Joe Lieberman

Vendettas and ‘gotcha’ is the politics of old. It’s synonymous with the old attack ads, and something the American people have started rejected, rather strongly. Barack Obama campaigned on change. In two weeks since becoming our President elect, Obama has:

Embraced his one time rival Hillary Clinton, offering her a top position in his administration

Welcomed his recent rival, John McCain, to sit down and discuss how to move forward and put country first.

Dismissed any calls of Joe Lieberman being punished for campaigning against him.

The last issue is the biggie, causing so much outrage throughout the blogosphere right now. Obama said he was going to give us change, and he has. I wish some in the blogosphere would learn to accept that, instead of acting like the person who just murdered a family member was acquitted.

And if they have trouble listening to me, then listen to what Bob Cesca has to say on it – hitting on another point:

With Begich's victory, the Democratic caucus has grown to 58. With Franken and Martin, we could hit 60. Filibuster proof -- at least on paper. But imagine if the Democrats had voted to ejector-seat Lieberman from his chairmanship, and he had stormed off to the Republicans, as he had threatened.

The Begich win would've been nullified in terms of the caucus head-count. One step back to 57. Even if Martin and Franken both win, we would've been stuck at 59.

Yup, pushing Joe out of the caucus would have nullified the Begich win and we would have no path to 60. At least we still have hope, albeit a smaller hope.

I can’t stand Joe Lieberman, and I intend to watch his every move like a hawk from here on out, but there is a simple fact to remember. Joe votes with the Democrats more than the Majority Leader does. That’s something we can’t ignore. Obama has a very progressive domestic issue and we need every vote we can get. Let’s not cut off our noses to spite our face.

Joe Lieberman won more than just the vote to stay in the caucus and keep his chairmanship today. He is now the focus of attention of all the blogs on this side of the blogosphere. For an attention whore like Lieberman, that is orgasmic. People need to just forget about Joe and move on. We have so much other stuff to worry about and 2012 will be here before we know it. Then we can focus on stripping Lieberman of not only his chairmanship, but also his title as Senator. That will be sweet justice.

And for those blaming Obama, like I said in the past that is all he could do short of not saying anything at all (which would have probably been better). If Obama said “Joe must go” and then the Senate decided to keep him anyways, ala the good ole’ boys club, then President Obama would have had a hell of a time getting anything through Lieberman’s committees.

Plus lets also look ahead only two years. That’s when the next session of Congress will convene. Joe will surely be on his best behavior between now and then, and if he isn’t then he could end up gone – especially if we end up with a more solid majority, breaking that 60 seat threshold.

Just now breaking on MSNBC that the Democrats have voted to keep Lieberman in place.

Jed posted this video of a Republican strategist saying that Democrats and Obama need to reach out to Lieberman. Should the Democrats really take advice from the party that just got their asses handed to them and is still to afraid to admin what really happened? I don’t think so.

This Tuesday is when Senate Democrats will vote on Lieberman’s fate, and that vote will be by secret ballot:

Senate Democrats will decide by secret ballot Tuesday whether to take away Sen. Joe Lieberman's chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee — a post from which he oversees U.S. security issues, as well as the operations of a wide segment of the federal government.</p>The anger over Lieberman's campaigning for the Republican presidential candidate is still boiling — fueled by memories of his undercutting Barack Obama, including in a nationally televised speech at the Republican National Convention.

I have been staying pretty much out of this, but I can’t wait to see the outcome. I personally think Lieberman should be told to get out, but don’t think that all the blogosphere’s energy should be spent on Joe. Hell we all know he is an attention whore, so he must be loving it.

The secret ballot plan is great. That way neither side can go after the opposing views. I would hate to see any senators targeted because of the way they voted, and that is something bound to happen. This way things stay hush hush and we find out the fate in two days.

Treason comes with a price:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will likely meet later this week with Joe Lieberman to discuss whether the Democrat-turned-Independent will be stripped of his Senate committee chairmanship, a senior Democratic leadership aide tells CNN.

Lieberman currently chairs the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

This aide says that Reid, who is calling the meeting, has not yet decided what to do. The aide admits that the decision will be determined in part by the final election results tonight — and just how close the party is to a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority — but insists that the biggest factor involved is lingering anger among Senate Democrats over Lieberman's Republican convention speech.

This aide also said that Senate Democrats aren't that upset about Lieberman's constant presence and cheerleading on the campaign trail with John McCain — instead, they've been put off by the things he said about Barack Obama at the Republican convention in St. Paul.

Take him out Harry. He doesn't deserve to play Democrat anymore when he wants to be nothing but a Republican.

The Hill is reporting that Democrats might strip Joe Lieberman of his committee chairmanship next year, since he won't be needed to insure a Democratic majority. Maybe Joe will just go ahead and call the GOP home, like he needs to do.

When Joe Lieberman starts talking up Barack Obama. I was talking to some of my family yesterday about this, before the story even came out. I was saying I wouldn't be shocked one bit to see Lieberman start sucking up to Democrats and Obama since the party he has been supporting for the past several years is becoming a smaller minority. Looks like I was right. It also shows that Lieberman worries about one person only - Lieberman.

Joe Lieberman Yesterday:

thank God she's not going to have to be president from day one. McCain's going to be alive and well.

Yes Joe - thank God she won't, but that's more to the fact that she will be heading back to Alaska on day one for her fading days of political life.

The Republicans are trying to get Sarah ready to debate Biden:

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is among several national security experts helping brief Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on foreign policy issues as she prepares to hit the campaign trail while cramming for a debate with her Democratic opponent, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.), in less than a month, according to officials from Sen. John McCain's campaign.

Oh Boy! We get "bomb Iran" Lieberman in there. Do they really think that a cram session will equate to 30 years of experience?

Here's an idea. McCain loves these townhall meetings. Perhaps Biden should challenge Palin to one in the next week or so. Call their bluff and see how the McCain campaign responds.

Good, now can the Democrats move to remove him from their caucus?

It's being reported that Lieberman is on the short list for McCain's VP pick. If this is the case then Democrats need not wait until the next session of Congress to remove him from committee seats, do it now. It also isn't shocking to hear this, considering Lieberman has all but admitted he will be at the GOP convention.

If Lieberman is the pick, then this could be fun. Imagine him on the campaign trail, sounding more like a war monger than even Dick Cheney. I think it will give us a real nice target against McCain this fall.

After all, he is the headliner for Hagee's "2008 Christians United For Israel Washington-Israel Summit" July 22. Very interesting.

That's what Joe Lieberman said last year:

During a banquet at CUFI's 2007 convention, I watched with astonishment as Lieberman strode to the stage, then compared Hagee to Moses (watch Lieberman's remarks at 5:30 of my video) "I want to take to opportunity to describe Pastor Hagee in the terms the Torah used to describe Moses," Lieberman declared. "He is an Ish Elohim. A man of God. And those words really do fit him. And I have something else," the senator continued. "Like Moses, he's become the leader of a mighty multitude. Even greater than the multitude that Moses led from Egypt to the Promised Land."

And we have video (go to about the 5:30 mark):

So does that mean Lieberman also thinks Hitler was doing God's work? If so then it proves Lieberman cares nothing about Israel and only about war.

In all honesty he would be more at home there then at the Democratic convention. None the less it would be nice to have a solid enough majority in the Senate next year to tell Lieberman to shove off to the other side of the aisle.