it’s time for him to go.

To paraphrase the immortal words of Inigo Montoya:

He keeps using that word. I do not think it means what he thinks it means.

Watching the video, I can tell Harry Reid wants this problem to go away. Whether he realizes he is the one who can make it go away is quite another question.

Time to man up, Harry.

Dugg
You may join me in digging this post, if you like.

They may serve their constituents perfectly well, but Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are terrible at their respective leadership posisitions in the same way Dennis Hastert was. Denny helped his home county of Kendall here in Illinois with a lot of things the county needed badly. But he was probably the worst Sepaker of the House in U.S. history. Pelosi is giving him a run for his money and Reid is no better. Neither seem to pay the least attention to their oaths of office. When Reid the other day badmouthed Lieberman, I figured we were screwed because this weak-kneed bunch only ever issues sternly worded statements; they never follow through. It’s not in their nature.

People forget, or don’t know that Harry Reid is a staunch Mormon. A Mormon Democrat is an oxymoron. Harry should be demoted and get a more active senate leader in there. He will never remove Lieberman.

Go take a hike, Harry

I still want to see the purported 90% vote record with the Dems… I haven’t seen it… Am I missing some votes…?

why did they ever elect him in the first place?

Hmm, someone pulled the video. Wankers.

Might I suggest some buzz-cut Senator from Montana?

on the video, Reid said, “I would not be majority leader but for his vote.”

sounds like maybe Harry made a dirty deal with Joe to get himself elected majority leader—eternal amnesty for any misdeeds Joe might later commit

Harry, tell us what price you paid for Joe’s vote for you as majority leader

Juck Loe Fieberman. And huck Rarry Feed.

Lieberman’s malfeasance as committee chairman real reason to strip him of all committee work.

I think the main case against Lieberman is his derelection of his constitutional duty as head of his committee to provide oversight. Lieberman did nothing. We can speculate about why he did nothing. Maybe he really saw nothing to investigate during the serial Cheney/Bush scandals. Maybe he views his chairmanship as nothing but a political tool for advancing his own career. Perhaps he just old and foolish. It really makes no diffference why. He did absolutely nothing, it is objective documentary history.

For me, the main case is that Liberman is guilty of gross malfeasance and neglect of consitutional duty as a Senator, and can no longer be trusted with it. Doubtful he can be ejected from the Senate. We can prevent him from doing further damage to Congress by strpping him of ALL committee work. No, not even a temproary ad hoc sub-sub committee on state paperweight standards harmonization. Nothing. Not one damn thing.

Get him the very backest bench, and tell him he will sit his ass on it for the rest of his career. Nothing more.

I think this is the main and damning case against Lieberman. I would like to see a list of things he did not deem worthy of investigation. That would be something solid and objective we could dump in the Senate leadership’s lap.

We need responsible oversight for the next four years. We will need responsible investigations of both Cheney/Bush and Obama/Lieberman. Lieberman has proven that he is unworthy of that responsibility.

Is there any way to get rid of Reid as Majority Leader? Honestly, the guy is an embarrassment to wilted lettuce.

Oops, not Obama/Lieberman. We need responsible oversight and investigations of Obama/Biden.

Apparently Harry needs to follow Lieberman out the fucking door.

That sanctimonious hypocrite and vile liar and political fraud, Lieberman, enrages me. Bring up that sleazeball and I cannot get the jerk off my mind. I better call it a night. Have a drink and watch a comedy… otherwise the nightmares will come again… the nightmares…

!

What an insult to the word, much less the progressive people!

Didn’t Lieberman support Shays this year as well?

Maybe we can help defeat him in 2010. He won with 61% of the vote in 2004, but Nevada is a conservative state. Maybe we can help a Puke unseat him.

“Joe Lieberman is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut.”

For Connecticut’s sake, I hope that’s a scurrilous lie.

The only thing Progresive about Lieberman is his transformation into a Republican.

Write up a bill of indictment, with particulars, describing Lieberman’s inaction as committee chair. Make it a petition. I will sign. Get signatures. Send it in. For the sake of Congress as a co-equal branch of government. Lieberman is a danger to Congress. Strip him of everything. Make him sit on his backbench buck nekkid.

I think we have a bumper sticker here…

Progressive Democrats do not establish permanent residence in John McCain’s buttcrack, which at the time of this comment is not a state and as such is not entitled to Senate representation.

If only we could dump Harry, Steny & Nancy. Unfortunately, these clowns are going to see the election as validation for their “strategy” of capitulation to Bush and sitting on their hands. You would think Democrats could show a little spine after the election, but I guess trying to keep the village from calling them names is whats on their agenda. As long as they get better offices & parking spaces, and the lobbyists keep calling, everything will be fine.

Unfortunately, I think that’s also the nature of Congress. We can all name a few exceptions, but most don’t really want to start making things uncomfortable for their fellow legislators, no matter how necessary it might be. They won’t kick Ted Stevens out, and he was convicted of bribery – a crime that means that he was using the nation’s business for personal gain. This wasn’t lying about a BJ, or even soliciting someone in an airport lavatory. It was an out-and-out abuse of the public trust. Plus, he’s from the minority party.

If they won’t punish Ted Stevens, I don’t think they’ll be inclined to punish Joe Lieberman.

Progressive Democrats do not establish permanent residence in John McCain’s buttcrack, which at the time of this comment is not a state and as such is not entitled to Senate representation.

Especially since McCain’s buttcrack already has McCain’s head to keep it company.

Not to mention Lindsey Graham, however most of the MSM moved out a few months back, which probably gives them more elbow room.

Lieberman is nothing short of an egotistical quisling. 24/7, it’s all about Holy Joe and his wittle huwt feewings about his loss in the primaries and the fact that most people don’t agree with his self-serving Neocon beliefs. Reid is a disaster and is going to thwart Obama at every turn.

That might not be so easy. I think Obama will be able to herd some cats.

If our Congress doesn’t dump Harry and Steny Harry and Steny will ruin another Democratic Congress and will ruin Obama’s chances of success- something those two would probably not mind at all since they never supported him anyway. And hopefully we’ll have another Congressional cleanout in 2010.

But Harry is a scheming, weak and useles liar- remember he came out publicly and said he never told Joe he could keep his Chair and Seniority. And Steny hasn’t had one good idea since he’s been elected.

Are we going to stand by and watch them ruin things again??

Harry might be a nice guy but I’ve never seen him provide anything resembling leadership.

Well said! Ultimately this is what drives my objections to Lieberman. He acts totally and always for Lieberman.

Saw that earlier and sent Henry a nasty email telling him that Lieberman was neither a progressive nor a Democrat and that there was no further place for him in the caucus. Also said that either Lieberman had to go or he did.

teddy has a fresh post up at the mothership

Don;t forget to sign the Say No to Joe, petition!

I caught part of that appearance by Reid on CNN, and I was appalled. Both he and Pelosi will start handing Obama’s victory back to the Republicans as soon as Congress goes back into session. He was practically giving away cabinet appointments to the GOP. WTF?!?!!!

Obama has a huge job ahead of him – and he should appoint Democrats he can count on to help with that. Not token Republican ‘moderates’; unaffiliated persons of demonstrable good will perhaps – but not the Republicans. They’re drowning now, so through them an anvil. Get them as far away from the levers of power as possible.

I was talking this over with someone who thought it might be a good idea if Obama did carry some over, like Gates – for continuity. That idea lasted just long enough for me to point out we’ve had 8 years of nothing but disaster. Do we really want continuity with that?

As for Lieberman, Reid was nattering about seniority and how Lieberman votes with him more often than some Democrats who are supposedly still in the party. Sure – on 90% of the votes that don’t matter he’s there, but on the critical 10%? Also, guaranteed he’ll start throwing his weight around on Homeland Security if he thinks President Obama isn’t toeing the line he desires. It’s inevitable.

IF Reid insists on some kind of bipartisanship, start with the Republicans who endorsed Obama over McCain – and throw Lieberman under the bus for making the opposite choice. Elections SHOULD have consequences, dammit!

Why I certainly do not know why Reid and others continue to coddle Lieberman, I do wonder if Lieberman’s strong connections to (and contributions from) AIPAC have anything to do with keeping him safe from consequences.

Most excellent observation, friend rat.

(Please advise if you object to that shortening of your name; I would personally object to being addressed as “W” and do not wish to offend). *g*

Okay, I will postulate this one… the only reason Lieberman is not being shown the door is that he is the main Democratic water carrier for AIPAC, their complete agenda, Iraq war, bombing Iran and weird inexplicable rhetoric about Venezuela’s democratically elected leader. Top to bottom, he is their mouthpiece and they won’t lose him.

Lieberman is a serious threat to the United States:

Lieberman is a serious threat, a clear and present danger to the safety, security, and freedom of every American and to the peoples of the world.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Lieberman voted for the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the “Protect America Act”. He has voted at every turn to destroy the Constitution as it pertains to “equal protection” and all of the prohibitions on tyranny that protect the American People. Far from being progressive, he is treasonously right wing extremist, fitting in with the entire “Unitary theory of the Executive” crowd.

There is something seriously and dangerously wrong with the Democratic Party leadership in both houses, doing nothing (for years) to throw out the traitors (Bush, Cheney, Lieberman etc) while the country is destroyed and the Constitution is reduced to (in GWBush’s words) just a god-damned piece of paper.

Lieberman, and also Reid, Pelosi, Hoyer, Emanuel and every member of Congress that helped enable or voted for the Military Commission Act (and the Protect America Act) are not fit to hold public office.

If this country is to be saved from both tyranny and enduring hardship, all of the American people need to become involved and demand accountability, reform, prosecution and where necessary, impeachment.

This is nuts.

Peace,
JK

No objection, I answer to nearly anything. It might come as a surprise but ratfood is not the name my parents gave me.

All of em should stop worrying so much about keeping their clan together and start thinking about how important green energy is to the whole equation.
Juan Cole links to some very important steps that are being taken in Europe.Linking N Africa to Europe in a solar/thermal electric grid that resolves so many issues.
These old party hacks have got to go if they can’t see the light.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/nov08/6930
Brother sun
http://www.juancole.com/2008/11/brother-sun.html

Why should anyone in the Senate do anything we want? They face no consequences, not in the immediate future anyway. They have lots of money, great health care, great retirement benefits, power, and continued access to power after they leave office.
They forget who they work for.

Reid and Lieberman remind me of the conservative and entrenched Southern Democrats in Congress and the Senate during the 1930s and ’40s. They gave FDR more trouble than the Republicans did.

I think Lieberman’s defenders in the Senate (Reid, Dodd, Bayh, etc.) make a harsher critique against the man then his worst detractors. Most Lieberman critics have a specific bill of goods against him. Lieberman lost ‘06 Democratic primary, didn’t respect will of Democratic voters, endorsed multiple GOP Senate candidates in ‘08, House candidate Chris Shays, and GOP nominee John McCain. It’s enough to get his delegate status officially stripped by the DNC. Rhetoric aside, I think people just want Harry Reid to state the rules of participation in the Senate caucus as it relates to seniority and assignments and then enforce the rules. It’s not that hard or complicated.

Instead we keep hearing that Joe Lieberman votes 90% of the time with Democrats from Reid, Bayh, Dodd. What are they suggesting? That if Senate Dems decide Joe Lieberman doesn’t fit the criteria to chair a Democratic committee that he’s going to change his vote in fit of anger? That makes Lieberman out to be a total heel who cares nothing about the issues and bases every vote on his personal feelings.

I think Joe Lieberman isn’t a Democrat and I want actual Democrats in the Senate to acknowledge that based on evidence, regardless of how the man votes. His colleagues apparently think Joe Lieberman is some kind of wrestling heel who is going to turn 180 degrees on a dime if he’s stripped of his chair, vote with the GOP 90% of the time, and smash Harry Reid across the forehead with a folding chair.

Isn’t that worse? The implication is that Joe Lieberman WON’T vote with Democrats 90% of the time if they strip him of his chair. That says they think the guy is an amoral heel.

Seems I remember you provided the derivation at some point in time…..refresher for an aging memory, please?

I like the way you think.

The truth is that Reid is spineless. And the only way to make him do what he should is to make it more costly than keeping him. And that is our job. How do we get our arms around Harry, so that he can’t afford to keep RGJoe?

That says they think know the guy is an amoral heel.

fixed.

The trouble with an amoral heel is, you can never trust him. Ever. He pledges…until the next time.

Joe’s gotta go. No chairmanships. No seniority.

Caucus of One.

Reid and Lieberman have a lot in common. They are both weasels.

It evolved from catfood, which was a reference to a song by ”art rock” group King Crimson back in the early ’70s. At one point I began using an accompanying picture of French rat chef Remy from the Pixar film Ratatouille when posting at other sites. At that point, ”ratfood” seemed more apt.

This is just more evidence that the party labels are irrelevant. Obama is a newbie centrist. Reid, Lieberman, McCain, Hoyer, Pelosi, etc all belong to the Incumbent Party.

I just sent the 60 Minutes segment about the Obama team to NZ. They are dying for information…

Tap, tap…anyone here?

Hey, Chris!

Harry needs to put a sock in it and do the right thing by taking Joe the Republican off Democratic committees. The End.

Dugg, thanks Teddy.

Methinks I hear a change of tune.

Frankly, I like Pelosi better than Reid. Let’s see what she can do without that DLC Emanuel’s foot in the middle of her back. She’s already stressed environmental front and center for the session commencing on the 17th
http://gristmill.grist.org/sto…..75947/4558

Things are looking up, folks

“Joe Lieberman is not some right-wing nutcase,” he said. “Joe Lieberman is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut.”

Please steer clear of whatever Senator Reid is drinking. His brain is truly addled beyond redemption at this point.

A DIFFERENT leader, one who sees the real world situation, instead of hiding behind fake coverup of “friends”, is definitely needed in the Senate.

Reid has lost his sense of perspective, if not his mind.

Friendship does NOT trump truth, not with so much at stake during upcoming efforts to repair monumental damage the Bush/Cheney administration has done to our country and the world with their cockeyed policies and greed-is-good nonsense.

We need a new leader in the U.S. Senate, someone who strives for a reality-based view the world. Reid’s policy of “personal friends first” does not belong anywhere near a leadership position, Leadership, especially now, requires a complete reversal of the tactics he has used. I don’t think he could change his attitude even if ordered.

Please, let us have a new leader in the Senate. Has-beens like Reid have had enough chances to straighten up and fulfill the obligations of holding office.

,a href=”http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/12/20/reid_paul/”>Also anti-gay marriage.

To a caveman like Reid, of course Lieberman seems progressive.