A Lieberman Press Release For All Senate Democrats

The United States Senate is a relatively small legislative body where members typically enjoy long tenure and develop deep political bonds and personal friendships. So I understand that it must be incredibly difficult for Senate Democrats to do what they must and deny Senator Joe Lieberman further chairmanship of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee and to so marginalize him in the Democratic caucus.

I know it's not easy, so I want to help.

For the consideration of all staffers of Senate Democrats, I offer this suggestion for how to announce such a painful, but entirely necessary, decision.

* * * * * *
It is with deep regret and sadness that I announce I am unable to support my colleague, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut in his quest to retain his position as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee in the 111th Congress.

I have known and admired Senator Lieberman for many years, and had been willing to accept his continued support for President Bush's disastrous Iraq policy as a philosophical and political difference that, while considerable, still left room for me to work with him on a range of other issues and to find common ground.

But with his support of the Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential campaign and his persistent and active participation in events and forums that smeared and discredited President-elect Barack Obama in intentionally misleading and despicable ways, I believe Senator Lieberman has revealed beliefs and values that are inconsistent with the Democratic party and the President-elect's mandate from the people.

President-elect Obama inherits significant economic and political challenges when he takes office in January and, under a Democratic Senate, a committee as vital as Homeland Security can simply no longer be led by one who has abandoned our party's core principles and who stood by mutely and with no oversight as President Bush debased our Constitution and our national creed, while also diminishing our nation's security posture.

The United States Senate is well known as an extraordinarily collegial and deliberative body and this is not a move any of us wanted to make. But Senator Lieberman has clearly decided for himself that he no longer wishes to be a part of the majority leadership and with his many actions has effectively resigned his committee chairmanship -- we are merely finalizing a decision of his own making.

Therefore, I will vote in the Senate Democratic Conference meeting next week to strip Senator Lieberman of his Chairmanship of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee.

You can read more from Bob at BobGeiger.com.

Comments

[GwenElle]

Exactly!

[LisaJeanM]

Well said. There is much at stake here. If Lieberman is allowed to retain his chairmanship it will send out an absolutely terrible message. The Democrats will look weak and ridiculous. Many loyal dems who worked hard and donated in this past campaign will be deeply offended and alienated.

Lieberman's one vote is not worth compromising the integrity of the party. If the party shows no principal now they may very well become the minority party again in 2010.

[sisteract]

Well said. We now need 57 letters just like it.

[boing007]

Hear! Hear! Joe's gotta go!

[Infokronea]

Your posting is both eloquent and rational. So why does part of me still want to ask the DNC to send Joe out on one, last hunting trip with Dick Cheney?

[eden4barack08]

Well, technically it's a secret vote. Shouldn't that mean that everyone can vote their conscience without having to give an explanation to anybody? I would think that should make it easier on all those cowardly Senators.
Unless their problem is they actually really like him, and want to keep him, for some mysterious reason.
So far we just have two sane ones, Sanders and Leahy, and they did say something similar to your press release.

[anachoret]

I don't trust the guy being in charge of investigations. I don't see how we can have him playing defense against meaningful insights, with the potential of returning trust and transparency. It just doesn't seem likely to yield anything different than Joe has already failed to produce.

[JulianJons]

Very well said, I hope the members will take a look and do it. He should be allowed to caucus if he wish, but he does not deserve to be a chairman. It could bring headaches and would be tough to change at a later date. Action must be taken now.

[brynn6]

If you think that Lieberman should be ousted from this committee chairmanships, please take a minute and sign this petition to the 19 Senators that will be deciding his fate. Thanks and pass it on.

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/petition/nomorejoe

[montesdeoca]

I totally agree that he disqualified himself and thank Ariadne for making this protest possible.
My daughter from CT thinks he should go on a long fishing trip. Montesdeoca

[demtotheend]

Good ole Joe
Sold his soul
For what he thought was a VP select
Too bad for him
McCain didn't win
and now he has to keep his head low

Goodbye ole Joe
Glad to serve you gone
For me though it really took too long

[DaveC19]

Joe must go! We don't need "Joe-the-Turncoat" in a key commitee chairmanship.

He is a PNAC neocon, and a war hawk, flush him!

Remember it is "Change we can believe in" not "More of the same we can't afford"

[lagumbo]

Joe must go. He can't be trusted. President OBAMA should not have to watch his back, and with Joe around he will have to. Send Libermann packing. He is a trader.

[gisellestwocents]

For me, this isn't even about BO any longer. At the RNC, Lieberman spoke out against the ENTIRE PARTY. Was he at the DNC? No, he was not. He was actively working against our objectives. How can he be entitled to a leadership position in the party? It's absolutely ridiculous. I don't have a problem with him staying in the caucus and having a lesser position, but if the Chairmanship of HSGA is the price that he expects to extract for staying in the caucus, the price is too high.

Let him go where he wants to go...

[thebatgirl]

WELL SAID.