Senate Dems Shoot Themselves In The Foot By Keeping Lieberman

mWell the rumors starting yesterday were true, Joe Lieberman is keeping his Chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The majority of the Democratic caucus failed to realize the reality of what Joe Lieberman did to his former party by campaigning for McCain and other GOP candidates down the ballot. Now most of them understand what the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee does and how it can hurt President Obama going forward, so what the hell were they thinking?

From RawStory:

"It's very clear that the vast majority of the Democratic caucus wants to keep Sen. Lieberman as the chairman of his committee, a member of the Armed Services Committee, and that was done, it's all over with," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters after a Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday. "Joe Lieberman is a Democrat, he's a part of this caucus."

Lieberman maintained his spot as chairman on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, despite calls for him to lose that post because of his campaigning for McCain.

Reid, addressing reporters in the US Capitol Tuesday morning, said the caucus was not interested in retribution and wanted to move beyond the campaign.

Before Tuesday's vote, observers expected that the Independent Connecticut senator would receive little more than a slap on the wrist for the myriad scurrilous attacks he unleashed on President-elect Barack Obama during the campaign.

Basically nothing happened to Lieberman for his treachery. It was about letting him hold onto power within the caucus and the Senate and nothing else. Reid was wrong to say that is merely about retribution however. Alongside the vicious attacks on Obama and praises for McCain, Lieberman completely abrogated his responsibilities as a United States Senator in charge of the committee in question.

Joe should have exercised oversight on President Bush's actions yet did absolutely nothing to keep George in check. Lieberman was a loyal lap dog for Dubya and violated his Constitutional duty to help the Legislative branch be a check and a balance to the Executive. His specific role has enabled the killings of hundreds of thousands if not millions in Iraq and was an able cheerleader of the illegal war, nothing else.

The majority of the caucus should be embarrassed for such a lame slap on the wrist. Lieberman should be a back bencher without seniority for his actions and now the Dems have shown that when it comes to principles, they have very little. As Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post points out, it is all about personal loyalties. What a shame it is that they don't see that gun behind Joe's back.

Rachel Maddow Lays Out The Risks Of Keeping Lieberman Where He Is

Oh there are so many bad reasons to keep Lieberman as Chair of that Committee. So, so, many. Take notes here Lieberman apologists, I'm looking at you Senator Bayh!

Lieberman Is Out To Get Obama, Time To Get Him Out First

Ever since Joe Lieberman started standing up for George Bush's illegal war, I've lost all respect for the man. I cheered on and donated to Ned Lamont to oust him. Unfortunately it was just from the party and not the Senate as a whole. Too many good Democrats stood up for him in the general election, not knowing how rotten Lieberman was about to go. Now that he has in all essence become a Republican and out Zelling Zell Miller, it is time to kick him from the Democratic caucus and push him far, far away from chairing his current Committee. If all of the reasons laid out before haven't convinced you that have voted for Obama, consider this.

From The Washington Monthly:

This seems to be routinely overlooked, but take a moment to consider what the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs actually does: it's the committee principally responsible for oversight of the executive branch. It's an accountability committee, charged with investigating the conduct of the White House and the president's administration.

As chairman of this committee for the last two years, Lieberman decided not to pursue any accusations of wrongdoing against the Bush administration. Lieberman's House counterpart -- Rep. Henry Waxman's Oversight Committee -- was a vigilant watchdog, holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching multiple investigations. Lieberman preferred to let his committee do no real work at all. It was arguably the most pathetic display of this Congress.

And yet, now Lieberman acts as if keeping this chairmanship is the single most important part of his public life. Why would he be so desperate to keep the gavel of a committee he hasn't used? I'll let you in on a secret: he wants to start using the power of this committee against Obama.

Lieberman didn't want to hold Bush accountable, but he seems exceedingly anxious to keep the committee that would go after Obama with a vengeance, effectively becoming a Waxman-like figure -- holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching investigations against the Democratic president.

He is planning on giving Obama hell and thwarting any action that might help our troops get out of Iraq. He has done nothing against Bush because he is one of the current President's sycophants. Lieberman cared nothing about the high crimes committed by Bush and Cheney but just watch as he lays it into our new President. Don't let anyone fool you that this is simply about retribution (though it should weigh into the equation) but making sure someone competent will chair the committee that exercises oversight on the President. Lieberman has failed at the job so far and has no credibility to continue to have such power in the 111th Congress. Moreover, the guy really is a Republican, so he might as well just go where he belongs.

Call your Senators now at (202) 224-3121 and push them to push Joe out for good!