Independent and Democratically-aligned U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman has been beyond the pale for Democrats for a long time. He recently ratcheted things up while supporting Republican John McCain over Democrat Barack Obama for President, attacking Obama with scurrilous, false and personal attacks during the campaign. As an added bonus for Democrats, Lieberman also campaigned for GOP Senators over their Democratic rivals. I agree with commentators who say that Joe Lieberman ‘owes’ Obama for his willingness to bury the hatchet and preserve Lieberman’s key Democratic committee chair position in the U.S. Senate - and that there’s no reason to assume Joe Lieberman will act with decency and reciprocity.
But there’s a wrinkle to the story - it doesn’t matter if Joe Lieberman thinks he owes Obama and acts like it, because Barack Obama is in a position to take Joe Lieberman out. In 2006 Barack Obama supported Joe Lieberman against the Democratic candidate most popular with the party, Ned Lamont, but Obama doesn’t have to do that again. More immediately, if Joe Lieberman doesn’t behave, I suspect Barack Obama doesn’t need to wait until 2012 to make his displeasure known. If Lieberman blows this chance at redemption, no Democrat will stand up for him and the press won’t be sympathetic - so Barack can gracefully take him out.
Showing clemency to Joe Lieberman may not be popular, but I wouldn’t underestimate it, it’s textbook politics.
Comments 5
DEAR READERS-
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATIC WING TOLD THE LIBS THAT IF THEY EXPECT ANYTHING PASSED IN THIS 111TH CONGRESS THEY BETTER LET LIEBERMAN BE?
-ROBERT JONES
Posted 20 Nov 2008 at 8:33 pm ¶A BLUE DOG DEMOCRAT
SEE THE STORY BELOW
CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS MAY BE A PAIN TO OBAMA@
http://www.2jounalnow.com/ content/2008/oct31/conservative-wing-of-democrats-may-be-pain-to-obam/
robert jones
Posted 20 Nov 2008 at 8:39 pm ¶Dear readers-
How I see this is that the Democratic Party has to be more center on the issues because our country is just that in tradition.This is a moderate to conservative county. You have to give people something to work with!
Reading about Diane Mc’Guire on the NTDO page, for example may have won her election had she not been so anti-guns and so more pro-abortion.
Many were listening but have an idea of “another tax and spend liberal.” You need to be more moderate in platform and get the same kinds of candidates! This includes the offices of congress. There is a window here. Otherwise DuPage will stay the same!
-Robert Jones
p.s.- Run a Good Democrat and get rid of Pradel and Robert Schurstrom. They are both useless!
Posted 01 Dec 2008 at 5:26 pm ¶To the Honorable Senator Durbin
RE: GEORGE RYAN
To the good senator,
Remember what happened to Alan Dixon!
Posted 02 Dec 2008 at 5:57 am ¶Dear readers-
……..How about the Gov and “Honest George “in the same cell together?
Posted 22 Dec 2008 at 3:01 am ¶Post a Comment