Carper v. Lieberman – Speak Softly and Carry a Small Stick

Think Progress reports that Senator Carper of Delaware is thinking about slapping his old friend Lieberman on the hand. Say it isn’t so.

Hope the return of Ted Kennedy to the Senate will help these folks find some courage.

Today in an interview with the Hill, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) said that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) should be punished for his attacks on Barack Obama during the campaign season. “There need to be consequences, and they cannot be insignificant,” Carper said.

More from The Hill:

Carper, a fellow centrist who was Delaware campaign chairman for Lieberman’s failed bid for president in 2004, said he and many other Senate Democrats are disappointed and even angered by their colleague’s sometimes-inflammatory rhetoric during this year’s presidential campaign.

[snip]

Carper did not rule out stripping Lieberman of his coveted gavel running the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, or imposing other sanctions like taking away seniority on other committees or a subcommittee on Armed Services.

Carper said he and three other Senate Democrats have been making phone calls to "take the temperature of our caucus." He said the purpose of the calls was not to lobby senators for any particular action for or against Lieberman, but "just to see where people’s hearts and their minds are.”

[snip] 

 Carper said he was "not sure" how Lieberman would react to tough penalties, and said Lieberman will have to make his case before his Democratic colleagues at a closed-door meeting Tuesday.

Wow, tough talk. Let’s see some action, folks:

Just Say No to Joe right here.

Senator fax and phone numbers here.