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undeterred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:44 AM
Original message
Lieberman under Reid’s protection after attacks
By Manu Raju
Posted: 06/05/08 07:48 PM

The Democratic leader in the Senate indicated Thursday that he intends to protect Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) even as the former Democrat steps up attacks on the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters he has no plans to “threaten” Lieberman following the renegade senator’s sharp criticism this week of Obama’s policy toward Iran.

Lieberman, who ran successfully as an Independent in Connecticut after being beaten in the 2006 primary by an anti-war candidate, now backs Obama’s rival for the White House, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). But Lieberman continues to caucus with Democrats and in doing so gives Reid a 51-49 majority in the Senate. That, Reid said, represents an “important vote.”

Lieberman’s crucial vote was on display Wednesday, when he helped Democrats narrowly pass a budget resolution. That same day, Lieberman participated in a McCain campaign conference call blasting Obama. “Let’s stop and think a little bit,” Reid said. “What did we vote on ? Hmm. We voted on the budget. Without Lieberman’s vote, the budget would not have passed.” The budget cleared by a couple of votes, 48-45.

Reid added, “So I think everybody should understand that Joe Lieberman had made a decision on issues relating to the war, and he’s decided to back John McCain. But Joe Lieberman is an important vote for this caucus.”

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lieberman-under-reids-protection-after-attacks-2008-06-05.html
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GreenEyedLefty Donating Member (708 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:46 AM
Response to Original message
1. Reid is a good enough guy, but Lordy, he needs a backbone. n/t
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Andy823 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:50 AM
Response to Reply #1
5. Yep, and I wonder
What will happen after November when the democrats take over the majority in the senate, and they no longer need Joe? Me thinks he will become a republican then. Of course he already acts like one so it won't be much of a surprise! :eyes:
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Captain Angry Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:48 AM
Response to Original message
2. Hopefully his constituents will ensure that he never plays another role in the government.
Once his term has been completed, they can decide if he's going back again. Or writing his memoirs.
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speedoo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:53 AM
Response to Reply #2
7. They will indeed.
Because by 2010, he will be completely powerless in the Senate.
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mac2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 03:31 PM
Response to Reply #2
13. That won't be until 2010.
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=S0561103
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Hydra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:48 AM
Response to Original message
3. Man, Lieberman has a SWEET position
He's immune to any criticism for being a republican bastard because "We need him"- yet he can be counted on to support the GOP whenever they bribe him well enough.

Was it really so scary for the DLC to have Lamont, that they handed to Senate to the Repubs on a silver platter?
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speedoo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:51 AM
Response to Reply #3
6. That will change dramatically in January.
Being "thrown under the bus" will see a completely new definition when the dems strip Lieberman of every possible perk.
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Hydra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:55 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. We can hope
I still live in mortal fear of election fraud...as most people here should.

There's no reason we shouldn't pick up 5 senate seats...but there was no reason we shouldn't have had Gore or Kerry, either.
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Benhurst Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 11:15 AM
Response to Reply #8
9. Election fraud is the elephant in the room no one will acknowledge.
Edited on Fri Jun-06-08 11:32 AM by Benhurst
None of our "leaders", including Clinton and Obama, have addressed it.

The stakes are higher this election than they have ever been. Powerful people face disgrace, financial ruin and serious jail time if the laws are ever enforced. After two stolen presidential elections, why is it so hard for our "leaders" even contemplate the possibility of its happening again?
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mac2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 03:29 PM
Response to Reply #9
12. They don't care since the winner has been chosen.
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Eric Condon Donating Member (761 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-07-08 12:14 AM
Response to Reply #9
17. That's not entirely true, because Obama has addressed it, at least a little.
At the Compassion Forum thing, Obama did indeed say "By the way, I think Al Gore won." He didn't elaborate any further, but you have to admit, for a major presidential candidate on the national stage, that was a pretty damn ballsy statement.
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Benhurst Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-07-08 10:06 AM
Response to Reply #17
21. So has Hillary. She even introduced legislation which got nowhere,
failing to garner sufficient support from her fellow Democrats.

I'm glad Obama said he thought Gore won, but we've reached a pretty sorry point in our political culture when a simple statement of fact is considered a ballsy statement.

Both Clinton and Obama deserve some credit; but the stolen elections should have remained front and center for all our "leaders," as should the obscene renewal of the so-called "Patriot" Act (unfortunately supported by many of our own, including Clinton and Obama) and the shredding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
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Eric Condon Donating Member (761 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-07-08 11:44 AM
Response to Reply #21
22. Well, with regards to Hillary, you have to remember that stolen elections were kinda to her benefit
After all, if anyone out there thinks she wasn't thrilled by the outcomes of 2000 and 2004, then they've got another thing coming.
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undeterred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 10:49 AM
Response to Original message
4. He may be the only Dem friend Lieberman's got
The headline sounds like he's in some kind of senator protection program. :shrug:
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Phred42 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 01:10 PM
Response to Original message
10. Way to go Harry - Reid is a Coward and MUST go ASAP!
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nolabels Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-07-08 07:56 AM
Response to Reply #10
20. Boxer, Webb or somebody with a set of gonads oh pleaszzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The Dems need someone with principle, not a facilitator :shrug:
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mac2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 03:28 PM
Response to Original message
11. Dog and Pony Show
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yurbud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 04:52 PM
Response to Original message
14. if they get just two more senate seats, they can kick his vichy ass to the curb
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Mark E. Smith Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 06:45 PM
Response to Original message
15. Real Politics Always Baffles The Ideologues
I despise Lieberman, but I support Harry Reid.

And when we pick up a couple more Senate seats this fall we can send Joe packing.

I strongly support Harry Reid.
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AZ Criminal JD Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-06-08 08:33 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. "We" aren't sending Joe anywhere. "We" aren't in the Senate.
Harry Reid is. Even if we pick up seats in November Reid will not do anything to Lieberman. When you are the Senate leader no amount of seats is ever enough.
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Mark E. Smith Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-07-08 06:31 AM
Response to Reply #16
18. Sure, Bama
Whatever you say.
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salin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-07-08 07:02 AM
Response to Original message
19. Joe knows his value to the dem majority in the senate is nearly gone
and his value to the GOP is as a "dem" even an "independent dem" because he becomes their token to try to demonstrate that they are "bipartisan".

I read speculation on TPM that his current McCain supporting/Obama bashing gig is a last ditch effort to hope to retain power - as in getting a position/appointment in a McCain administration - so he is throwing all down (that he can) to try to get McCain elected.

He knows that starting next year he is going to have a very isolated thorny time in the senate.
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