TIME: Why The Democrats And Obama Forgave Lieberman

hroughout his political career - from his earliest days as a state senator and Connecticut attorney general to his roles as U.S. senator, Vice Presidential nominee, pariah to the left and prominent endorser of John McCain - Joe Lieberman has never been shy about speaking his mind. That outspokenness on the campaign trail is what got him in his recent predicament, where his fate as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee and member of the Democratic caucus depended on the good graces of Senate Democrats.

Lieberman easily won the vote on Tuesday allowing him to keep his chairmanships, but he might not have been so fortunate without the implicit backing of President-elect Barack Obama, the same man Lieberman said so many nasty things about during the race for the White House. Yet Obama wasn't just acting out of bipartisan good will. In supporting Lieberman's continued inclusion in the Democratic caucus, he may have effectively defanged his toughest potential opponent in the Senate Democratic caucus. If Lieberman is anything, as he proved with John McCain, he's loyal - and now he owes Obama a big one. His job over the next few years, for the first time in his long political career, is to keep quiet.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[qxav949]

Seeing Joe squirm before his colleagues on international tv, forced to admit the grace and benevolence of the one he most disrespected during this campaign, is the beginning of sweet revenge. He will have more opportunities to genuflect before the Democrats and President Obama in the next 4 years. Kneel Lieberman, kneel.

[RobertHenryEller]

You mean: Heel, Lieberman, heel. Arf!

[HC4BO]

How about the Dem "leaders" having absolutely no bawls whatsoever ...

[BlueZoo]

I'll reserve judgment until the first big vote comes up in Congress. If Lieberman votes with the Democratic caucus then, and only then, will I believe his staying was a wise decision. I still don't trust the turncoat.

[MalloMel]

I knew there was reason why i never liked him, and now I know what it is. He is just plain sleazy, and is not to be trusted by anyone. If he turns against the Democrats again, they should kick him out on his nose, and let the good people of Connecticut finish the job in four years.

[gypsy508]

I guess he didn't commit the truly cardinal sin - running as a progressive independent or a Green instead of aligning with the Republicans. The Democrats would have definitely crushed him for that.

[ajax2]

"Shall we only threaten and be angry for an hour?
When the storm is ended shall we find
How softly but how swiftly they have sidled back to power
By the favour and contrivance of their kind?"

[BlueZoo]

Shakespeare? Origin, please.

[sixx]

Kipling

[iranter]

to do anything less would be unamerican, partisan and plain stupid.

[autoexradguy]

Just like Senator Geary in the brothel.

"All that will be left is our friendship," Tom says.

The more I see of Obama, the more he reminds me of Michael Corleone--in a good way.

[mnkors]

Liebermann is miserable. And with time passing this will be only worse.
As a politician he does not care what people say. However, as a private citizen he is destroyed, because he became a bad joke on a national scale. Who would want to bequest THIS to his children and grandchildren?

[ftprairiedog]

Change you can believe in? Come on people get real, Obama is a snake oil salesman and you all bought the oil. Democrats or Republicans both war party / corporate party. Obama will give his dogs a bone to shut them up, but change you can believe in? I think not.

[who38]

This is a copy of an e-mail response I sent to my Senator asking her not to vote for Lieberman. Enjoy!

Sent: 11/17/2008 11:48:54 AM
Subject: U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein responding to your message

Dear:

Thank you for contacting me about Senator Joseph Lieberman's (I-CT) recent appearance at the Republican National Convention. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

Like you, I was very disappointed by Senator Lieberman's speech at the Republican Convention and his criticism of Senator Barack Obama. However, with only a few months left in the 110th Congress, I believe it is better to wait until the beginning of the new Congress to reevaluate Senator Lieberman's Committee Chairmanship.

Once again, thank you for expressing your concerns. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C office at [phone] or visit my website at www.feinstein.senate.gov. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

[WildBill]

Retribution? After the increasingly odious and loathsome Sen. Lieberman shat on the Dems and President-elect Obama he is .....REWARDED?!?! Maybe the Dems should take it a step further and publicly apologize for having inconvenienced Lieberman so, ala Cheney's shooting victim.

[spandautoseattle]

Harry Reid could not solve this simple problem. BO had to make a decision. How telling.
This move is at best one of great wisdom and morality and at its worst comparable with letting an insomniac pyromaniac stay overnight in a paper factory.

[JackNasty]

The Senate Democrats' so-called leadership just sent a bowel movement to anyone who voted for change.

[NYC07]

Take your pick : 1 Sniveling Cowards, 2 Wussys 3. masochistic A$$ kissers .

[reliant1]

Or: Really smart, pragmatic, a$$kickers.

[urbanscorpio88]

He won't be able to keep it shut......