“Independent Democrat” Sen. Joe Lieberman is ready for his close up. (The Hill):
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the Democratic Party’s 2000 vice presidential nominee, is leaving open the possibility of giving a keynote address on behalf of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) at the Republican National Convention in September.Republicans close to the McCain campaign say Lieberman’s appearance at the convention, possibly before a national primetime audience, could help make the case that the presumptive GOP nominee has a record of crossing the aisle. That could appeal to much-needed independent voters.
…“If Sen. McCain, who I support so strongly, asked me to do it, if he thinks it will help him, I will,” Lieberman said in a brief interview. Lieberman said he doubts McCain will ask him to give a keynote address, but acknowledges the subject has yet to come up in the two senators’ discussions.
The Hill article also notes that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), despite Lieberman’s cleaving to Bush/McCain-lite positions, is going to protect the Connecticut Senator’s seniority re: chairmanship even if the Dems manage to pick up several seats in the fall, no matter what Rethug posturing Holy Joe does.“I can tell you Sen. Reid had talked to me a few times and said he knows there will be talk if we get more than 51 Democrats next year,” Lieberman told The Hartford Courant this month. “As far as he is concerned, I will retain my seniority, et cetera, no matter how many Democrats there are next year.”Jim Manley, a Reid spokesman, said he would not comment on the senator’s private conversations, but acknowledged that the two men spoke.
When asked Tuesday if Lieberman’s chairmanship was at risk next Congress, Reid said succinctly: “No.”
15 Responses to “Holy Joe ready to be the guest star at the GOP convention”
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Reid is bloody useless — what Steve Gilliard of the News Blog used to call a Vichy Dem. A real Senate majority leader would have stripped Joementum of all his perks and privileges after November, 2006, and let him discover what happens to weak and entitled independents in a two-party system. But I guess Lieberman has joined Bush and Cheney as another neoCon for Reid to enable.
If he wants to pick up Zell Miller’s torch let him have it.
If Reid keeps that attitude, especially if Lieberman speaks at the Republican convention, we have to start an insurgent campaign to knock him out of the Majority Leader’s position. How does “Majority Leader Dodd” sound to y’all?
I’m with you, Nacho Daddy. If Reid and Feinstein won’t do their jobs, then they need to go, one way or the other.
Lieberman is an independent. The DNC should have supported the Democratic Primary winner, and if Lieberman still won, they should have yanked all his seniority away.
What have they done with their 51 majority anyway? Not nearly enough. So what if it went back to 50-50? They would still have enough senators to block any bill from getting to 60.
Spineless assholes.
And who exactly is going to convince the Democratic leadership that they should give a rat’s ass about the opinion of majority of loyal Democrats in this country?
I mean really, I have always eschewed cynicism about political involvement, but these asshats couldn’t alienate people like me any better if they really tried at it.
Or possibly they are trying? I dunno.
McCain/Lieberman OTP!!! Do you think they’re finally kiss during the Convention story arc? The UST is driving me nuts!
Smart and strategic on Reid’s part. Just because the Dems are flush this year doesn’t mean they might not lose a couple of seats in 2 or 4 years.
As long as Joe caucuses with the Dems, he counts toward their majority for purposes of determining who controls the Senate. If he goes to the other side, it narrows Reid’s majority by 2, because the Dems will have one less and the Republicans will have one more.
Harry Reid would rather put up with insubordination from Lieberman than throw away the majority.
Anyway, if you purge moderates and centrists from the Democratic party, you cede the republicans a national majority. You have to choose between being powerful and being ideologically uncompromising.
Mitch,
Lieberman’s overall voting record is actually fairly liberal. The Democrats tolerate, and are excited about, many much-more conservative Senators [Tester and Webb, for example]. Lieberman’s nothing but a concern troll. Like you, actually.
Lieberman has neglected his duty as chair of that committee. I don’t care if he votes with the caucus 100% of the time–he’s been a bad chair and ought to go. But if he speaks at the Republican convention–fuck, he’s already endorsed McCain, which cost him his position as a superdelegate–then he’s no longer part of the caucus and certainly shouldn’t be chairing a committee.
I’m with Nacho Daddy: “Senate Majority Leader Dodd” sounds pretty damn good to me.
It’s interesting that Lieberman is doing the fools-rush-in bit now, chumming up to a political party that everyone with a shred of sense, dignity or decency has been leaving for years.
I’m guessing that Mr. Integrity has figured out that his political career ends in 4 years–no chance of reelection–and is looking around for a wingnut welfare gig.
Harry Reid is in disguise as a clueless old fuck.
Brilliant disguise…
And at this point the republicans will take anyone… Yes, even a craven turd like Lieberman. He actually fits in quite well. Although I am waiting for the obligatory ‘republican sex scandal’ to hit him. Young boys or young girls… Hmmmm…
“All right, Mr.
DeMilleMcCain, I’m ready for my close-up…”That could appeal to much-needed independent voters.
After all, independent voters all vote as one in lockstep with the dictates of the Independent Manifesto.