Lieberman: Obama "Just About Perfect" In Cabinet Picks

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman took another step Tuesday toward mending his relationship with Democrats, saying that Barack Obama's actions since winning the presidency have been "just about perfect."

"Everything that President-elect Obama has done since election night has been just about perfect, both in terms of a tone and also in terms of the strength of the names that have either been announced or are being discussed to fill his administration," Lieberman said during a visit to Hartford.

Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, was re-elected to the Senate in 2006 as an independent but continues to caucus with Democrats. He supported Republican John McCain's presidential campaign, going as far as to criticize Obama and make a speech at the Republican National Convention.

Democrats threatened to strip him of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee but instead removed him as head of a smaller environmental subcommittee.

Connecticut Democrats meet Dec. 17 and are still considering a possible censure of Lieberman for his actions during the presidential campaign.

"I will ask them to judge me by my record," Lieberman said. "Generally speaking, I've had a record, a voting record, which is really ultimately what it's about, not unlike most Democrats."

Lieberman said he believes the rift between himself and the party stemmed mainly from his support of President Bush's policy in Iraq and will close as that becomes less of an issue.

"It appears to me that the war in Iraq is coming to a successful _ I don't want to say conclusion yet, but it's moving in a way that it will not be a divisive issue either in the Democratic Party or between Democrats and Republicans in the time ahead," Lieberman said. "And therefore, I think we'll return to more normal times, which I welcome."

Comments

[jonjon66]

Who really gives a flying F*ck on what thinks? He who has NO constituency.

[GemState]

Why would the opinions of THIS guy matter? If we had listened to him we would be suffering through stories of Vice President Elect Palin and her clothes and listening to the sound of silence from More-Of-The-Same McCain who had no plan beyond what Bush is already not doing to help the economy. This guy lost all credibility on everything, for ever!

[ohioan73]

Yeah Joe, go ahead and pucker up good. :D

[quintus]

Who cares what this guy has to say? Especially now? This guy burned ALL his bridges as far as I'm concerned. Period. Amazing that the Democrats have decided to let him keep his committee post. Perhaps it's merely strategic? I hope so.

Lieberman, like McCain, will always be seen by me as a man who sold his principles down the toilet. In his present opportunistic reincarnation he's playing suck-up to Obama. How long will that last, given his deep sincerity.

[devildog21]

If Lieberman likes what Obama is doing, we are royally screwed.

[GemState]

too right. :)

[one4obama]

I am going to do a hit and run on this piece.

Since I cannot stomach reading Lieberman's hypocrisy, I have something to say to Lieberman.

You will forever be remembered as a hypocrite, as a liar and as a repulsive backstabber. You do not deserve to be holding any government position.

But tonight, we can all go to sleep peacefully knowing that you have finally given your blessing for Obama.

[DangitRuss]

They must have given him an ultimatum worthy of the Godfather to get Lieberman to 180 like this. Maybe that SNL sketch on Rahm Emmanuel wasn't too far off.

[PennP]

People like Joe Lieberman don't have beliefs, they take positions. Doing a 180 is an easy pirouette when you're not really rooted in anything but your own ego. What Lieberman says now about Obama is as meaningful as his slobbering endorsements of the stellar leadership qualities of Hillary Clinton and John McCain. It's a fool's drool, and we're the dummies if we take it for more.

[auntcloud]

While it is nice to think of Lieberman as "scared" or "sucking up", the man seems to have the 9 lives of a very lucky cat.

He lost the Democratic nomination and then ran for office anyhow in spite of Lamont. And then he WON.

He flaunted his conservative tendencies and endorsed McCain. He campaigned with him and attended the Republican National Convention. And then, after the Republicans lost both the White House and the Senate, he now retains most of his authority.

Huh? WHAT?

He has played his position to the hilt. The man should be feared and certainly not trusted, because that is some serious game he's got.

It has only just occurred to me now that, as part of the 2000 presidential ticket the Republicans stole an election from him. No anger? No payback? Gore mounted an environmental insurgency, and has spent the last 8 years as the darling of both the technocracy AND the science world. Scholars, scientists, and heads of industry have flocked to his speeches, a very clear rebuke against our now outgoing administration. He's like the Lady Di of representative democracy. And maybe both Lieberman and Gore simply became more of who they really were after their shared defeat, but my real point is that Lieberman fled into the arms of the enemy, which is gross and stomach turning. So who is this man and what do we really know about him?

[jnah]

i hope you have alot of lipstick for all the @sses you'll be kissing joe

[chriss0114]

Joe (Whats-In-It-For-Me) LIEbermann says, "Just about perfect."

What's missing, Joe? Your appointment to something?

[Jaybot]

So Lieberman is a suck-up or Obama is a sell-out? It's not necessarily one or the other, it can be both.

[lvdragonlady]

You are the sell-out........

[kwoodberryesq]

Okay, does Connecticut have a recall procedure? Ned Lamont is owed an apology!

[bikerdude]

I think recalling Israel Joe and impeaching bush and cheney are the proper way to handle these war mongering cretins, but I ain't holdin' my breath until either happens.

[PackyJ]

Jeez.
What a suck-up.

[lj9283]

Sounds like the media in need of a story. Look for drama and conflict wherever you can, and if you can't find it try to get someone to slip up and make the story for you. Maybe they can ask Paris Hilton about Obama's cabinet appointments.

Could it be time to move away from personality journalism? Can we get a news story with some substance? Who cares about what Joe Lieberman has to say about the Obama appointments? What does it have to do with the issues, policy, or crisis?

The press may wind up with a serious problem in the next several years with the advent of Mr. Obama's administration. When the story becomes about the policy, and not the personality, many of today's leading news commentators may find themselves back in school to learn basic journalism.

[getoffthecross]

That makes me nervous. Lieberman hasn't backed the right horse since 2000. But I guess even a broken clock can find a nut twice a day...or whatever.

[395spoons]

He has no choice now. He will have to vote with the Dems on ALL important issues!