Lieberman Aide: Booting Him Would Be Putting Politics Ahead Of Nation's Safety

[jefferson_dem]

Lieberman Aide: Booting Him Would Be Putting Politics Ahead Of Nation's Safety
By Greg Sargent - November 9, 2008, 8:11AM

Lots of people have already chewed over this article in the Hartford Courant, which reports that Chris Dodd is, disappointingly, suggesting that Barack Obama doesn't want a fight over Joe Lieberman's fate.

But I wanted to draw your attention to this little nugget buried in the article, in which the Lieberman camp makes a rather startling argument in favor of his being allowed to hang on to his Homeland Security committee slot:

"Sen. Lieberman prefers to remain in the Democratic caucus," the aide said. "However, he believes he should remain as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. ... He thinks that political retribution should not go ahead of homeland security."

Can the Lieberman camp really be arguing that stripping Lieberman of his committee slot is tantamount to putting politics ahead of our safety, because we're so defenseless without him there to protect us?

Never mind that Lieberma's performance as chair of the committee was just awful. Lieberman's camp is now sounding a kind of hollow echo of the same silly scare-mongering tactics that he used against Obama on the GOP's behalf during the campaign, only this time in service of holding onto whatever vestiges of influence he has left. It's a coda to this whole affair that's perfect in its desperation and unintentional self-parody.

Separately, in reference to Dodd's point that President Obama won't want to be distracted from governing by a messy fight over Lieberman's fate, one could argue that this is all the more reason to get this wrapped up now. Senator Reid?

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/lieberman_aide_booting_him_wou.php

[Ian David]

1. LIEberman has done NOTHING to make us more safe.

Didn't he vote against creating the 9/11 Commission AND The Katrina Commission?

[Owl]

2. Get rid of him.

[Faygo Kid]

10. Well put.

And do it immediately. Get this over with now. Today.

Screw that shithead. He is poisonous, and has to go.

[myrna minx]

3. His arrogance is truly astounding. n/t

[geckosfeet]

4. His performance as committee chair was partisan and politicized. He should be removed.

[KittyWampus]

15. 8 years of Bush scandals and Lieberman presided over how many investigations?

Oh, that's right... NONE.

I agree he should be removed.

[nomaco-10]

5. joe has been emphatic about keeping his chairmanship...

on the homeland security committee. reid is saying NO, you can caucus with us but you must relinquish the chair. lieberliar is running to the pubs, but they don't have anything to give him, they're fixing to have to give up a few plum committee chairs themselves and giving one to joe would infuriate more than a few pubs.

lieberliar is between a rock and a hard place ( :evilgrin: ) and I'm just hoping harry reid will stick to his guns. Stay strong on this one harry.

[mrJJ]

6. Remove Sen. Lieberman's Chairmanship

Remove Sen. Lieberman's Chairmanship. eom

[MNDemNY]

7. I'm willing to take that "risk". By-by Liarman.

[Hepburn]

8. Yeah, right...

...:rofl:

I call TOTAL bullshit!

[soupkitchen]

9. Of course, if a foreign government made Lieberman a better deal

can we really trust his loyalty?

[kitkat65]

11. Sorry, but if he turns on his own party, what's to guarantee he won't

turn on his own country?

[still_one]

12. That SOB called our President elect the same lies as the mccain camp he associated with

He isn't a Democrat by HIS choosing

dodd is an ass, though it should give insight why this congress rubber stamped almost anything that bush sent them

Just because the people rejected the policy of the bush administration does not mean that they endorse Congress

We are watching Senator Reid, and if you or your fellow Democrats keep lieberman on his committee chair, I will work toward ANY Democrat who supports that to get defeated

liberman spoke at the rnc, and called OUR President unAmerican

[Justpat]

13. Yeah, that's right.

Only holy Joe can keep us safe.


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

[nomaco-10]

18. At his little presser friday...

"keeping the country safe" was his only priority. He never mentioned that he would like to advance the necessary social programs that may help during the crisis in the economy, reach across both sides of the aisle to help advance healthcare, nothing. That precious chair is all he cares about, more the reason to take it away from his ass. He's got a bias and personal agenda for wanting to keep it anyway.

[Justpat]

20. My theory is the Lieberman is certifiable.

What a gargantuan ego to think that he is best man for keeping the country safe. I believe that
he is truly delusional and I hope CT retires him at the earliest opportunity.

[frickaline]

14. Wow what a dumb argument, what is he the Highlander?

There can be only one!!!

What a joke he is. Yeah, I'm sure there isn't anyone out there more competent than this old fool.

[mitchum]

16. Lieberman is a proven TRAITOR

that scumbag only has loyalty to himself

[breakaleg]

17. Obama will be perceived as weak if he's allowed to remain in that post. nt

[Ferret Annica]

19. Make Lieberliar mayor of Death Valley

then throw him in there and put a fence around it.

[pipi_k]

21. Booting Lieberman IS taking care of the nation's safety

Honest to god, I am so goddamned sick and tired of those assholes trying to use "national safety" to make us all afraid.

Manipulating fuckheads

:mad:

[Warren Stupidity]

22. There are plenty of far more qualified LOYAL Democratic Senators

ready and willing to take that chair.

Lieberman's astounding theory that there should be no penalty for his actions over the last four years is so massively at odds with realit, that it raises questions about his ability to think clearly. Perhaps the Senator should retire, for the sake of the country.

[Doityourself]

23. I'll say it again...Fuck Lie-berman...he questioned Obama's patriotism..he has got to go n/t

[Frances]

24. So the aide thinks no one but Lieberman can do this job

WRONG

We don't need to give someone who questioned Obama every step of the way in the campaign

Can you imagine what the Repubs would do in a similar situation?