Joe Lieberman Is a Weenie (Or Holy Shit! Is Obama the Same as Bush/McCain?)

I come down on the side of weenie:

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman took another step Tuesday toward mending his relationship with Democrats, saying that Barack Obama’s actions since winning the presidency have been “just about perfect.”

“Everything that President-elect Obama has done since election night has been just about perfect, both in terms of a tone and also in terms of the strength of the names that have either been announced or are being discussed to fill his administration,” Lieberman said during a visit to Hartford.

Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, was re-elected to the Senate in 2006 as an independent but continues to caucus with Democrats. He supported Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign, going as far as to criticize Obama and make a speech at the Republican National Convention.

It seems that Joe is now bowing down to his new Democratic overlords, just as he did to his former GOP masters.

Joe likes to think that he’s all about political courage, but it seems that Joe is all about Joe and pleasing those in power.

Serial Obsessions

Do you remember the recount of 2000?

I sure do, and it introduced a new way of living to me.

During those dark days, I wasn’t able to read the internet from work, so I’d hurry home to read the different threads on Table Talk while watching TV and throwing shoes at it at the same time.

Joe Lieberman said we should count military votes cast after the Florida deadline?

I’d ask myself while throwing a shoe at the TV.

The Bush administration came into power and I had a few mini-obsessions.

Protesting Bush’s inauguration was the first and then , the second seasons of Survivor and Big Brother occupied way too much of my time (what was I thinking?).

And then 9/11 happened and as an obession, that one was a given. As was the lead-up to the Iraq war and the early days of the war. I had a hard time believing that Americans were so gullible that they would buy Bush’s argument that Iraq posed some sort of a threat to the US.

I was pissed. And obsessed.

And then Howard Dean happened and most of 2003 was occupied by that obsession while 2004’s obsession was getting Kerry elected.

That didn’t turn out well, so my obsessions became nonpolitical. Dogs, cooking, and graduate school were my obsessions after the Kerry loss. Those obsessions were probably more healthy than politics.

And then Obama happened. That obsession started slowly when I watched him announce his candidacy in 2007. I liked him a lot, but was afraid to commit because Dean’s loss broke my heart. But I got over it, as supporting losing Democratic candidates is something that I have historically done. My first choice for president in 1988 was Paul Simon, in 1992, it was Jerry Brown, in 2000, it was Al Gore, and in 2004, it was Howard Dean. If I supported Obama, the poor guy was doomed, I feared.

But then Obama started winning caucuses and primaries earlier this year. And then he kept winning all the way through November 4.

I had found my new obsession, and I loved it. I loved the thrill of watching his speeches, seeing the returns from the primaries, and doing my part to help elect Obama when I could.

The same was true in the general campaign against McCain.

And then Sarah Palin came onto the scene and I couldn’t get that loathesome woman out of my mind. She took up way too much room on this blog, I know. But I still can’t believe she happened.

Then, Obama won.

I’ve been irrationally exuberant since then. Electing Barack Obama has been a great thing for this country, and though I know he will disappoint at times, I think he will be a hell of a president.

But now, what the hell am I supposed to be obsessed with?

Sure, there are a lot of interesting things going on right now, but it’s been hard to find one thing to focus upon.

How am I supposed to live without an obsession?

Maybe I should just go on a long walk and do some other things I enjoy.

Senate Democrats Remind Us of Who They Really Are

Granted, President-Elect Obama is a Senate Democrat. So they’re not all bad.

But they were the ones who were the worst Bush-enablers who helped bring us the Iraq war, and not one of them had the guts to support the challenge to the Bush v Gore results. It only took one of them to support the resolution brought up by the Congressional Black Caucus to challenge Bush’s ascension in 2000.

As expected, they are sticking up for one of their own, Senator Joe Lieberman, who represents the worst cowardly impulses of spineless Democrats.

Let’s look back on some of Joe’s best quotes:

On Iraq:

Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the United States.

How’d that turn out, Joe? Where were the stockpiles of WMDs in Iraq?

On Howard Dean:

I share the anger, but, ultimately, to govern this country, it takes more than anger. It takes experience. It takes positions that reflect the best values of the American people.

Bullshit, Joe. You were never angry about being misled about the Iraq war. You were its biggest cheerleader. We had every right to be angry at the time, and you were one of the people with whom we were angry.

On the Iraq war:

Some in my party threaten to send a message that they don’t know a just war when they see it, and more broadly that they’re not prepared to use our military strength to protect our security and the cause of freedom.

Joe, preemptive wars against countries that pose no threat to our country are just wars? Again, bullshit.

And then Lieberman decided to support McCain and attack Obama:

Colleagues like Barack Obama were voting to cut off funding for our American troops on the ground.

Joe, you know that’s a lie.

In the Senate, during the three-and-a-half years that Sen. Obama has been a member, he has not reached across party lines to accomplish anything significant, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party to get something done.

Joe, uh, so you discount Obama’s work with Lugar? And you really think Obama should have reached on other issues where there was no common ground.

Lieberman isn’t even a real Democrat. Connecticut Democrats rejected Lieberman in 2006, and Lieberman was only elected in a 3-way race againt a a real Democrat (Ned Lamont) and an underfunded Republican. Lieberman carried the GOP vote.

So what does this have to do with other cowardly Senate Democrats?

It seems they are going to keep Joe as chair of the Homeland Security Committee.

Glenn Greenwald writes:

If that happens, there will be one important silver lining:  it will remind many people, who have understandably forgotten due to the euphoria last week, exactly what most Beltway Democrats are, what their priorities and beliefs are, and to whose opinions and concerns they do and do not pay attention.

It is worth remembering that the Democrats who are going to exert dominant political control are the same ones who have provoked so much scorn — rightfully so — over the last several years, and particularly since 2006.  This is the same Democratic Party leadership which funded the Iraq War without conditions (and voted to authorize it in the first place); massively expanded the President’s warrantless eavesdropping powers; immunized lawbreaking telecoms; enacted the Patriot Act and then renewed it with virtually no changes; didn’t even bother to mount a filibuster to stop the Military Commissions Act; refrained from pursuing any meaningful investigations of Bush lawbreaking; confirmed every last extremist Bush nominee, from Michael McConnell to Michael Mukasey; acquiesced to even the worst and most lawless Bush policies when they were briefed on them; and on and on and on.  None of that has changed.  That is still who they are.

I’m excited about President-Elect Obama and the role he will play in history as he tries to move our country forward.

But at the same time, I’m hoping that his leadership allows Senate Democrats to act like Democrats and grow a spine.

I’m not optimistic on that front.

Kaine for VP?

Hell no.

I don’t know much about Tim Kaine. From what I’ve read, he’s the moderately popular governor of Virginia who supported the Iraq war and who is against  abortion and gay rights.

I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, if he might help Obama carry Virginia.

But then I read this:

In 2004, while lieutenant governor, Kaine was an early supporter of the presidential bid of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.).

That’s a deal-breaker for me. Lieberman is no Democrat, so Kaine’s endorsement of him is troublesome.

No to McKaine.

Lanny Davis: Clinton Supporters’ Feelings Are Easily Hurt

Life must have been hard for Lanny Davis as a Lieberman supporter, especially given all the flack the poor Joe was given by Democrats. He must have really gotten upset when that Ned Lamont decided to run against and then beat Holy Joe in the Democratic primary. Lanny must have felt vindicated when Lieberman beat Lamont in November of 2006, and so now he must feel even better that Lieberman will share the stage with John Hagee (the man whose endorsement Lieberman’s BFF rejected) at Hagee’s Armageddon Conference.

But, today, Lanny’s not worried about Joe. He’s worried that that big meanie Barack Obama has intentionally enraged Clinton supporters. From his list of Four Things the Obama Campaign Couldn’t Resist Doing to Anger Clinton Supporters:

1. Couldn’t resist waiting one day after Sen. Clinton won West Virginia by 41 points to announce John Edwards endorsement.

So in other words, he’s mad because Obama had the nerve to practice smart politics by trying to change the media narrative through an announcement of a major endorsement the day after being thumped in WV? Damn that Obama!

2. Couldn’t resist waiting to win majority of ALL delegates (not just pledged delegates) to do victory lap speech in Iowa the night Hillary won Kentucky by 36 points.

Well, I would hardly call Obama’s speech that night a victory lap. But Clinton wouldn’t celebrate a little if she won the majority of pledged delegates that night? Or would she have waited a day or two out of sensitivity to Obama’s big win in Oregon?

3. Couldn’t resist waiting to win majority of all delegates to announce Jim Johnson as VP search committee head…

Snip

Obama wouldn’t confirm or deny the that Mr. Johnson has been appointed to head the VP search effort. That makes many Clinton supporters feel uneasy about Senator Obama.

At this point, Obama’s choice of a soft drink would make Clinton supporters feel uneasy about him (“He drinks DIET Coke? Who does that pansy elitist think he is??”). It’s apparent that Obama is the likely nominee. Why let John McCain get a huge head start on the VP selection process? Or would Clinton supporters prefer that Obama not think about a VP until the convention in August?

4. Couldn’t resist listing Bill Richardson as under consideration for Veep – the one Red Flag name that infuriates even moderate Clinton supporters the most — not because he chose to endorse Sen. Obama, but the way he did it, i.e., his inability to avoid making negative comments about Sen. Clinton while doing so — another person who sometimes can’t resist the temptation of not being gracious when he should be, a great disappointment to many of his former close friends from the Clinton camp and which will not be forgotten.

Hmm. I know that Richardson is Judas, and that makes Clinton Jesus, but I’m having a hard time finding much Clinton bashing in Richardson’s endorsement. The worst I could find was this:

I believe the campaign has gotten too negative. I want it to be positive.

So I’m wondering what Obama has really done that has upset the delicate sensibilities of Clinton supporters. My list looks something like this:

1. Obama chose to run.

2. Obama ran.

3. Obama is on the verge of winning.

Did I miss anything?

McCain/Lieberman in 2008?

They make a cute couple and I don’t think Joe ever leaves John’s side.

Need some evidence that these BFFs like to be together and like the same stuff?

They have the same friends, and each might even have a little crush on the most important Heather in Washington:

Nice.

They also really like to travel together!

And it’s good for John to have Joe around so Joe can teach John about things John doesn’t know. Things like:

Iran and al Quada.

Purim and Halloween.

They love to be in love!

The best thing about a McCain/Lieberman ticket would be its ability to unite Democrats and Republicans, as McCain is hated by the conservative base of his party while Lieberman is hated by the liberal base of the Democratic party. With a McCain/Lieberman ticket, Democrats, Republicans, independents, and others would unite against Rocky the Squirrel and the dad from Alf.

Maybe Bloomberg should run.