs to go. He is not worthy to have the job in the Obama administration.

[JoeLib]

I don't know about that.... The White House needs a janitor.

[Subtle]

Anyone who watched Lieberman compare Hagee to Moses, after Hagee had just given a speech about how it was time to strike Iran, knows Lieberman for what he is. (It's on youtube) Strip him of all chairmanships and give him an office next to Stevens.

[oldmilitant]

Listening to Sen Lieberman these past few months, I figure he doesn't want ANYTHING to do with the Dems. Soooooo,

OFF WITH HIS HEAD(ing of any committeees)!

[Last-LiberalRepublicans]

THERE SHOULD NOT EVEN BE A MEETING!! OFF With His HEAD!!!