Put Lieberman on a Short Leash, and Stop Feeding His Ego

If you despise Joe Lieberman, why the hell are you giving him exactly what he wants: attention. Why do you think he was so happy being John McCain's bedbug. All this attention is doing nothing but feeding his ego and validating him to himself.

Since the Bush buss, Lieberman has been irrelevant, as no one takes him seriously. His McCain endorsement got him some attention, but not enough. So, he spoke at the convention. Still not enough. He then told us Sarah Palin was qualified to be president, that McCain's doctors had assured Lieberman that McCain would live to 85, and that he was unsure whether Barack Obama was a Marxist.

As the voters showed on election day, Joe Lieberman's opinion did not mean much. Even Jewish voters, whom Lieberman had tried to scare, voted for Obama in slightly higher percentages than they voted for John Kerry.

My first thought was that, in the spirit of unity, Lieberman ought be allowed back into the Democratic Caucus and to keep his Chairmanship, but only if he did penance -- "explain" his absurd statements and traitorous behavior. We all understand his votes, but he could have done what Chuck Hagel did, and endorsed no one; or, he could have endorsed McCain but otherwise stayed silent.

But none of that would have fed the enormous ego. So, yes, Joe Lieberman is one piece of hypocritical work. My mother, a Connecticut resident, reminds me that it was William F. Buckley, Jr. who launched Lieberman into the senate.

I think a better answer is just to put him on a short leash. No big hoopla, no tense meeting, no attention. Let him retain his chairmanship, but tell him what is expected. For example, I want to see him stumping Georgia for the next three weeks, lambasting John McCain for supporting Chambliss after Chambliss committed one of the most reprehensible acts in U.S. political history, as John McCain himself said at the time. I want to hear him tick off Chambliss's votes against veterans, attack Chambliss's seven deferments and extol the virtues of Ed Martin who answered the country's call and served in Vietnam while Chambliss walked away on his "bum knee." I want to hear Lieberman tell people that he has not seen Chambliss limping.

Following the Georgia run-off, Lieberman's short leash would include his votes and his public statements. For example, Lieberman should be told that he must support Reid on cloture whether he agrees with the bill in question or not. If he does not vote along with Reid on cloture once, the chairmanship is history. Once cloture is achieved, and only 50 votes are required, how Lieberman votes will likely be meaningless, but, as part of the short leash, Lieberman should be told that if his vote is the deciding vote, and is contrary to the majority of the caucus, then hasta-la-vista-baby to the chairmanship.

If Lieberman does not measure up, and loses his chairmanship and bolts the caucus, that will be his choice. The caucus will neither be adorned by his presence, nor notice his absence.

Or as Groucho, that other great Marxist, sang as the Lord High Executioner in the Mikado, "he never will be missed, he never will be missed."

Comments

[schey]

Short leash ? Not a good idea. You can't 'bully' Lieberman like he is a 7 yrs old kid. That ain't gonna work. The way he talked on TV didn't sound like he regreted anything. If he seriously wanted to retain the Chairman post, he should have shown more sincerity.

I wonder if Obama is confusing Lincoln's hiring his former rivals (Chase, Seward, Sumner etc) into his cabinet with Lieberman's situation ? Lieberman is no Chase; they should give Chairman position to the most qualified, not as a candy to appease.

[blarsen]

If he keeps his chairmanship he'll be nothing but trouble. Tell him to go to the republicans. He won't. Look what happened to Chris Shays. Strip him and if he wants to caucus with the dems fine, but if he stays chairman of Homeland Security it will show how weak the dems really are and that will be red meat for the republicans for the next four years.

[adamsmith3]

Treasonous traitor! He must be ex-communicated from the Church of the Democratic Party for his betrayal. Only pure-bloods are allowed.

[samerbayer]

Are you arguing for him to keep the chairmanship of Homeland security?
The damage he will cause is very great. Do you want war with iran?

[IbrahimSapien]

You know, this is why people get sick of the Democrats. There must be some spirit of party discipline. The degree of treason committed by Lieberman is incomprehensible. That the Democrats would welcome him back in after that hypocrisy doesn't make the party, or Obama for that matter, seem wise or merciful or tolerant. It makes them look like fools lacking in any understanding of how to run a political party.

That Lieberman is no longer a member of the party should have been a given. No need for raised voices or even acknowledgment. "Lieberman who? There is no Lieberman in the Democratic party".

[ElBruce]

Move him to a subcommittee. No Homeland Security for you! If he wants to bolt, then he doesn't get anything at all, because the Republicans don't have any chairmanships to give.

But telling him to behave isn't going to work. He has no honor at this point, and can't be trusted by anyone to uphold any kind of bargain. Just tell him what's going to happen and make him swallow it with a grin. No bargaining, no negotiating. Just "here's what you get, it's that or nothing."

[Plowboy]

Joe Lieberman is a sickness we need to get ouit of our system. Cut him out. A cancer like that can kill us.
He was elected by Republicans opposing the real Democrat, Lamont. He joined McCain in opposition to Obama. He has been, is, and always will be a damned Neocon. The DEmocrats will be stronger without him. To allow him a role builds him up for his future in opposition to the needs of America.
Purge him quickly.

[GeorgeP922]

So what you are really saying, is there isnt a chance in the world for this loser in our party?
His ego is too big.

I think his only option, that is if he wants to retain his ego and daily ridicule, is to go to the GOP.

I think your framing of Georgia in this discussion cements perfectly what Lieberman is, another republican.

[Progress08]

I say Obama sits him down and;

First, he dresses him down for questioning his patriotism while stumping for McCain.
Second, he tells him he'l going to let him keep his chairmanship, but only if he does what he's told.
Third, he instructs him that he will caucus with the Dems which means he ardently stands up for and supports Obama's agenda NO MATTER WHAT IT IS!!!

You hear that Lieberman! Shut up and do as your told or you'll be sent to the boiler room to be the chairman of the HVAC committee.

[CaptainStormfield]

One of the suck things about the Senate seniority system is that States are reluctant to get rid of people who have powerful chairmanships.

[coffeeslug]

They need to completely shun Lieberman. Any coddling is just going to get him re-elected. Dump him and treat him like the cancer he is, and the good people of Connecticut will have no choice but to elect a senator who can work with the Democrats to get things done.

[Grunty1]

You are saying that the onus should be placed on Lieberman to make or break his own position. I think that bird has completely flown since 2006 and longer. Many Democrats continued to support him when his state threw up out of the primary and he turned on them like a rabid dog at the first opportunity, simply because the GOP must have offered him more.

[abigail1]

I don't agree. this isn't just about the political betrayal of Lieberman, this is also about competence. he has been terrible at administering oversight of the Bush administration. just awful. that is why he should lose his chairmanship. I am fine with keeping him in the caucus, I am fine with throwing him some sub committee chairmanship bone, but get him off Homeland Security. We voted for change and a huge part of the change we need is to have people who will actually do the job they are supposed to in charge.

[Jesster]

Amen!

[Plowboy]

Oversight? He has been an active and enthusiastic collaborator. He is an evil. Let the Republicans have the vile thing.

[eden4barack08]

The vote on Joe the Judas' chairmanship in the Democratic Caucus is six days away, we have some good chances of prevailing, but they can be better if we keep contacting our Senators. You can do so with the following easy link:

http://tools.advomatic.com/7/kickjoe

Joe can caucus all he wants with us, but we cannot entrust such an important chairmanship in the hands of someone who votes the total opposite of us on the subject, and frankly he also has been lousy at that post. If he doesn't like it, it's his choice to leave.

[eden4barack08]

I disagree with everything in your post. First of all, the chairmanship is too important to just let him keep it, besides, he really sucked at it anyway, at most he can be contented with a lesser chair, and kept in the caucus. If he doesn't like that, then go ahead and accept the Repubs offer, we don't need him. Second, as far as stumping in GA? Thanks, but no thanks. The man has credibility at below ZERO! He will cause Martin's loss, rather than help. Third, Joe the Traitor, is a man who can't be trusted even on a short lease. We don't need another "trial", he's had eight years of trials.
Bad behavior should not be rewarded. Joe must lose the chair, stay in the caucus, be a good boy for the next 4 years, vote with Dems and Obama all the way, and hope CT will reconsider him in 2012. If he doesn't like that, he can move to the Republicans, then CT will finish him off in 2012.