Bernie Sanders Joins Leahy In Demanding Ouster Of Lieberman From Chairmanship

[jefferson_dem]

Bernie Sanders Joins Leahy In Demanding Ouster Of Lieberman From Chairmanship
from TPM Election Central by Greg Sargent and Eric Kleefeld

Okay, we now have a second Senator who's stepped up and joined Senator Patrick Leahy in calling on Democrats to boot Joe Lieberman from his plum slot atop the Homeland Security committee.

Bernie Sanders, also of Vermont, sent us a hard-hitting statement demanding that Lieberman get the push -- and strikingly, he said that if Dems didn't remove him, it would be an insult to Barack Obama's supporters and a betrayal of the change mandate voters delivered to the President-elect.

"To reward Senator Lieberman with a major committee chairmanship would be a slap in the face of millions of Americans who worked tirelessly for Barack Obama and who want to see real change in our country," Sanders in the statement sent our way by his office.

"Appointing someone to a major post who led the opposition to everything we are fighting for is not 'change we can believe in,'" Sanders continued. "I very much hope that Senator Lieberman stays in the Democratic caucus and is successful in regaining the confidence of those whom he has disappointed. This is not a time, however, in which he should be rewarded with a major committee chairmanship."

Rough stuff. The more voices we hear along these lines, the tougher it will get for other Senators not to follow in kind.

Sanders is technically an independent, but because he organizes with the Democrats he is still eligible to vote in the Dem leadership elections -- and he'll be voting against Joe for that chairmanship. More to follow?

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

[gemlake]

1. Go Bernie

[Faygo Kid]

2. Ya know, I understand where Obama is coming from, saying all the "right things."

And I defer to his obvious wisdom.

But on this one, kick Joe's ASS out of every committee anyway.

[JuniperLea]

7. I'm still hoping he will bend to the will of his esteemed colleagues in the Senate...

The right thing today may not be the right thing of tomorrow.

[4themind]

3. Give 'em Hell Bernie!

since I have trouble saying "Give 'em hell Harry(due to his invertebrate status) I'll have to settle for this new phrase

[pleah]

4. K&R

:applause: :applause: :woohoo: :applause: :applause:

[blogslut]

5. I've been napping all day

I didn't know my favorite Senator, Patrick (the Batman) Leahy, had publicly demanded Traiter Joe be removed from chairmanship. That's why I love that guy. He steps up when the stepping up is necessary.

And much thanks to Bernie Sanders for joining Leahy in opposition to that crumb-bum Leiberman.

[Selatius]

6. This is why Bernie Sanders bulldozed the opponent when he won his senate seat.

He was blunt and spoke honestly, and he was in touch with the working class interests of his constituents. What makes conservatives pull their hair out is that he isn't afraid of calling himself a socialist.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

8. K&R.

[Why Syzygy]

9. Why are we not screaming this from the rooftops?

Has anyone else signed the petition:

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


Did you see Rachel? This is from last night. Lieberman is guilty of dereliction of DUTY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnKh3N5Vgy4


Tonight she reported the Bernie Sanders quote. This is right dammit!
Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said he hopes Lieberman will remain in the party caucus and work to regain the trust of those he has disappointed.

"To reward Senator Lieberman with a major committee chairmanship would be a slap in the face of millions of Americans who worked tirelessly for Barack Obama and who want to see real change in our country," Sanders said in a statement. "Appointing someone to a major post who led the opposition to everything we are fighting for is not 'change we can believe in.'"


Keeping your enemies close is one thing.
But how can you trust someone to protect you when they don't even recognize the enemy?

We're going to have the VOTES. Republicans are going to be falling over themselves to vote with us. They don't know what else to do. Lieberman is going to be left behind no matter what. Meanwhile, he has done nothing to block every evil deed of Bush's. He has not asked A SINGLE QUESTION.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Several DUers took the trouble of contacting their Democratic senators

asking they vote to strip Lieberman of his Chair of Homeland Security or kicking him out of the caucus altogether.

Evan Bayh is my senator. I haven't received a reply to my e-mail to him.

[John Q. Citizen]

11. I'm with Senator Sanders on this. His analysis is real.

I never believed the Dems would or could leave Joe Schmoe in his Chair.

They will give him a co-chair with the peanut mold sub-committee or some such. That is how it should be.

I also applaud Sen. Sanders call to Sen. Lieberman to continue to caucus with the Dems. Joe will, if he knows what's good for him, and he seems to know that most of the time. Or maybe he won't. It's up to him.

[Why Syzygy]

12. kick