View Full Version : So... the Democrats may get to 59 in the Senate
BrettStah
11-11-2008, 12:57 AM
CNN.com has it currently at 57-40 in favor of the Democrats, with the outcomes of 3 races still yet to be decided. Based on what I've gathered, the Republican in Georgia is favored to win after everything's said and done (if he doesn't wind up with 50%+1 of the votes, there will be a run-off in December - which I'm going to guess he'll do better in, given the likelihood of a much smaller turnout.
Alaska's election was all messed up - missing votes turning up, etc. I'm thinking that when all of the votes are finally counted, Ted Stevens will wind up losing.
And finally, Al Franken has a very small deficit (~200 votes) to make up in the re-count, and the current thinking among those familiar with the particulars is that he'll wind up winning after the re-count.
So if I'm right on all 3 races, the Democrats will have 59 votes in the Senate, assuming Joe Lieberman continues to effectively be a Democrat.
So if I'm right on all 3 races, the Democrats will have 59 votes in the Senate, assuming Joe Lieberman continues to effectively be a Democrat.Hmph. I'd just as soon they weren't in that position, 59 is awfully close to 60. They'd probably figure they can keep Joe sweet, and lure the occasional moderate (and thus already isolated) GOPer into making 60 on occasion.
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 08:06 AM
[Hmph. I'd just as soon they weren't in that position, 59 is awfully close to 60. They'd probably figure they can keep Joe sweet, and lure the occasional moderate (and thus already isolated) GOPer into making 60 on occasion.Although it focusses the minds of some my assumption is that when it comes to Joe many top Democrats will be thinking wider and longer term than the outcome of the 3 outstanding Senate races.
[Hmph. I'd just as soon they weren't in that position, 59 is awfully close to 60. They'd probably figure they can keep Joe sweet, and lure the occasional moderate (and thus already isolated) GOPer into making 60 on occasion.Although it focusses the minds of some my assumption is that when it comes to Joe many top Democrats will be thinking wider and longer term than the outcome of the 3 outstanding Senate races.Well sure. Some might be thinking that in 2010 maybe they can get to 61, and then ceremoniously deliver Joe to the GOP in a wheelbarrow.
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 08:21 AM
[Hmph. I'd just as soon they weren't in that position, 59 is awfully close to 60. They'd probably figure they can keep Joe sweet, and lure the occasional moderate (and thus already isolated) GOPer into making 60 on occasion.Although it focusses the minds of some my assumption is that when it comes to Joe many top Democrats will be thinking wider and longer term than the outcome of the 3 outstanding Senate races.Well sure. Some might be thinking that in 2010 maybe they can get to 61, and then ceremoniously deliver Joe to the GOP in a wheelbarrow.I doubt many senior Democrats engaging in grown up politics are thinking that.
I doubt many senior Democrats engaging in grown up politics are thinking that.I don't. "Grown-up politics" includes, like it or not, no longer trusting people who have betrayed your trust.
The Dems worked hard to get a majority in both houses and a Dem in the White House. Joe campaigned to get a GOPer in the White House, going so far as to parrot their smears, breaking a promise he had made to the Dems and to his constituents. Why should he be rewarded with a prestigious position for that behavior, or trusted to follow the party's interests if given it?
"Grown up" means "being a gullible sap" on what planet?
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 08:50 AM
I doubt many senior Democrats engaging in grown up politics are thinking that.I don't. "Grown-up politics" includes, like it or not, no longer trusting people who have betrayed your trust.
The Dems worked hard to get a majority in both houses and a Dem in the White House. Joe campaigned to get a GOPer in the White House, going so far as to parrot their smears, breaking a promise he had made to the Dems and to his constituents. Why should he be rewarded with a prestigious position for that behavior, or trusted to follow the party's interests if given it?
"Grown up" means "being a gullible sap" on what planet?If the Democratic Party does not do to Joe what you want them to do to him feel free on your planet to call them "gullible saps" (even poke your tongue out at them if you want).
If the Democratic Party does not do to Joe what you want them to do to him feel free on your planet to call them "gullible saps" (even poke your tongue out at them if you want).I will indeed call them gullible saps if they leave Lieberman in that position and if he, as I fully expect, again betrays their trust.
Forgiveness is fine. A virtue, even.
Forgetting is stupid.
Turtleboy
11-11-2008, 09:23 AM
I agree with pg on this one. I don't think the Senate Dems really want to cast out Lieberman. He does vote with them on almost everything. And it's not just that. It's the genteel way that Senators see themselves.
Their biggest problem will be their base, who of course, wants blood. They always want blood.
I agree with pg on this one. I don't think the Senate Dems really want to cast out Lieberman. He does vote with them on almost everything. Will he cease voting with them if he doesn't get to keep his committee chairmanship?
And it's not just that. It's the genteel way that Senators see themselves. Something Lieberman would have done well to remember back when he his "principles" were calling upon him to parrot GOP smears.
Their biggest problem will be their base, who of course, wants blood. They always want blood.He transgressed, dude. And not in some way like "voted for the war that one time", but a majorly big way as in "actively campaigned, over a period of months, to allow the GOP to keep the White House".
If he wants to stay in the Dem caucus, let him. If he's threatening to bolt if he doesn't get to keep his perks after his despicable behavior, let him bolt (or more accurately, call his bluff).
That's a perfectly rational (and for pg, even an adult) reaction to such a massive betrayal. If you worked to deprive the party of power, you can't expect to be allowed to enjoy the benefits of the party you betrayed being in power.
TheIndependent
11-11-2008, 09:43 AM
And finally, Al Franken has a very small deficit (~200 votes) to make up in the re-count, and the current thinking among those familiar with the particulars is that he'll wind up winning after the re-count.
sounds like the D machine and Franken are cheating well in MN.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,449334,00.html
And finally, Al Franken has a very small deficit (~200 votes) to make up in the re-count, and the current thinking among those familiar with the particulars is that he'll wind up winning after the re-count.
sounds like the D machine and Franken are cheating well in MN.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,449334,00.htmlSounds more like FOX is spinning well in MN.
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 10:05 AM
He transgressed, dudeThrow the heretic out of the church.
He transgressed, dudeThrow the heretic out of the church.Burn the witch!
But actually, no. He can stay in the church if he wants. He just wouldn't get to be a Deacon anymore, to remain in a position of trust and authority, after having made a deal with the devil - one from which he hasn't repented, mind you, but is just upset it didn't work out.
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 10:14 AM
He transgressed, dudeThrow the heretic out of the church.Burn the witch!
But actually, no. He can stay in the church if he wants. He just wouldn't get to be a Deacon anymore, to remain in a position of trust and authority, after having made a deal with the devil - one from which he hasn't repented, mind you, but is just upset it didn't work out.He can get on the bus just so long as he sits at the back.
Throw the heretic out of the church.Burn the witch!
But actually, no. He can stay in the church if he wants. He just wouldn't get to be a Deacon anymore, to remain in a position of trust and authority, after having made a deal with the devil - one from which he hasn't repented, mind you, but is just upset it didn't work out.He can get on the bus just so long as he sits at the back.No, he can get on the bus and sit wherever he pleases - he just doesn't get to be one of the drivers. Any more poor analogies you'd like me to take apart for you?
mercurial
11-11-2008, 10:17 AM
If the Democratic Party does not do to Joe what you want them to do to him feel free on your planet to call them "gullible saps" (even poke your tongue out at them if you want).I will indeed call them gullible saps if they leave Lieberman in that position and if he, as I fully expect, again betrays their trust.
Forgiveness is fine. A virtue, even.
Forgetting is stupid.
I think you meant:
Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again. -GWB
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 10:22 AM
Burn the witch!
But actually, no. He can stay in the church if he wants. He just wouldn't get to be a Deacon anymore, to remain in a position of trust and authority, after having made a deal with the devil - one from which he hasn't repented, mind you, but is just upset it didn't work out.He can get on the bus just so long as he sits at the back.No, he can get on the bus and sit wherever he pleases - he just doesn't get to be one of the drivers. Any more poor analogies you'd like me to take apart for you?Your buses have more than one driver at the same time?
bryce1012
11-11-2008, 10:23 AM
Burn the witch!
But actually, no. He can stay in the church if he wants. He just wouldn't get to be a Deacon anymore, to remain in a position of trust and authority, after having made a deal with the devil - one from which he hasn't repented, mind you, but is just upset it didn't work out.He can get on the bus just so long as he sits at the back.No, he can get on the bus and sit wherever he pleases - he just doesn't get to be one of the drivers. Any more poor analogies you'd like me to take apart for you?Clearly, we need some sort of affirmative action. Why should we allow them to be so blatantly discriminatory in their driver-hiring practices?
;)
TheIndependent
11-11-2008, 10:31 AM
And finally, Al Franken has a very small deficit (~200 votes) to make up in the re-count, and the current thinking among those familiar with the particulars is that he'll wind up winning after the re-count.
sounds like the D machine and Franken are cheating well in MN.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,449334,00.htmlSounds more like FOX is spinning well in MN.
doesn't sound that way at all, actually. not surprised to see you dismiss it however, anything less might bring the wrath of danielh on you samuel l jackson style.
He can get on the bus just so long as he sits at the back.No, he can get on the bus and sit wherever he pleases - he just doesn't get to be one of the drivers. Any more poor analogies you'd like me to take apart for you?Your buses have more than one driver at the same time?More than one bus. But they're all expected to be driven in more or less the same direction.
Leaving Joe in charge of driving one would be a pretty foolish idea. The last 2 years he's pretty much just kept his bus in the parking lot, and not once done any government accountability stuff as his counterpart in the House (Waxman, from memory) has done.
doesn't sound that way at all, actually. Yes it does. There's been nothing suspicious in any of the corrections thus far, just the usual transcription errors - reporting 24 votes when it should have been 124, for example, which is how the oh-so-mysterious round number change of 100 votes comes from.
not surprised to see you dismiss it howeverIndeed not. I can reliably be counted upon to dismiss bunk. Show me somebody concerned who realizes how and what kind of errors actually occur in tabulations (and who isn't an AEI nut known for defending his works using a fake online persona) and I'll take their criticism more seriously.
busyba
11-11-2008, 10:50 AM
If the Democratic Party does not do to Joe what you want them to do to him feel free on your planet to call them "gullible saps" (even poke your tongue out at them if you want).I will indeed call them gullible saps if they leave Lieberman in that position and if he, as I fully expect, again betrays their trust.
Forgiveness is fine. A virtue, even.
Forgetting is stupid.
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, it's probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. It fool me. We can't get fooled again."
--George W. Bush
pseudonym
11-11-2008, 10:51 AM
sounds like the D machine and Franken are cheating well in MN.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,449334,00.htmlSounds more like FOX is spinning well in MN.
doesn't sound that way at all, actually. not surprised to see you dismiss it however, anything less might bring the wrath of danielh on you samuel l jackson style.
How is that opinion piece anything but spin? The headline sounds the "election fraud" alarm, then backs it up with absolutely no evidence of actual election fraud, just flights of speculation.
mercurial
11-11-2008, 10:52 AM
If the Democratic Party does not do to Joe what you want them to do to him feel free on your planet to call them "gullible saps" (even poke your tongue out at them if you want).I will indeed call them gullible saps if they leave Lieberman in that position and if he, as I fully expect, again betrays their trust.
Forgiveness is fine. A virtue, even.
Forgetting is stupid.
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, it's probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. It fool me. We can't get fooled again."
--George W. Bush
Post #17?
pseudonym
11-11-2008, 10:59 AM
I will indeed call them gullible saps if they leave Lieberman in that position and if he, as I fully expect, again betrays their trust.
Forgiveness is fine. A virtue, even.
Forgetting is stupid.
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, it's probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. It fool me. We can't get fooled again."
--George W. Bush
Post #17?
Clearly I'm not the only one who has you on ignore.
busyba
11-11-2008, 11:01 AM
I will indeed call them gullible saps if they leave Lieberman in that position and if he, as I fully expect, again betrays their trust.
Forgiveness is fine. A virtue, even.
Forgetting is stupid.
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, it's probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. It fool me. We can't get fooled again."
--George W. Bush
Post #17?
Yeah, so I smeeked. Bite me. :p
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 11:02 AM
No, he can get on the bus and sit wherever he pleases - he just doesn't get to be one of the drivers. Any more poor analogies you'd like me to take apart for you?Your buses have more than one driver at the same time?More than one bus. But they're all expected to be driven in more or less the same direction.Hail to the Bus Driver Man >
http://www.clayloomis.com/Sounds/simpsongs1/simsg390a.wav
(username 1 password 1)
Hail to the Bus Driver Man >
http://www.clayloomis.com/Sounds/simpsongs1/simsg390a.wav
(username 1 password 1)May I assume by this that you've run out of inapplicable analogies? They've been getting more and more loaded, I was almost expecting lynching or the Holocaust to be next.
mercurial
11-11-2008, 11:09 AM
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, it's probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. It fool me. We can't get fooled again."
--George W. Bush
Post #17?
Yeah, so I smeeked. Bite me. :p
Uh-uh... Fool me once...
busyba
11-11-2008, 11:16 AM
Post #17?
Yeah, so I smeeked. Bite me. :p
Uh-uh... Fool me once...
Smeek me once, shame on you, smeek me... uh, we won't be smeeked again.
pgogborn
11-11-2008, 11:25 AM
Hail to the Bus Driver Man >
http://www.clayloomis.com/Sounds/simpsongs1/simsg390a.wav
(username 1 password 1)May I assume by this that you've run out of inapplicable analogies? They've been getting more and more loaded, I was almost expecting lynching or the Holocaust to be next.Perhaps it takes a certain type of Simpsons fan to get it.
sounds like the D machine and Franken are cheating well in MN.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,449334,00.htmlSounds more like FOX is spinning well in MN.
doesn't sound that way at all, actually. not surprised to see you dismiss it however, anything less might bring the wrath of danielh on you samuel l jackson style.
"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furrrrrrioussss anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is Danielhart when I lay my vengeance upon thee. "
TheIndependent
11-11-2008, 11:59 AM
daniel? -> http://www.mcnblogs.com/filmfatale/samjacksonpulp.jpg
That One remains above the fray:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/obama_spokesperson_he_doesnt_h.php
President-Elect Barack Obama doesn't "hold any grudges" against Senator Joe Lieberman for opposing his presidential candidacy, and will not take any position on the question of whether Lieberman should be permitted to keep his plum chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee, an Obama spokesperson just confirmed to us.
"We aren't going to referee decisions about who should or should not be a committee chair," Obama transition spokesperson Stephanie Cutter emailed me, in response to questions about Obama's stance on Lieberman's future.
Cutter's comments are the first on-the-record indication of Obama's position on the politically fraught question of what to do about Lieberman.
"President-elect Obama looks forward to working with anyone to move the country forward," Cutter continued. "We'd be happy to have Sen. Lieberman caucus with the Democrats. We don't hold any grudges."
The move is all but certain to take the steam out of any efforts to dislodge Lieberman from the committee, and hence to diminish his influence in some way in return for his support for McCain, his suggestion that Obama put troops in danger, and his claim that Obama hasn't always put the country first.
busyba
11-11-2008, 12:32 PM
"President Bartlet's a good man. He's got a good heart. He doesn't hold a grudge. That's what he pays me for." --Josh Lyman :)
I expect Obama to stay above the fray, but I wouldn't be surprised if his operatives are sharpening their knives.
That One remains above the fray:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/obama_spokesperson_he_doesnt_h.php
President-Elect Barack Obama doesn't "hold any grudges" against Senator Joe Lieberman for opposing his presidential candidacy, and will not take any position on the question of whether Lieberman should be permitted to keep his plum chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee, an Obama spokesperson just confirmed to us.
"We aren't going to referee decisions about who should or should not be a committee chair," Obama transition spokesperson Stephanie Cutter emailed me, in response to questions about Obama's stance on Lieberman's future.
Cutter's comments are the first on-the-record indication of Obama's position on the politically fraught question of what to do about Lieberman.
"President-elect Obama looks forward to working with anyone to move the country forward," Cutter continued. "We'd be happy to have Sen. Lieberman caucus with the Democrats. We don't hold any grudges."
The move is all but certain to take the steam out of any efforts to dislodge Lieberman from the committee, and hence to diminish his influence in some way in return for his support for McCain, his suggestion that Obama put troops in danger, and his claim that Obama hasn't always put the country first.
Obama also made it clear (well, he "suggested") yesterday to Reid that he thinks Lieberman should remain a demorat, er, democrat, in the caucus. But his reasoning was more along the lines of not making him a martyr than anything else.
Seems pretty clear that Obama is smartly positioning himself to avoid any perception that he is going to be involved in any recriminations against ol' Joe that are eventually handed out.
I think it is appropriate for Lieberman to remain in the caucus but lose his HSC chair. And then if he wants to bolt to the GOP caucus, it will just make him look like more of a tool. Like you said, call his bluff.
daniel? -> http://www.mcnblogs.com/filmfatale/samjacksonpulp.jpg
http://www.ktgl.com/user_uploads/pulp%20fiction.jpg
Daniel versus Paul
JYoung
11-11-2008, 01:17 PM
If the Democratic Party does not do to Joe what you want them to do to him feel free on your planet to call them "gullible saps" (even poke your tongue out at them if you want).I will indeed call them gullible saps if they leave Lieberman in that position and if he, as I fully expect, again betrays their trust.
Forgiveness is fine. A virtue, even.
Forgetting is stupid.
I think you meant:
Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again. -GWB
Now that's.....
(puts on sunglasses)
a political slogan.
YEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!
It's Official: Full Dem Caucus Will Vote On Lieberman's Fate (http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/its_official_full_dem_caucus_w.php)
The full Democratic caucus will vote on whether Joe Lieberman is allowed to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee at its caucus meeting next week, a leadership aide confirms to us.
Previously, Reid's office had held this possibility out but hadn't made a final decision on whether to throw Lieberman's fate to the full Dem caucus for a vote.
Let's see what Joe can talk his caucus colleagues into.
TheIndependent
11-11-2008, 03:20 PM
Does Joe get a vote? :)
Does Joe get a vote? :)
He hasn't even run for office yet, and I don't think he was talking about a Senate run, he said the House.
Oh, wait, you meant Lieberman....
thought you meant the Plumber for a sec......;)
Turtleboy
11-11-2008, 04:05 PM
It's Official: Full Dem Caucus Will Vote On Lieberman's Fate (http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/its_official_full_dem_caucus_w.php)
The full Democratic caucus will vote on whether Joe Lieberman is allowed to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee at its caucus meeting next week, a leadership aide confirms to us.
Previously, Reid's office had held this possibility out but hadn't made a final decision on whether to throw Lieberman's fate to the full Dem caucus for a vote.
Let's see what Joe can talk his caucus colleagues into.
Is it an open vote or secret ballot?
It's an important question because there are quite a few Senators who would flip their vote if it's one way or the other.
It's Official: Full Dem Caucus Will Vote On Lieberman's Fate (http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/its_official_full_dem_caucus_w.php)
The full Democratic caucus will vote on whether Joe Lieberman is allowed to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee at its caucus meeting next week, a leadership aide confirms to us.
Previously, Reid's office had held this possibility out but hadn't made a final decision on whether to throw Lieberman's fate to the full Dem caucus for a vote.
Let's see what Joe can talk his caucus colleagues into.
Is it an open vote or secret ballot?
It's an important question because there are quite a few Senators who would flip their vote if it's one way or the other.
I heard this discussed on one of the cable shows yesterday - they said this type of vote is secret ballot.
busyba
11-11-2008, 04:13 PM
It's Official: Full Dem Caucus Will Vote On Lieberman's Fate (http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/its_official_full_dem_caucus_w.php)
Let's see what Joe can talk his caucus colleagues into.
Is it an open vote or secret ballot?
It's an important question because there are quite a few Senators who would flip their vote if it's one way or the other.
I heard this discussed on one of the cable shows yesterday - they said this type of vote is secret ballot.
Even worse news for Joe, the voter registrations are being handled by ACORN.
I think Joe created the strawman that they wanted to kick him out of the caucus, when I don't think anybody ever mentioned that.
The fact is he doesn't deserve a high position in a Democratic Senate, because those should be reserved for Democrats, and Senator's who vote with Democrats.
His "liberal voting record" is highly suspect the last few years.
Not to mention that he has done nothing in his job as chairman in the first place.
-smak-
aindik
11-11-2008, 04:54 PM
I assume the Democratic Caucus includes the Democratic senators of the 111th Congress, not the 110th, right? Do Obama and Biden get to vote? Have they resigned their Senate seats yet, or do they do that in January?
/insert cheap "Obama votes present" joke here.
I assume the Democratic Caucus includes the Democratic senators of the 111th Congress, not the 110th, right? Do Obama and Biden get to vote? Have they resigned their Senate seats yet, or do they do that in January? I don't know what the protocol is. My guess is that Barack and Biden will sit out the vote if it's 110th Congress doing it saying it would be inappropriate for them now that they're moving the the 3rd and 4th branches of government respectively, and for the 111th they aren't Senators so it's no question.
/insert cheap "Obama votes present" joke here.I don't know what it is, man. It's funny when Jon Stewart does it. Maybe it's your delivery?
pgogborn
11-12-2008, 05:50 PM
...
I don't think the Senate Dems really want to cast out Lieberman. He does vote with them on almost everything. And it's not just that. It's the genteel way that Senators see themselves.
Their biggest problem will be their base, who of course, wants blood. They always want blood.
by Politico.com
Wednesday November 12, 2008, 12:09 PM
Several top Democratic senators have launched a behind-the-scenes effort to save Sen. Joe Lieberman’s chairmanship, despite calls from a Democratic base seeking retribution for Lieberman’s vocal support of John McCain’s presidential campaign >
http://www.mlive.com/us-politics/index.ssf/2008/11/dem_senators_try_to_save_liebe.html
Bayh says Joe should be able to keep his chairmanship - IF he apologizes, and doesn't use his position to go rogue on the Barack administration.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bayh-lieberman-should-apologize-keep-chairmanship-2008-11-12.html
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) called on Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) to apologize for his attacks on Barack Obama, saying doing so would temporarily let him retain a key chairmanship position next Congress.
Bayh warned that stripping Lieberman of his chairmanship position on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee could prompt the Democrats’ 2000 vice presidential nominee to side with the GOP on close votes next Congress or resign his Senate seat. If he resigns, Connecticut’s Republican Gov. Jodi Rell would replace Lieberman with a temporary two-year appointment, likely a GOP senator.
“We can take away his chairmanship, that’s something we have the right to do,” Bayh said on MSNBC. “What you will have at that point is someone who may very well resign, or someone is embittered ... who might not be with us on some of these key votes.”
Bayh said that Lieberman must first issue a “sincere apology” for campaign attacks warning of the perils of an Obama presidency and a large Democratic majority in Congress. He said Democrats should allow him to keep his chairmanship on the condition that he would not use his subpoena power and influence as chairman to undermine Obama’s presidency. Otherwise, Democrats would take away his gavel at any point next Congress, Bayh warned.
Leahy says to kick Joe out of his chairmanship:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/leahy_calls_on_lieberman_to_be.php
In an interview with Vermont Public Radio today, Senator Patrick Leahy left no doubt whatsoever: He believes Lieberman should be given the push.
"Every Senator will have to vote the way he or she believes they should," Leahy said, in a reference to the upcoming vote on Lieberman's fate in the Dem caucus next week. "I'm one who does not feel that somebody should be rewarded with a major chairmanship after doing what he did."
"I felt some of the attacks that he was involved in against Senator Obama...went way beyond the pale," Leahy continued. "I thought they were not fair, I thought they were not legitimate, I thought they perpetuated some of these horrible myths that were being run about Senator Obama."
"I would feel that had I done something similar," Leahy concluded, "that I would not be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress."
I think the underlying thing of what Bayh said the other night is that people think Lieberman is of so little character, that he would actually vote the other way on issues out of spite, no matter what he actually feels about the issue itself.
-smak-
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