Remove Lieberman from all Domestic Security and National Security Roles
Joe Lieberman wants to keep his status and committees and caucus with the Democrats. He has been a fear-monger and someone who has promoted a dangerous, reckless false choice between American relations with Israel and other parts of the Middle East. He is a devout neoconservative who has been a key enabler of many of the most nefarious groups that promoted the Iraq War and who want a series of new wars in the region.
But more than that, he strongly supported someone a heartbeat away from the presidency who knew virtually nothing about America's place in the world, who knew nothing of American history and its leaders and conventions and founders.
Lieberman is dangerous on so many levels -- and he has not apologized for any of his positions or offered any explanation that should make Americans feel comfortable with this Senator in the next four years as Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.
If Dems would like to keep Joe Lieberman in the caucus, give him responsibility for education policy, telecom policy, health care -- but the price for the Dems keeping this fearmonger is that he be removed from any position with key responsibility for national security or domestic security matters.
It is useful to refresh the memory of what Joe Lieberman said about Sarah Palin, on stage with her, and what he remained on stage listening to as Sarah Palin talked about "Barack Obama's terrorist friends. . ."
This from TNR's Michael Crowley:
It was jarring, however, to hear Lieberman's full-throated endorsement of Sarah Palin, a woman with whom he has no prior relationship, and whose policy credentials you have to think the wonky 20-year Senator would find suspect in any other context."She's so strong, she's so capable, she's so competent," Lieberman told the cheering crowd. Emphasizing her "faith," he added that she is someone who "with your help--and God's help--will be the next vice president of the United States." More big cheers.
The religiousity continued when Palin bounded onstage. She commented right away on the number of American flags in the crowd, declaring: "God bless America--you guys get it!"
And then it was on with the attacks on Obama: "There are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are some candidates, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change," Palin said. She went on to reiterate charges that Obama is friendly with terrorists (Bill Ayers), wants America to lose in Iraq, and smears US troops in Afghanistan.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
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Give joe the chairmanship of the DLS (Dept of Latrine Security). I do believe it's something for which he's qualified.
The guy is a turncoat and can't be trusted in any capacity. Let the Republicans embrace him they have nothing to offer and the people of his state will vote him out of office in 4 years, The guy has proven to be a modern Benedict Arnold.
We have to send a message so that there will be no more Nixons and no more Bushes. If we had punished Nixon, I don't believe this mess of planned thievery would have ever happened. I don't feel safe on the street with these guys around. I don't feel safe for Obama. We have to make an example. We have to clean up government. This is not partisan. It's like "He's alright as long as he votes with us." I guarantee that these guys who go unpunished will make us, again, feel sorry. How did the conservatives hold power for so long? They got r i d of lots of people. We need to get r i d of the corrupt. Otherwise, they will lick their wounds, come back in sheep's clothing, and be worse than they were before.
Lieberman claims to be an ethical man and above the spite of partisan politics.
He claims his intrinsic sense of duty prevents him from voting any way but in alignment with his principles.
then he claims he might join the Republicans if he is kicked off the CHS.
But surely he would never ever vote with republicans on anything other than keeping American troops in Iraq. He must remain true to his principles, after all. But Joe's principles seem fairly flexible. They certainly allow him to do things like supporting Palin all the way to the Whitehouse.
If the Dems truly don't think Joe's principles are worth spit, they could keep him in nominal positions but undermine him in oh, so many ways. If he obstructs he could be punished, if he delivers he could be rewarded - like Pavlov did with his dogs.
Then again, perhaps we should just throw him out, the way the Republicans undoubtedly will should he ever cross them.
Please, just don't put him on any committees that have to do with education. Please??
Simply tell Lieberman "You are going to have to EARN your way back into a chairmanship."
Lieberman can earn his way back by voting for Obama's programs - one by one by one!
It's a question of trust. Let him caucus with the dems if he so chooses but remove him from the DHS chair.
I'm in favor of letting him stay in the Democrat Caucus (can we say short leash?), but making a switch in committee assignments might not be a bad idea.
Joe Lieberman can caucus with the Dems if he wants too, but he must be removed from his Homeland Security chair. He did absolutely nothing to make Bush accountable, but he would be a roadblock to Obama going forward. He doesn't agree with Obama on national security issues, so he would only be a thorn in the side of the new administration.
Joe Lieberman must be removed from the Homeland Security chairmanship - no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
I am not a fan of Lieberman in any, so when I say he is not a party traitor is unbiased, because he in not a Democrat - he is an "Independant". And his supporting McCain is respectable. But it is unforgivable to smear Obama with false negative claims of being unpatriotic and putting party before country. He stood next to a candidate that indeed put party before country when McCain picked the ignorant Sarah Palin. He defended Sarah Palin as competant when she can't even name all three countries in North America. A couple of years ago he begged Obama for his support when he was losing in Connecticut; which Obama responded by flying out there and soke on his behalf. Lieberman then spits in his face with horrible false accusations and expects no one to hold him accountable for it.
Lieberman and the neocons need to be crushed, by both the Republican survivors, who are well aware that the Bush administration and their party were both wiped out by the stupid neocon fantasy of "democratizing" Iraq for Israel's sake; and by the Democrats, who need to distance themselves from these fifth columnists on general principles. They simply need to be neutered by any means necessary. So, yeah, pragmatically allow Lieberman to caucus, as long as he plays ball, but take away any committee chairmanship that gives him any real influence on American foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. And run someone against him who can wipe him out in Connecticut in '12.
Uh, the election is over and so is partisan politics. Time to move on. This country is moving to the center, something the right wing learned the hard way during the election and you left wingers will now learn (sick em, Rahm!).
Its a new day and its about getting things done to move America forward, not continue same old bitter partisan politics.
I appreciate your sentiment, morthro14, but I disagree.
It ain't over just because they've been voted out of power. Until January, young Mr. Bush is still commander in chief and Dick Cheney is still in charge. Surge architect Fred Kagan is putting the finishing touches on the "resurgence" strategy, and the neocons have two months left to do that voodoo that they do so well.
A former professor of military history at West Point, Fred knows the components of a classic advance-to-the-rear maneuver: the main body backs down toward safe haven where it can regroup for the counter-offensive, leaving skirmishers in its wake to mine, booby trap, burn bridges and otherwise harass the advancing enemy.
The Southern Strategy Comes of Age
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/11/hbc-90003804
"This will be a transformative election... But I believe the longer-term consequences can be seen in what has happened to the Republican Party....
"The nation"s political pendulum swings constantly, and the Republican Party will reshape itself and will come to power again. But the Republicans hold on to a final redoubt that offers them little sustenance and little hope for an easy rally and return. This reveals the serious miscalculation of a master tactician. It is the legacy of Karl Rove."
Instead of simply becoming anti-Roves, we must grow our more perfect Union the exact same way the sun shines, the earth orbits, and all beings grow: from within!
D'oh! Omitted the link to the Neocon Bunker Hunker article.
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,178688,00.html
I propose he be made Chairperson of the Brown Nose Committee.
I say if Sen. Reid does not remove him he needs to be removed as Majority Leader of the Senate
This should have already happened. Reid is useless. I'm throwing out Sen. Clinton's name for Majority Leader. She would be the ultimate ally for President Obama.
Contact your Senators and Nancy Pelosie and Harry Reid - WE the people should decide, and OUR representatives are supposed to do OUR bidding, not rule over us.
Obama ran an excellent campaign by involving the PEOPLE, and we have seen that it works. I am always emailing or calling my representative's office when important issues are in the balance. They will react, because, as any politician, they want to be reelected by us: THE PEOPLE.
The Democrats will hedge their bets, and wait until the last senatorial elections are "in", but if we press them hard enough, they just might get rid of Lieberman. As so many mentioned before me: His behavior at the RNC and with McCain/Palin was inexcusable. On social issues he is somewhat liberal, but we have enough of "secret trials, being spyed upon by our own government, war under false pretenses..... And yes, he was elected by the constituents of Connecticut not Israel. The USA will always be a friend to Israel - and we don't need Lieberman anymore.
Agree--especially as chair of the committee that oversees the Department of Homeland Security. Leiberman co-authored the bill that created DHS, which I think was well-intentioned, but has then sat idly by as the agency has morphed into a giant Ponzi scheme which seems to run federal dollars through states into the pockets of a handful of defense contractors. Maybe that was his intention all along.
Even worse, he gave the Bush Administration a huge pass on the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. There was plenty of evidence which proved that the Bush administration knew that the levees had broken on Monday and yet did nothing about it. The fact that they acted surprised on Tuesday afternoon when the flood waters had finally reached downtown means that they are covering something up.
Joe must not remain chairman. He will obstruct plans to end our various middle east wars. If his is moral, he will still vote with democrats on issues. If he is not moral, we don't want him.
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