Call Carper and Biden.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met with Independent/Republican Senator Joe Lieberman to tell him there will be consequences for Joe Lieberman’s many transgressions against the Democratic Party during this election season, from supporting John McCain, to his dishonest attacks against President-elect Barack Obama, to his actual campaigning for Republican candidates for Congress. Reid’s punishment: Lieberman will lose the Chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. Lieberman made it clear he is not happy with that, given his statement in a press conference yesterday that he would consider “the options that I have before me.”
What was an indirect threat became a direct threat today when a Lieberman aide said:
“Senator Lieberman’s preference is to stay in the caucus, but he’s going to keep all his options open,” a Lieberman aide said. “McConnell has reached out to him and at this stage his position is he wants to remain in the caucus but losing the chairmanship is unacceptable.”
Translation: If Lieberman does not get what he wants (i.e. immunity for his actions and retention of his Chairmanship), he will bolt the Caucus.
Lieberman is expecting this threat to silence Reid, either directly or through the private lobbying of his friends in the Democratic Caucus. A Reid aide has also said that this situation will be resolved by a vote of the caucus. Meaning, in the end, Democratic Senators other Reid will decide Lieberman’s fate.
Therefore, we must get to the phones and/or sent those emails. Tom Carper is one of Lieberman’s friends.The number for the Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121. Ask Carper whether he supports Lieberman remaining as Chair of the Homeland Security committee, given his unfair attacks on President-elect Obama. Be polite, and calm, for the staffers who answer the phone are just doing their jobs. If the staffer doesn’t know, tell him that Joe Lieberman must be removed as the Chairman, and if Lieberman refuses, the he must be voted out of the caucus.
Tags: McCain, Obama, Tom Carper
Why is Lieberman still in the Democratic caucus anyway? I hope he enjoys being in the minority. He can have long heartfelt discussions with Republicans about Obama’s patriotism and how Palin was really super qualified to be VP.
Sorry DD. I’m not calling. Because I know that Carper supports Lieberman remaining as Chair of the Homeland Security committee, despite his unfair attacks on President-elect Obama.
He just does.
Sick , I know, but that is his answer to this.
UI,
Why is Caper still in the Democratic caucus?
meh . . . my only concern is that Reid doesn’t have this blow up in Obama’s face. Of the important issues out there today, this doesn’t even hit the Top 40.
The netroots is all abuzz about Lieberman and it will cause an online shitstorm if Lieberman comes out of this with his chairmanships intact – but does that translate into leverage?
I don’t know. I suppose if all the big national blogs decided to make a stink it could get Harry Reid’s attention.
This should cause a shitstorm among all Democrats — we just worked our butts off to help to increase Dem majorities in DC and Lieberman was working against that effort.
Call or write Carper and Biden. Carper may not vote against his buddy, but he should know where you stand. It is also useful to call Reid’s office, so at least he knows Carper’s constituents are against this.
But I would read the tea leaves to be that Lieberman is done. He is trying to negotiate, but the Rs can’t offer him much in the way of perks, seniority, committees (rightly). The deal that Reid has offered him is better than he deserves.
One more thing. Carper is on the Homeland Security Committee and is likely to be its chairman if Lieberman goes.
Okay I’ll call.
I just called and it felt good.
Damn Jason, you didn’t give me a chance to convince you not to call. You’re a pushover. 😉
I thought Homeland Security wasn’t important anymore, because all the world loves Obama? Maybe they’ll just change the name to Department of Hope.
Homeland Security isn’t important anymore, because there is no such thing private property.
Haven’t you heard?
Bwah ha ha ha ha. And the date of the Second Coming is Jan 20, 2009. You’ve got nothing substantive to say, do you?
Someone pointed out that Lieberman has a committee chairmanship and Hillary Clinton doesn’t. Is that fair?
Jason,
When is Carper up for election again, 2012? Perhaps we can find someone to primary him.
Carper has already said Lieberman should keep the chairmanship.
Damn you anon, using our own blog against us. Damn you. 😉
Can everyone remember why Lieberman is an I and not a D. It’s because he lost the Democratic primary back in 2006. Also, the fact that the man stuck to his principles and endorsed a Republican, I’ve got no problem with that. I wish more people thought of their ideas first rather than their party.
Lieberman is an utter disgrace. I have nothing nice to say about him. He doesn’t possess one redeeming quality as far as I’m concerned.
Carper just ran two years ago, so it’s a long road ahead. Definitely he needs to be primaried next time so it should be put into motion in two years.
June’s right. Carper must be primaried. And it needs to start NOW. By the time 2012 rolls around, if there’s a credible candidate with a lot of public awareness, it could be done.
Carper is part of the same agreement that protects Castle. Challengers to Carper will get nowhere.
I’d like to see Carper replaced by a better Dem… I can’t think of a way to get there though.
Besides, in 2012 we might be worried about control of the Senate, if history is a guide.
In 2006 I wrote in Karen Peterson as a protest vote. But if I seriously thought Carper would have lost, I would have voted for Carper as the lesser of evils (i.e., Cheney the tie-breaker).
“You’ve got nothing substantive to say, do you?”
Sorry Nemski, my process for dealing with loss is kinda screwy: first comes denial, then seething rage, then sarcasm. Let’s just say you didn’t want to hear from me for the past couple days.
You also need to keep in mind that the caucus now has new members who were elected Tuesday. That’s who will be making the decision. Let Lieberman bolt – we don’t need his vote to hold the balance of power anymore.
Also, the committee has responsibility over Government Affairs, i.e., the civil service. And Carl Levin will become chairman – Carper is 4th in seniority.
Ooh…a new game! Besides speculation on who should take over Biden’s seat we can speculate on who should primary Carper. I knew you guys wouldn’t let me down. I was worried I wouldn’t have anything to obsess about now that the presidential election is over.
Question: Why does Isreal have its own Senator in the U.S. Senate? …….just asking.