If you’re as frustrated as I am with Joe Lieberman you’re probably thinking “what should be done?” Well, sadly there’s not much that can be done. Joe is holding us hostage, and there’s little we can do to stop it.
First here’s what cannot be done: No senator or other federal representative can be recalled by their state. There are laws in some states that allow for an elected official to be recalled (California for example), but of those states that have such laws they only apply at the city, county, and state levels. All elected officials at the federal level do not fall under such laws. Thus they cannot be removed unless said official has done something particularly horrible, which would mean being censured (like Joe McCarthy was) or impeachment. Lieberman, despite being an ass, has not done anything censure or impeachment worthy.
Second here’s what can be done: Harry Reid as the senate majority leader can remove all chairmanships, appointments, and any other titles and dignities that he currently has as “punishment” if you will since Lieberman caucuses with the Democrats despite being an Independent, even if in name only. However, if that happens Lieberman will shun the Democrats and then officially become a Republican, or so everyone thinks given that Lieberman has made it clear that if he is stripped of his appointments it will be “unacceptable.” You may be thinking that he’s obviously playing the game of a Republican now so why do we need him? Well you’re right, but if we drop him now we lose our filibuster proof majority, and we can no longer count on him for anything let alone health care reform. Thus, climate change, financial regulations, etc etc will not be passed as easily as they might have been. So, while we know he’s not going to cooperate with this bill, we do know he is likely to do so with the other bills that are going to come before the senate in the future. Harry Reid knows this, and he’s not known for being hardass about things, nor is he confrontational. That is why people call him “spineless.”
In short: Lieberman knows he’s got us right where he wants us, and is more than willing to use his advantageous position to exploit the senate in order to appease the insurance companies that are lining his pockets with millions of dollars. He also knows that when he’s up for reelection in 2012 he will lose in a devastating defeat. He is wildly unpopular in Connecticut now. So, he is thinking about what will happen after 2012 when his last term in the United States Senate is finally over, and he will then have to return to life outside of government. He’s counting on the insurance industry to take good care of him when he is no longer a member of the senate.
It’s all very sickening and disgusting, but those are the facts ugly though they may be.
Am I able to use the C&P function for word if I wrote it in Open Office?
Senator Harkin had a good analogy: We are not building a mansion today,this is a starter home. It has a good foundation.
Hey All,
I’d like to apologize because for the last couple of weeks I’ve been said Ole Joe reminds me of Eyore and Deputy Dawg. Well, I’ve discovered I’ve had the dogs confused in my pea brain. It’s not Deputy Dog, it’s Droopy Dog. Ooops! So, ole Joe reminds me of Eyore and Droopy Dog…
Hey All,
I’d like to apologize because for the last couple of weeks I’ve been said Ole Joe reminds me of Eyore and Deputy Dawg. Well, I’ve discovered I’ve had the dogs confused in my pea brain. It’s not Deputy Dog, it’s Droopy Dog. Ooops! So, ole Joe reminds me of Eyore and Droopy Dog…
I just heard that Joe has LEFT THE BUILDING.
He’s gone back to CT, which means… he’s not going to vote?? WTF???
I imagine it’s his religion calling. He’s an orthodox Jew.
I am not all that positive if it is just Joe, Ben and Blanche that are the problem. They are but three votes out of the 100. The major problem may be the polarization of the GOP with their “purity tests.”
No longer are they allowed to cross the aisle without the fear of being targeted by the religious zealots and the RW money with their astroturf front groups.
Using this threat the GOP has been able to fully abuse “Senate Rule 22”-the filibuster. Last session they set a record of using it close to 160 times. They are on pace to smash that record!
A perfect example is the vote this morning at 1:00am for a cloture vote on the Defense bill for the wars started under their leadership! It was fine and dandy when Shrub was pres. to pass defense bills and they put them “off budget.”
“Rule 22” is undemocratic, yes. But in history is was used with some caution (excepting during civil rights.) It is should be used against blatant abuse on the minority by the majority- but right now it is used For the abuse against the majority.
Hey, b’ito!
I posted the emails for McCain and Kyl on Cher’s thread, if you’re interested.
I emailed them and respectfully asked them to stop all the horsepuckey and show some leadership in getting affordable health care reform for their constituents.
So far, they haven’t bothered to email me back.
I’m crushed, I tell ya, just crushed.
🙂
J’avaz, Oh yes we can’t forget our progressive senators. 🙂
Over the years I have emaile and called their Tuscon offices on various topics. I have never gotten a reply from either one. 🙁
My husband has actually written a few congressmen and McCain, even, and only Jeff Flake replied, but it was a form letter.
Yup, there are times that I feel we, as Independents or Democrats, have no voice in this state, since our politicians do not want to hear from us.
That angers me, because MY tax dollars pay their doggone salaries.
I get replies from Feinstein and Boxer all the time. Granted they are form letters but at least they address the issue I was writing about. How funny for those two if they did not?
I was reading yesterday on The Daily Howler about how those of us who are furious at this overuse of the filibuster are being silly.
I just published something copied over from tp.org. If that format is not okay I do understand. I was just very happy to see it. 🙂
Scher, I’m going to move it over to the front page. I may make a few edits because we have to be very careful about copyrights – both for text and for images. So if it’s changed a little, that’s why. 🙂
Okies. 🙂 No worries. I wasn’t sure what was permissible anyway. So I’m glad you’re having a look at it. I just was happy to see it. 😀
Talk about hypocrisy –
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/18/mccain-hypocrisy-franken/
“Flashback: McCain Refused To Grant 30 Seconds Of Time During Iraq War Debate”
Proof the MSNBC is not the left wing equivalent of FNC.
Liberal media my tushie!
Update
I don’t know why they have that reputation. Just because they bother to air the progressive viewpoint at all, probably. Three measly hours in the evenings — counterbalanced by three hours of Say It Ain’t So Joe Scarborough in the morning.
Debbie is a cancer survivor too. If anyone should be allowed to offer feedback on HCR I would think she would be such a person.
What an Ass — him not her.
Excellent post!
I’d just add that Lieberman and his wife have been puppets of the Insurance industry for a long time, dating back well before he lost the Dem primary in 2006.
So truly, he is behaving consistently in being an enemy of the American people and an ally of insurance corporations.
AdLib, Blance Lincoln and Ben Nelson are right up there with Joe.
I have paid attention to their stubborn recalcitrance, but somehow I think they would be easier to get on board. Granted it would take a good deal of arm twisting, but at least it could be done. In Lieberman’s case it’s a lost cause. 😐
Thanks. 🙂
I was trying to edit it some, but it wouldn’t let me. 🙁
As for his history… I have never liked nor had any tolerance for Joe Lieberman. It all started for me with the things he did during the Clinton years. The man is NOT a Democrat nor an Independent. He opposed Clinton’s health care plan. He spoke out against Clinton. He turned his back on Gore during the Florida debacle. He ran AGAINST his OWN party when it opposed his run for reelection to the Senate, which is WHY he’s an “Independent.” He continued to support the war in Iraq and did nothing to hold the Bush Administration accountable for that or any other action. Then he endorsed McCain and now this.
During the 2000 election I lived in Tennessee, and I did NOT vote in that election. Why? I have never voted for a Republican, and I never will. However, I could NOT support that man in good conscience. I am not ashamed of it either. The Florida fiasco is what sunk Al Gore and not his home state.
Needless to say I was not shocked by this in the least. 😐
Thanks, Scher.
I knew when Lieberman was our 60th vote that we didn’t really have 60 votes. He has never been a progressive, or even a centrist. He’s a conservative. He’s tagged along with the republicans on bill after bill for years.
If progressives really want to get serious about the senate, they’ve got to start cultivating some candidates to challenge the blue dogs in the primaries. There’s no other way. We can’t only focus on GOP seats. We have to focus on conservative seats, whether they’re GOP or Dem.
Thanks for a great article. I just makes me wish I lived in CT. Then again, we have our hands full here in CA w DiFi.
Thanks for the thoughtful response. 🙂
Would you believe I’ve never been to Cali? I’d love to see, but thus have not been.
It’s a beautiful state. If you ever get a chance to come our way, let us know! Lots of Californians on the Planet.
I know this is off-topic, but I just have to tell everybody…
I live right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina. If you have been watching the weather channel, you already know of our snow storm. It has been snowing hard for a few hours and I would guess that I have about 4″ on my porch right now, and the snow is coming down even harder. We are forecast to get maybe 20″ by tomorrow.
I guess I’m still a kid at heart, but I love this! This is a comparatively wet snow that clings to every tree branch. It is absolutely gorgeous! It looks like one of those Currier & Ives prints. My two Shih Tzus are whining to go out to play. They love it too!
Anyway, this is getting me into the Christmas spirit…a little strange for a Buddhist, but it’s all good! I just wish you all could see what I see out my window! 🙂
Well, that sinks it. Global warming is a myth.
Game over, man….
I guess we can call everyone back from their trip then.
I moved to Kansas a few years back to be with my life partner. I was living in Tennessee and rarely saw much snow due to where I was in relation to the valley and the mountains. Now I get to see snow all the time. 🙂 I love it!
Sherezade, I am delighted that you have joined us, and I am studying your post, thank you for that.
Thank you for your kind words my friend. 🙂
However, there is something you should know…
ladybastet at your service *bows* 😉
I knew it!
We fanned each other awhile back along with another person.
I can’t remember the article, but it had something to do with women’s rights, and there were three of us taking on the trolls.
I knew it was you!
:beams:
The friend with the puppy avatar that has a wig on? 😉
Yes!
I am so very glad that you’re here.
The culprit isn
In everything I’ve been reading lately it seems I’ve found two predominate arguments. The first is that the filibuster must go, and the other is that the Democrat’s leadership needs to get its act together. I tend to think that both arguments are valid. Mind you I’m not saying that Glenn Greenwald is right, but I have to say that we need to take these arguments very much to heart.
Democrats have always had the reputation of being a quarrelsome bunch. We carp and bitch about everything. But it has gone to the extreme with the corporate buy-out of our legislators. I cannot remember ever seeing this much polarization over EVERY issue. If it weren’t so serious, it would be funny to watch.
I expect you will find this article interesting.
The underlying divisions in the healthcare debate
Wow!! So happy you are here, Scher! And great post!!
Happy to see you too, Cher. 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Scheherazade! It’s great to see you here! The last time we were “chatting”, you turned me on to some really great music! If you remember, I’m the “classical” nut!
Good post! I certainly don’t wish bad things for anyone, but Lieberman could use a dose of his own medicine. Not only should he be canned from his powerful chairmanship…he should have to give up his gold-plated health insurance that he will have provided for him for life! What a typical Republican attitude…”I’ve got mine so screw you!”
Hello Emerald. 🙂
I do indeed remember. In fact if I recall correctly you are a classical pianist, yes?
Yep, but I don’t play as much as I would like to. A very nasty hip fracture five years ago makes it difficult to sit on the piano bench for long periods anymore…it kills my back with no support. I must resign myself to being an audiophile!
🙁
I would think they made some type of bench that would be easier on the back for those who need one.
The problem with that is that it would restrict arm and upper body movement somewhat. I wish somebody would come up with something.