The REAL Reason Why Lieberman Wants To Keep His Gavel

[kpete]

This is actually about a specific power Lieberman is intent on keeping for a specific reason.

This seems to be routinely overlooked, but take a moment to consider what the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs actually does: it's the committee principally responsible for oversight of the executive branch. It's an accountability committee, charged with investigating the conduct of the White House and the president's administration.

................

And yet, now Lieberman acts as if keeping this chairmanship is the single most important part of his public life. Why would he be so desperate to keep the gavel of a committee he hasn't used? I'll let you in on a secret: he wants to start using the power of this committee against Obama.

Lieberman didn't want to hold Bush accountable, but he seems exceedingly anxious to keep the committee that would go after Obama with a vengeance, effectively becoming a Waxman-like figure -- holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching investigations against the Democratic president.

Lieberman doesn't care about "reconciliation," he cares about going after a Democratic administration. Why else would he fight diligently to be chairman of one committee instead of another?

...........................

more at:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015577.php

[MidwestTransplant]

1. I bet their is some truth to this but regardless their is NO WAY he should keep his committee.

[Bandit]

2. I thought he was the Chair of Homeland Security

I don't think that committee is charged with Administrative Oversight.

[kpete]

3. from the same article:

This seems to be routinely overlooked, but take a moment to consider what the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs actually does: it's the committee principally responsible for oversight of the executive branch. It's an accountability committee, charged with investigating the conduct of the White House and the president's administration.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015577.php

[robinlynne]

19. And why the hell is Lieberman even on that committee?

[LiberalLovinLug]

60. No wonder there was no oversight on Bush

Not that Nancy and Harry were going to do anything anyways, but good old Joe was Bush's last line of defense if Kucinich or any other of the liberal wing of the Dems got too feisty.

F*CK LIE-BERMAN! Go away already.

[NMDemDist2]

4. Homeland Security and Government Affairs is the full cmte name

here's a link to all the stuff they cover

http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=About.Jurisdiction

[Faryn Balyncd]

5. Joe needs to Go

[OregonBlue]

9. SIGN PETITION TO REMOVE JOE LIEBERMAN FROM HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE

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

[Lochloosa]

11. Done.

[66 dmhlt]

63. Signed it a couple of days ago ...

And if anyone really needs more convincing that Joe Must Go:

[66 dmhlt]

64. OOPS! Sorry - a Newbie mistake ...

I thought I was replying to the original post WRT the petition. Was NOT trying to cut in front of anyone. Mea culpa.

[aquart]

85. Perfect.

And yes, this is classic chutzpah.

[ooglymoogly]

16. Thanx for the very satisfying link.

[City Lights]

20. Signed...thanks! nt

[spooky3]

24. how about starting a separate thread to call attention to this? - I'd gladly k&r

[russspeakeasy]

29. Thanks for the link.....done

get rid of this asshole, or we get rid of you...

[ConstitutionJoe]

31. Signed and Sent

Done. Thanks for the link. I'm sending it out to friends.

[redqueen]

32. Thank you! (nt)

[beac]

47. Done. n/t

[AllyCat]

50. Done and sent to friends/family

[calimary]

51. Done!

Seems there is STILL little interest in accountability or consequences for one's bad actions. Hell, move him to another committee or subcommittee and throw him a bone that way.

[upi402]

52. done, thanks n/t

[DUlover2909]

53. Done too.

[Kaleko]

54. Signed, thank you.

[bonito]

61. Done n/t

[Doodler71]

67. Signed. Thanks for linking this here.

:dem:

[andlor]

68. done

[Maine-ah]

69. done.

[GreenEyedLefty]

90. Done.

I suggested that Joe wait for a *Republican* majority to chair a committee. Asswipe. Talk about wanting things both ways.

[snappyturtle]

91. Done. Thanks for posting!

:kick:

[Catamount]

97. Done and done! k&r

[Pastiche423]

100. Done!

[Hubert Flottz]

6. Makes sense to me!

Joe is a real low-life turncoat, IMHO. He's really pissed because he can't be president. I think he's every bit as power crazy as Cheney or Bush.

[Backwoodsrider]

7. They might keep Joe on

Just my rainy day opinion but there is always negotiations going on in the senate behind the scenes of which we usally only hear about after they are finished. Think of what the NRC would give up to be able to have thier man Joe is a position of oversight over Obama? Remeber the senate is a family and Reid gives me no reason to think he would not go along with Lieberman as a way to regulate Obama

[rosesaylavee]

15. Joe's the one who needs regulating - not Obama.

I think you have Reid all wrong.

[Omnibus]

45. That's not entirely true. Obama needs regulating.

I donated to him, and volunteered for him, and voted for him, and trust him to run the country...

...but for a President to have no oversight or regulation is wrong, even if he's ours.

Congress should get back into the habit right now of carrying out it Constitutionally mandated oversight duties; we've all seen where it can lead when they stop.


Lieberman the turncoat hack is the wrong man to head such a committee, though. Kick him to the curb.

[rosesaylavee]

46. Of course the President - even a DEM one needs oversight.

That was not what I was objecting to. I think Lieberman is a RW tool and we certainly don't need someone to create trouble where there isn't any just to run out the clock 'til 2012.

Or perhaps you have already forgotten Whitewater?

[dothemath]

55. hmmmmmmmm ..........

Apparently, what I have forgotten is that Whitewater was over before Clinton became president.

I need a new calendar.

[rosesaylavee]

73. Of course it was - but they made it the distraction du jour

through most of his presidency. And after that distraction was drained for all it was worth, Clinton had his intern problem to feed them thru the second half of his administration.

What I thought I was saying - and perhaps wasn't clear, is that we don't need Lieberman or anyone else to set up a distraction that causes the President and the Congress from getting shit done. Lieberman has indicated his lack of loyalty and on so many levels, should not be allowed to maintain the perks of caucusing with the Democratic leadership when he doesn't support them.

Hope that clarifies.

[blossomstar]

75. You are so right. Reminds me of the lyrics of an old song

About being bitten: "Shut up you pretty woman, you knew I was a snake when you took me in". It is crystal clear in every aspect of clearness that Lieberman is in fact a SNAKE.

[alcibiades_mystery]

109. Obama needs fair regulation...Lieberman has proven himself incapable of that

And should be removed for that reason.

[formercia]

8. It's also about money

As a junior Senator from Connecticut with no power, his campaign contributions from Big Pharma and others will dry up quicker than his love-life.

[chiefofclarinet]

23. No matter what happens, he IS the junior senator of Connecticut

Chris Dodd has ALWAYS been senior senator of Connecticut since Lieberman was elected.

[populistdriven]

10. Oh get Lieberman the fuck out of there already this is ENOUGH!

[orbitalman]

27. In this case... ENTIRELY appropriate.

... and worse.

[AzDar]

12. K & R ...

:kick:

[Melissa G]

13. done.n/t

[Laelth]

14. That's prescient. Wish the OP's title was more informative.

I buy this argument.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[varelse]

17. I signed the petition

thanks for the information and link(s). Threads like these (and posters like you) are why DU is my homepage :P

[gratuitous]

18. I have a suggestion for where Joe can keep his gavel

But as far as continuing on as chairman of a Senate committee? Uh uh. No way, no how, no Joe.

[1Hippiechick]

77. Uh-oh.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40&feature=related

[City Lights]

21. Joe is a disgusting little weasel. The sooner he's no longer relevant, the better.

Recommended.

[Kurovski]

22. Joe just needs to go.

Do the Repubs really want a turncoat in their midst? His only value to them is as spy and wedge.

Or whatever. I don't fucking know. Just DUMP the crispy old skeeze already.

Between him and Rahm I can hear the cock crowing thrice already.

[bain_sidhe]

25. AH!

Sorry I duped your post, I didn't see it...

So, in penance, I'll rec yours!

[CLG_News]

26. K&R. n/t

[tinrobot]

28. K/R

[NorthCarolina]

30. If this is true they better dump him NOW. It would look suspicious if they waited

until AFTER he initiated some BS investigation of Obama.

[bluesmail]

33. I have wondered what would have happened if Al Gore

ended up winning the election and had Lieberman as VP. Scares me to think about it, but then we all did live through eight agonizingly long years of * and The Dick.

[Fire1]

34. Astute observation. As I said on another thread, SNAKE!

[Fire1]

40. I signed the petition and forwarded e-mails. Thanks for the heads up.

[BrklynLiberal]

35. K&R. Should be seen by those in a position to make a decision about LIEberman.

[barbtries]

36. i think he just wants power

and he will lose it because of the way he's played it over the past few years.

[ellie]

37. Toss this fuckhead

to the curb and take away his gavel.

[ColbertWatcher]

38. k+r, n/t

[sandyd921]

39. I just hope the Dem leadership can see through him. n/t

[Edweird]

41. I find that completely plausible and entirely likely.

I have been calling for his ouster since I first got here. Lieberman out.

[HughMoran]

42. Isn't there some capital crime like treason or something that he can be charged with?

This guy is clearly a traitor and needs to be held accountable.

[mzmolly]

43. I have some suggestions regarding what Lieberman can do with his

gavel.

[1Hippiechick]

76. Uh-oh.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40&feature=related

[mzmolly]

92. Heh.

:rofl:

[orleans]

44. joe the traitor should be stuffed in a closet and kept out of sight & out of mind

turn him over to the other team--they said they will take him. they can fucking have him.

[defendandprotect]

48. Oust him ...I think he's kept this committee pretty inactive...???

[defendandprotect]

49. Why not censure him/remove him from chairmanship--???

[krispos42]

56. Kick him to the curb

Refuse to let him caucus with the Dems. Put him on ZERO committees or subcommittees. Ignore him as much as possible.

Lieberman is dangerous. You think "yeah, he's scum, but I can use him to achieve our political goals then just dump him". But you can't because he always winds up on his feet and a step ahead of you.

Don't make the mistake the bad guys do: assuming you have the turncoat under your thumb so you can afford to keep him around. Dump him now.

[Granny M]

57. K & R nt

[moondust]

58. Throw the bum out.

End of story.

[lamp_shade]

59. Get him out and get him out FAST. Monday. This stinking fish issue will just

get stinkier every hour that action is delayed.

[creeksneakers2]

62. Why give him any power?

We know he'll use it to hurt Obama. Joe needs to go now. Down the road, when Joe starts a witch hunt it will be impossible to get rid of him because it will look like a cover up.

[HamdenRice]

65. I agree, but there's one other reason Lieberman "needs" that committee chairmanship:protect Bush

The article seems to make the case that the most important thing to Lieberman is OFFENSE against the new Obama administration.

I think Lieberman's most important reason for clinging to the chair is DEFENSE of the Bush administration and his complicity in its crimes. Here's the takeaway from the article:

"As chairman of this committee for the last two years, Lieberman decided not to pursue any accusations of wrongdoing against the Bush administration... Lieberman preferred to let his committee do no real work at all..."

Lieberman knew what was going on as Homeland Security Chair about Katrina, flashing orange and red homeland security signals, 9/11 -- and did nothing.

He's trying to protect his own complicit ass and his buddies in the Bush administration.

[nebenaube]

66. Wow

If he was responsible for the oversight of the executive branch; doesn't that make him an accomplice and war criminal?

[307 MMS]

70. Lieb = love ?

In German, that's what it means. But not applicable here! What's the big worry on him being involved in some oversight? Subpeana my ass. Bush/Rove/Cheney, et al have set the bar that court order matters not. How many of the "circus" were called to account and blew it off, with NO consequences, I might add?! A lot of precedents were set by the Bushite turds. That's all Obama has to do, if the Repukes get too pushy. Just say, "hey, here's what you folks did about accountability, court orders and executive power. So....go screw". Man, would the 'Pukes howl! HA! Not that Barack and co. would do it, but the precedent's there if they try the same crap they pulled on the Clintonistas. Time will tell, but there have been some pretty ugly precedents set. No reason why the tables can't be turned and tit-for-tat, etc.
My $.02

[acmavm]

71. What confuses me on this issue is that it's not an open and shut issue.

He betrayed the party. What part of that is so damn hard to understand.

What's that old saying about a leopard and his spots? Too late in the game for old Joe to suddenly become a patriotic, honest, concerned democrat now.

[nickgutierrez]

72. The solution to the Lieberman problem isn't very difficult.

What Reid should do is give him the choice to remain in the caucus or not, but make clear to him that, should he choose to remain in the caucus, he would receive committee assignments and other rights and privileges equal to a freshman senator. Make the bastard earn his way back up, and remove all influence he might have along the way.

[bobd0]

80. I just contaced both of my senators reqeusting they

urge their fellow Democratic Senators to remove Lieberman from the Democratic Caucus and strip him of his chairmanship.

I hope they comply. Lieberman is a traitor who did far more than simply support John McCain. Lieberman did all he could to cause the most damage possible to Democratic candidates and the Democratic Party.

[nickgutierrez]

81. He was working for down-ticket Republicans, too.

So, yeah, what you said. :D

I'm naturally inclined toward solutions that carry with them a bit of poetic justice. It just appeals to me to see Lieberman, that snake, try to crawl his way back up again, carrying water from the lowest reaches of Senate subcommittees.

[jonestonesusa]

74. Fascinating thread - thanks.

Why in the world is this a hard decision for Harry Reid and the Democratic leadership to make?

Why in the world is it considered acceptable by any Democrat for a U.S. senator to openly campaign for the opposing party's nominee in a crucial presidential election and still be a Democratic committee chair?

Every Democratic senator with integrity ought to stand up with their constituents and un-chair Lieberman. If he's really a social progressive, he can continue to vote that way. The Republicans could use a few standup voices for reason in social policy - maybe that's where he'd be most effective.

What a spectacular way to drag out a no brainer decision!

Sens. Feingold and Kohl are both getting letters from me. I sure hope others will do the same.

[1Hippiechick]

78. Signed the petition and forwarded on to others. Thanks for the post and link! n/t

[Piewhacket]

79. Lieberman needs to lose his committee chair. Period.

To the winner go the spoils.
No retribution. Its about agenda.
Lieberman cannot be relied on to advance the OBAMA agenda.

[pipi_k]

82. Well, whatever his future plans might be...

the fact remains that it's what he did in the recent past that merits his immediate removal from all Democratic association.


Although it's said that past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior, and I have no doubt that he would sell his wife to further his own political career.


We don't need any more evidence of his duplicity and lying...


And I really hope that those responsible for ending his little joyride over the will of the people actually HEAR our voices and act accordingly

[debunkthelies]

83. K&R

Boot the Traitor.

[Munden]

84. Wake up dems. KEEP Lieberman!

I can't believe that so many of you are jumping on the anti-Lieberman band wagon.

Yes, he was for McCain for the election, and yes, I was confused and angered by his decision and attacks on Obama but you should still WANT Lieberman!

Take a long hard look at Lieberman's record. He aligns himself with Dems on every single major issue with exception of the war. Pro-choice, supported no child left behind but heavily criticized lack of funding (same as Obama), outspoken environmental protector and vocal critic of Bush's environmental policy, supporter of gay rights, and the list goes on and on.

He has been with siding with us for nearly two DECADES and now is not the time to throw him under the bus!

Obama has said repeatedly and has set the tone for the need to all work together and the longer we bicker over Lieberman the worse it looks for us.

Lieberman sided with his *friend* and said it was his stance on the war. It was a slip up. Get over it.

As an independent democrat, Lieberman will give cause for the more centric republicans to give his opinions a second look.

*We have the majority control on everything now.* We won. Lieberman can only help us now so do NOT alienate him.


Barack Obama said now was the time for Americans to put aside political differences and work together to solve the problems we currently face. Lets really do it this time.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

86. It will be easy to find a real democrat to fill his shoes.

[1Hippiechick]

93. Your first post?!? Welcome to DU.........

[Flubadubya]

102. LEAVE LIEBERMAN ALONE!!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Dr Fate]

104. Lieberman's constituents expect him to continue all this- what is your point?

Lieberman's constituents expect him to continue to vote with DEMS- whether he is on a commitee or not.

Lieberman risks losing re-election if becomes a spiteful, Obama obstructionist...

[TankLV]

106. NO. He's STOPPED siding with us for a LONG TIME now.

Don't feed us this "he's been with us for over two decades" bullshit.

He's been AGAINST all the important things - almost ninty percent - for the past two to eight years now - and with every fucking year it's gotten WORSE!

YOU have SELECTIVE MEMORY, honey - and it couldn't be MORE wrong.

The fucktard LIEberman has been AGAINST the things that COUNT for a LONG TIME now...

Do not alienate HIM - he's fucking alientated US!!!

[mikehiggins]

110. Are you kidding?

First of all, the question SHOULD be moot since the Democratic primary in his state turned him out and he won as an "independent" with the help of Establishment Dems, including Obama.

THAT should have been ENOUGH payback for his support, and should have earned his lifelong dedication to the principles of the Democratic Party. Instead, he joined the campaign of the GOP and travelled around the country correcting McCain's flubs and joining the chorus attacking the winner of the Democratic Presidential Primary.

Whoever you are, I can fairly certainly tell you I am not part of this "we" who think this turncoat weasel has any more to offer the Democratic Party and/or the Obama administration than more betrayal and traitorous behavior.

If Lieberman does NOT go, the Democratic Party will be nothing more than a joke in which you can do anything you want and be faced with "leadership" without the guts to exact any sort of penalty.

[ThoughtCriminal]

87. Remember Brownie's Confirmation?

Lieberman chaired that. No substantial questions about qualifications or policy, just rubber stamping.

Heck'uv a job Joe.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

88. That guy needs a good shrink. His whole life revolves around getting revenge against the Dem Party.

and why I don't know. It was the Repubs who screwed him over and cost him the Vice Presidency.

[WinstonSmith4740]

89. Done!

Screw him...let the republicans have the two-faced son of a bitch.:puke:

[bananas]

94. k&r nt

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

95. Gavel!!??

I can tell Joe where to put his gavel?

[SpiralHawk]

96. Lieberman is a Republicon Homelander. Pretending...

But he has Homelander written all over him, to America's detriment.

[liam_laddie]

98. Exile Joe...

to Israel, his favorite foreign power. He's a sonofabitch. Begone! Reid, do the deed...

[imperial jedi]

99. done !!

n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

101. Lieberman needs to go.

This would be a Clintonian mistake if Obama lets Lieberman keep a position he can use against Obama to pressure him into "triangulating."

[rvablue]

103. OK this is the last straw, I already wanted Traitorman kicked to the curb

but thought if others in the Congressional leadership thought it was best to let bygones be bygones, then I'd yield to them.

Not now. Not after the sentence I just read that you highlighted. I want him out and out on day one.

Even though I still love Gore and would vote for him a million more times if I could, the fact that I ever touched a screen for that traitorous opportunist makes me want to hurl.

[yeswedid]

108. agreed!

Benedict Lieberman is sickening to me.

[yy4me]

105. Done n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

107. Your theory assumes that Lieberman us a closet Republican

Now, why would any one think such a thing?