Chris Dodd and a few of his Senate colleagues pulled off an amazing feat of political gamesmanship to help Joe Lieberman keep his Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chairmanship. It was so effective, in fact, that by the time Democratic Senators voted on Lieberman's role in the Party, they no longer had the option to strip Joe of his chairmanship.
[T]he outcome was for all intents and purposes a fait accompli.
Sources on Capitol Hill say there was little to no opportunity for Senators angry at their recalcitrant colleague to fully register their disagreements. Only one resolution -- one that kept Lieberman in his post but took away his position on an environmental and public works committee -- came to the floor, and it clearly had the support to pass. Senators could voice their displeasure or vote nay. But in the end, as one aide says, "the meeting was theater."
Chris Dodd and a handful of leading Senate Democrats apparently worked for days to keep the HS&GA gavel in Lieberman's hands.
"They had more than two and a half weeks to organize around this," said one high-ranking aide who favored Lieberman being stripped of his post. "And the fact of the matter is, Reid basically met with Lieberman 48 hours after the election was over. During that time it seemed like he was leaning towards stripping Lieberman of his committee chairmanship. But once that word came out, the only folks who were organized were the pro-Lieberman supporters."
The problem, the aide reluctantly ceded, was an absence of coordinated progressive leadership. While the pro-Lieberman allies were out in force -- led by Sens. Chris Dodd, Ken Salazar, Tom Carper, and Bill Nelson -- the Senators who wanted a harsher punishment held their cards tightly.
Dodd's efforts began on November 6, when he and Lieberman staged back-to-back press conferences in Washington, D.C. At the first press conference, Lieberman acknowledged meeting Harry Reid and said he would consider the "options" presented to him, which presumably included losing his chairmanship and joining the Republican caucus. At the second presser moments later, Dodd laid claim to the Banking Committee chair, shrugging off suggestions by Joe Biden that he move to Foreign Relations. Dodd and Lieberman also spoke several times that day.
The next day in Hartford, Dodd warned of a "messy fight" with the Obama-Biden administration if Lieberman were stripped of his chairmanship. Considering that it's Harry Reid and the Senate Steering Committee -- not Obama -- who picks the committee seats, it was an odd response. That warning could easily have been taken as a veiled threat to oppose Obama's legislative agenda. Since it only takes a few Democratic Senators to make good on such a threat, and Dodd was in the process of lining up Senators Nelson, Salazar, and others to side with him, the threat had to be taken seriously. Apparently it was. On November 9, Obama said he didn't hold any grudges against Lieberman, that he preferred that Joe caucus with the Dems, and that the Senate work out the details.
The rest was political theater.
It remains to be seen to what degree Dodd helped to salvage or sabotage the Obama administration's plans for change by bringing Lieberman into the fold -- and to what degree Dodd himself is interested in reform. As Banking Chairman, Dodd can lead the effort to revamp the financial services industry, or he can continue to let that industry regulate itself -- to disastrous effects. In fact, much of the credit or blame for what gets accomplished in Washington over the next two years will go to Senate Democrats like Dodd and Lieberman. I wonder if they'll rise to the occasion.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has reached out to Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) about the prospect of joining the Republican conference, but Lieberman is still bargaining with Democratic leaders to keep his chairmanship, according to Senate aides in both parties.
"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."
A Republican Senate aide said Friday morning that there was little McConnell could offer in terms of high ranking committee slots, which is why Lieberman is resisting overtures from the Republican side.
UPDATE: ctblogger: What's "unacceptable" is that ANYONE would trust Lieberman after what he said about Obama and the Democratic Party (i.e, supported Norm Coleman over Al Franken, raised money for Susan Collins, wanted Republicans to win seats in the senate so the Democrats wouldn't get 60 seats).
It's simple: Sign the petitions and tell the senate and State Central to DUMP JOE NOW!
1: Please sign Firedoglake's petition to the members of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee telling them that it's time for Joe to go.
2: PLEASE sign the petition to the members of the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee asking them to support the pending resolution to censure Joe Lieberman (NOTE: State Central will meet to take up this matter on Dec 17th.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has decided that Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) - one of Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) top supporters - can no longer attend Democrats' weekly caucus lunches or the biweekly chairmen's lunches used to formulate policy, senior Democratic aides said Tuesday.
The decision comes in the wake of Lieberman's attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at the GOP convention last week, and essentially formalizes a deal Reid and Lieberman had cut earlier this year under which Lieberman would not attend meetings that included discussions of sensitive campaign or political issues.
Scarce UPDATE Alas, The Hill didn't get their facts straight, or the facts got reinvented for them. Or something. New facts, via Roll Call:
A spokesman for Lieberman denied there have been any recent discussions between the Senator and Reid about his attendance at the policy luncheons and stressed that Lieberman "totally, completely of his own volition" decided he would skip certain sessions.
"Sen. Lieberman has voluntarily decided not to attend luncheons when he believes it's likely there would be discussions of presidential politics," spokesman Marshall Whitman said, adding that Lieberman has never been told to stay away from the luncheons.
The decision comes in the wake of Lieberman's attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at the GOP convention last week, and essentially formalizes a deal Reid and Lieberman had cut earlier this year under which Lieberman would not attend meetings that included discussions of sensitive campaign or political issues.
Lieberman for weeks has voluntarily forgone the weekly caucus lunches and weekly policy lunches on Thursdays.
A Reid spokesman angrily denied that the Majority Leader had booted Lieberman from lunches.
Senate Majority Leader gives a clear indication on why Joe Lieberman still has his Chairmanship, as he relates to FDL:
he [Reid] recently went to Leiberman and said, "Joe, I need money from you." He describes Lieberman responding, "Will $250 thousand be enough?" Lieberman subsequently gave $250 thousand to the DSCC.
Reid also gave the needing the vote routine (as Dick Durbin did earlier), as if it was a real thing to be prized instead of the chimera it has turned out to be. Lieberman is a reliable republican vote, not a democratic one.
Chris Dodd had said the same thing earlier, as reported by The Hill:
Dodd said that Lieberman had given $250,000 to help Democratic Senate candidates win election this fall.
"He gave $250,000 to the DSCC a week and a half ago," said Dodd. "He's been very helpful to Democrats.
One can only surmise from such statements that there must exist some parallel universe out there where these statements make any sense whatsoever.
The Chairman's responsibilities and Jurisdictions will include real oversight concerning failures of the Bush administration in providing security to our nation during times of war, illegal invasions, ongoing occupations, and natural disasters, as well as overseeing the bloated budget and operations of the largest branch of government ever to be created in the US governments' history through legislation authored under the Republican controlled Senate and House, and signed by the Republican pResident of the time.
Your main and immidiate responsibilities will include holding the needed hearings, directing sub-commitees and legislation needed to avoid repeating the previous disasters, corrupt practices, and failures that will be found with the propper direction and oversight of a NON-PARTISAN and ethical Senate leader.
(1)Minorities such as moderate Republicans having no ties to far-right-wing radical organizations like the Neoconservative movement, the American Enterprise Instute, The Heritage Foundation, Energy Corporations, or the Bush administrations most recent policy proposals that are doomed to failure, are encouraged to apply to Senator Harry Reid for any consideration concerning this soon to be available position.
(2)Note to applicants: Please mark the subject of the Email as "Homeland Security" and refer to this x-posted Blog diary in the opening paragragh of the application. You will be contacted shortly before I post an "I told you so!" diary covering the flawed positons, election statement lies, and propaganda of the far-right-wing radical Neoconservative Joe Lieberman.
Lieberman's constant presence at McCain's side fuels speculation that he would join a McCain administration. Yet he already has talked with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about his future in the caucus.
Would Lieberman, 66, a four-term Connecticut senator, be stripped of his committee chairmanship and seniority if Democrats no longer had to rely on a self-described "Independent Democrat" for their one-vote majority?
"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 said. "As far as he is concerned, I will retain my seniority, etc., no matter how many Democrats there are next year."
Reid's spokesman, Jim Manley, confirmed Lieberman's account.
I couldn't believe this when I first read it this morning.
Senate Republicans don't like being in the minority. We knew that much. They didn't like it so much that they decided they would filibuster any bill they couldn't beat in a simple up or down vote. They filibustered the habeas corpus restoration bill, the energy bill (to keep the provisions that had huge subsidies for the industry), and the Webb Amendment that called for giving troops serving in Iraq ample rest time when they were back stateside.
Except these weren't real filibusters in the sense a lot of people have. This wasn't Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Instead, the Republicans merely threatened filibuster, forcing the Senate to have a cloture vote, effectively overruling majority voting and making everything pass the Senate with 60 votes.
I always wondered why the Democratic majority leadership didn't force the Republicans to filibuster the old-fashioned way. Don't like a bill so much that you don't think it should pass with anything less than 60 votes? Fine. Stand up and talk for as long as you can. Put your principles in action. But no: Majority Leader Harry Reid didn't challenge the Republican perversion of the institution of the filibuster, and took it from the GOP every time they threatened.
Now, enter Senators Dodd and Feingold. Nobody has done more work in the Senate than these two senators in terms of calling attention to the Bush Administration's assault on constitutional rights. Senator Dodd is attempting to lead a filibuster of the FISA bill as long as it contains immunity for the telecom companies that aided and abetted the Bush Administration in their illegal wiretapping program.
Ms. Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Ms. Pelosi & Mr. Reid,
As registered Democrats we feel we must write directly to you and warn you both of what to expect in 2008. We know you are working hard toward re-election and election of a Democratic President, however by your lack of action today on behalf of the American people you are risking a total loss in 2008 to the Republican Party. We do not understand what is going on with our party, but we do see the writing on the wall and wonder why you all are allowing it.
We were recently at a forum where the statement was made that in 2000 Ralph Nader's presence on the ballot took votes that would have put Al Gore into office. That can be argued, what with Diebold et al, however what you should be concentrating on is what went on prior to November 2006 in the party. More registered voters came out to vote. Do you understand why they came out in November and changed the complexion of Congress? It was to end the war in Iraq not to just change course, and certainly not to see war started in Iran as a possibility.
To date, 11 months later, the Democratic Party has done ZERO to end the war. We have heard a lot of talk.
You both have stated that Impeachment is "off the table", and do nothing to initiate the investigation into what this administration has done in the last six years. Please be assured that the American people are well aware of the questionable activities, the secrecy and total disregard for our Constitution that has transpired, and now under your majority leadership you all are ignoring.
When the Democratic Party looses in 2008, you better believe it will be due to the Party's inept actions today. You have very little time left to win back those newly registered voters and those of us who have now become very apathetic toward the party we once had faith in.
We plead with you to start impeachment proceedings against Richard Cheney and George W. Bush. It is your constitutional responsibility, no ifs, ands, or buts.
End the war NOW, bring our soldiers home, and stop thinking only of re-election.
Sincerely,
cc: Senator Harry Reid 528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
The Chairman's responsibilities and Jurisdictions will include real oversight concerning failures of the Bush administration in providing security to our nation during times of war, illegal invasions, ongoing occupations, and natural disasters, as well as overseeing the bloated budget and operations of the largest branch of government ever to be created in the US governments' history through legislation authored under the Republican controlled Senate and House, and signed by the Republican pResident of the time.
Your main and immidiate responsibilities will include holding the needed hearings, directing sub-commitees and legislation needed to avoid repeating the previous disasters, corrupt practices, and failures that will be found with the propper direction and oversight of a NON-PARTISAN and ethical Senate leader.
(1)Minorities such as moderate Republicans having no ties to far-right-wing radical organizations like the Neoconservative movement, the American Enterprise Instute, The Heritage Foundation, Energy Corporations, or the Bush administrations most recent policy proposals that are doomed to failure, are encouraged to apply to Senator Harry Reid for any consideration concerning this soon to be available position.
(2)Note to applicants: Please mark the subject of the Email as "Homeland Security" and refer to this x-posted Blog diary in the opening paragragh of the application. You will be contacted shortly before I post an "I told you so!" diary covering the flawed positons, election statement lies, and propaganda of the far-right-wing radical Neoconservative Joe Lieberman.
Last week Harry Reid stood in front of one of those backdrop banners with the slogans: "Transition the mission" and "Support our Troops" repeated all over it.
Well according to McClatchy Newpapers : The mission has been transitioned for months now.
But according to the MSM: Nothing to see here except a Democrat making a huge mistake because he won't "support the troops."
Reid argued that the war is lost and we need to start having a real dialog in this country about where we're going as a nation in Iraq.
After Edwards and Richardson decided to skip, and after Roger Ailes joked about Obama being a terrorist, Politico reports that the NV Dems are doing the right thing and cancelling the debate. Right on. I am very happy our party will no longer validate Fox Noise Channel. Now, Lieberman will probably continue to be a friend of the show" on Hannity for some time, but this is nonetheless a very good step.
The Chairman's responsibilities and Jurisdictions will include real oversight concerning failures of the Bush administration in providing security to our nation during times of war, illegal invasions, ongoing occupations, and natural disasters, as well as overseeing the bloated budget and operations of the largest branch of government ever to be created in the US governments' history through legislation authored under the Republican controlled Senate and House, and signed by the Republican pResident of the time.
Your main and immidiate responsibilities will include holding the needed hearings, directing sub-commitees and legislation needed to avoid repeating the previous disasters, corrupt practices, and failures that will be found with the propper direction and oversight of a NON-PARTISAN and ethical Senate leader.
(1)Minorities such as moderate Republicans having no ties to far-right-wing radical organizations like the Neoconservative movement, the American Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, Energy Corporations, or the Bush administrations most recent policy proposals that are doomed to failure, are encouraged to apply to Senator Harry Reid for any consideration concerning this soon to be available position.
(2)Note to applicants: Please mark the subject of the Email as "Homeland Security" and refer to this x-posted Blog diary in the opening paragragh of the application. You will be contacted shortly before I post an "I told you so!" diary covering the flawed positons, election statement lies, and propaganda of the far-right-wing radical Neoconservative Joe Lieberman.
For those of you who don't know him, Bob Geiger is the Left Blogistan's foremost expert on the US Senate. If it has anything to do with the Senate, Bob's your man. He was in DC Friday to interview incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid [Gah, it still feels great to type that] and today has posted the transcript and audio of the interview.
It's a great piece. Geiger and Reid touch on many subjects: homeland security, energy policy, health care, investigatory oversight, protecting our veterans, and recent Democratic victories to name a few. Go check it out.
The Pentagon's closely guarded review of how to improve the situation in Iraq has outlined three basic options: Send in more troops, shrink the force but stay longer, or pull out, according to senior defense officials.
Insiders have dubbed the options "Go Big," "Go Long" and "Go Home." The group conducting the review is likely to recommend a combination of a small, short-term increase in U.S. troops and a long-term commitment to stepped-up training and advising of Iraqi forces, the officials said.
A quick look at what these secret plans are BELOW:
Destroyer of careers, traitor, and all-round slimeball Robert Novak has good news for Joe Lieberman.
Pressure is mounting within the Senate Democratic caucus to strip Sen. Joseph Lieberman of senior committee positions if he defeats Democratic nominee Ned Lamont in Connecticut, but Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is expected to beat that back.
Lieberman will remain part of the Democratic caucus even though he would be elected as an independent after losing to Lamont in the Democratic primary. Many liberal senators, angry with Lieberman for supporting President Bush on Iraq, don't want him to chair a committee in a Democratic-controlled Senate. He now is senior Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee.
Reid says nothing publicly but is expected to save Lieberman. Disciplining fellow Democrats is not Reid's style, and Lieberman's vote could be crucial in taking Senate control from the Republicans. Reid and Lieberman also have a particularly close personal relationship.
Of course, seniority won't mean diddly-squat when Lieberman wakes up a loser on November 8th.
From DailyKos who quotes The Hill and Roll Call with the information...
Last week Harry Reid stood in front of one of those backdrop banners with the slogans: "Transition the mission" and "Support our Troops" repeated all over it. 
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