Democratic leadership considering exiling Joe Lieberman

[Displaced Flames fan]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/...ats/index.html

Obama should jump on this immediately.

He gets elected and now the idiots that run Congress want to pull something stupid like this. Absolutely shameful.

[SportsJunky]

I personally think he stays where he is but I'd have no problem if he was yanked out of there.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I personally think he stays where he is but I'd have no problem if he was yanked out of there.

Why would you not have a problem with it?

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/...ats/index.html

Obama should jump on this immediately.

He gets elected and now the idiots that run Congress want to pull something stupid like this. Absolutely shameful.

Typical congressional politics. The Democrats are trying to take control of their party. I think he should stay but he spoke against Obama at the Republican Convention so it isn't really surprising.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

Typical congressional politics. The Democrats are trying to take control of their party. I think he should stay but he spoke against Obama at the Republican Convention so it isn't really surprising.

I know it's not surprising, given Reid and Pelosi are in charge. I would think, though, that they would want to follow Obama's lead of unity and progress but instead seem to be on their own petty crusade.

What can they possibly hope to accomplish? It's nothing more than petty vengence.

[Weiser Wonder]

They are trying to create a coalition that is loyal to the party. They want to be able to control votes. I don't think they are doing a very good job at this point.

There is something to be said, however, with the thought that if he's not a Democrat anymore he shouldn't caucus with them. Although I don't know Lieberman's views very well.

EDIT: Turns out he has a solidly liberal voting record minus the Iraq war. http://lieberdem.blogspot.com/2006/0...ng-record.html

So I'll agree that it seems ridiculous to not have him caucus with the Democrats. Where is he supposed to go? He certainly isn't a Republican beyond some foreign policy views.

[Vulcan]

When someone crosses over to the other side, he can't expect to come back with things being just the same. This ain't religion, it's politics and I expect there to be some bad feelings.
I'd think he'll lose his committee posts at least.

[Kjesse]

I'd be surprised if Lieberman himself thought he'd keep his committee chairmanship if he backed the wrong horse.

Something needs to be done to send a message, but nothing severe. He and McCain have long been cross-party allies, and his backing McCain was at least honest.

The problem is he made some pretty stinging comments about Obama that weren't warranted, given his party affiliation.

[rubecube]

Considering all Obama did for Lieberman when he was fighting to be re-elected and how Lieberman basically stabbed him in the back, I doubt Obama will step in.

[Displaced Flames fan]

So I guess revenge is preferable to cooperation and progress here as well. That's encouraging.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

So I guess revenge is preferable to cooperation and progress here as well. That's encouraging.

I don't see it as revenge at all. They want people in their caucus that they can trust. Clearly they can't trust Lieberman.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I don't see it as revenge at all. They want people in their caucus that they can trust. Clearly they can't trust Lieberman.

Either that, or they can trust that Lieberman will vote according to his own beliefs instead of towing the party line.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I don't see it as revenge at all. They want people in their caucus that they can trust. Clearly they can't trust Lieberman.

Trust=vote their way every time no matter what.

That's the Reid and Pelosi way.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Trust=vote their way every time no matter what.

That's the Reid and Pelosi way.

Hey, I'm no Reid or Pelosi fan but I don't think they're doing anything blatantly wrong here. It's not like Zell Miller was welcomed back with open arms to the party after the garbage he pulled either. As far as I'm concerned, Lieberman made his own bed.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Hey, I'm no Reid or Pelosi fan but I don't think they're doing anything blatantly wrong here. It's not like Zell Miller was welcomed back with open arms to the party after the garbage he pulled either. As far as I'm concerned, Lieberman made his own bed.

Zell Miller flat out changed parties. Big difference.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Zell Miller flat out changed parties. Big difference.

I agree with you to a certain extent. My problem probably is that I'm to ingrained with Canadian politics, where we're used to the party whips and MPs being expelled from their parties for not voting along party lines. It's actually the thing I hate most about Canadian politics.

Let me clarify, I have no problem with Lieberman not voting with the Democrats 100% the time. I'm just saying the guy can't run as an independant, stump for the Republican nominee, and then expect to be included in the Democrat caucus. What do the Democrats owe him? It's pretty clear he puts his own ambitions before the Democrats on his list of priorities, they're just doing the same.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I agree with you to a certain extent. My problem probably is that I'm to ingrained with Canadian politics, where we're used to the party whips and MPs being expelled from their parties for not voting along party lines. It's actually the thing I hate most about Canadian politics.

Let me clarify, I have no problem with Lieberman not voting with the Democrats 100% the time. I'm just saying the guy can't run as an independant, stump for the Republican nominee, and then expect to be included in the Democrat caucus. What do the Democrats owe him? It's pretty clear he puts his own ambitions before the Democrats on his list of priorities, they're just doing the same.

Well, he didn't run as an independent by choice, but by necessity.

That aside, it's not about owing him it's about making the most out of the resources you have. Lieberman has to be considered one of the finest members of the Senate. Don't you want that guy as an ally?

I would.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Well, he didn't run as an independent by choice, but by necessity.

That aside, it's not about owing him it's about making the most out of the resources you have. Lieberman has to be considered one of the finest members of the Senate. Don't you want that guy as an ally?

I would.

Only if I were sure he could be trusted as an ally which, IMO, he's proved he can't be. I'm just saying when the guy lost his Senate nomination and ran as an independent, Obama went to bat for him. Joe didn't return the favour and actually tried to help Obama lose. How can he be considered an ally after that?

[Ice]

They don't want an ally, they want a puppet. Because Lieberman isn't the ideal yes man doesn't mean that he shouldn't have any value to the Dems. Alienating him is stupid. Its not a matter of trust, its a matter of having a politician who is willing to stand on his principles even if its not popular with those in his party, unfortunately a willingness to be contrary to the Reid and Pelosi types is enough to get walking papers.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

My own sense is that he won't be expelled from the Caucus, but he may also find himself on the outside looking in when committee chairmanships are passed out.

He also may find that he faces a primary challenge when he runs for office next, but he's dealt with that before and come out of it okay. But the fact is, he did more than support McCain. He did so while saying nasty things about Obama. He stood there at Republican rallies while the atmosphere became hostile. He smiled, fist-pumped the air, he described Obama as "naive" in an interview, the list goes on and on.

Bipartisanship means working with people from across the aisle. It doesn't have to mean turning on your fellow travelers so completely. Many Republicans endorsed Obama, but you didn't see them at Obama rallies talking about how McCain was "erratic." The closest example was Colin Powell, and if you don't think the knives are out for him in the GOP....

In the end, my guess is they'll forge a compromise position. Lieberman will caucus with the Democrats and will vote with them on procedural motions. He will continue to vote how he pleases on everything else. He will give up his seniority status within the party. It may not be fair, but it is life.