New Haven Independent

Posted by: Peter | November 18, 2008 1:28 PM

Kudos to Joe Lieberman. He has worked very hard for the citizens of Connecticut and I am glad that he was not striped of his chairmanship and I look forward to voting foir him once again

Posted by: James | November 18, 2008 1:34 PM

Thanks for leaving Sug Kimber out of this one.

Posted by: Karan Giblin | November 18, 2008 1:56 PM

I personally think it is disgusting that the Democrates are out for revenge against Lieberman both nationally or locally. Its pretty bad when a person cannot work outside of "the political party". There is no valid reason for removing him from even his subcommittee chairmanship, was he derilict in that position, did he fail to properly run the committee? No, this is absolute revenge for a man acting independantly. God forbid, we have that right taken away from us! What is this HITLER Germany?

Posted by: beauzaq | November 18, 2008 2:01 PM

Recall Joe LIEberman!!!

Posted by: Funky Chicken | November 18, 2008 2:21 PM

Hey Paul:

Why do you hate Joe? He does more good for the state and city then Chris "Countrywide" Dodd. He is a man of principles and he stands by his friends. In an era of people looking for bi-partisanship, we should be proud that Joe is the one that exemplifies this. To be fair - President Elect Obama has taken the high road and is also working across party lines and is reaching out to those that fought against him, he should be commended for that (President Elect Obama - I commend you).

Do I agree with all Joe does? No, but I don't agree with most any other politician, but at the end of the day I vote for someone who has principles and sticks to them as long as I agree with them for the most part.

TFC

Posted by: william Kurtz | November 18, 2008 2:39 PM

I've got mixed feelings about Senator Lieberman, but I'm not sure the argument that he fights for his principles and stands by his friends is a good reason to continue to support him. Time has shown that his very visible principles are a little fluid for my tastes. Generally, I like his voting record but his vocal support for right-wing wedge issues (like Terri Schiavo) is disturbing.

Stripping him of his chairmanship would ironically be in line with the very political principles Lieberman seems to have lived his political life by.

Bottom line? I can respect the way the president-elect and the party leaders have handled this. Obama has signaled that he doesn't intend to surround himself with yes-men, so maybe it's good that Lieberman stays. And Connecticut voters get their chance to censure Lieberman in four years.

Posted by: Tim | November 18, 2008 2:41 PM

"Do I agree with all Joe does? No, but I don't agree with most any other politician, but at the end of the day I vote for someone who has principles and sticks to them as long as I agree with them for the most part."

Excuse me, TFC. But to which principles do you refer?

The principle of "I'll do whatever I think is best for ME'?

Get serious. If you had a good friend in a work environment who stabbed you in the back to get what he wanted, you would disown him in a N.Y. minute, unless you happen to be the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Posted by: robn | November 18, 2008 3:05 PM

Guys,

the reason why Sen Lieberman should be stripped of his chairmanships is becuase those chairs belong to the majority party which Lieberman abandoned. You can't be a Democratic and an independent at the same time.. You can't form your own party, support opposition candidates and then expect mercy from those you betray. Its a complete joke that he is still in those chairs and I'm glad that our state Democrats are showing more spine than those in DC.

Posted by: Veronica | November 18, 2008 3:31 PM

I think the problem most have with Lieberman is that he did NOT lose gracefully. He did not accept that he lost the primary. Instead he played games, switched parties, and ran. Yes, he did win, but as far as I'm concerned it was a dirty win.

I agree that you shouldn't have to vote party lines in DC, but the reality is that nearly EVERYTHING he has done since being elected again has been on the opposite side of his former party (the Dems). As far as I am concerned he has betrayed the people who elected him and have stood by him for so long. there was once a time when he did good, but that is in the past and he should be booted from the party. He isn't really a Democrat so stop pretending to be one!

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 18, 2008 4:39 PM

Veronica.........BINGO!! at least in my view. He lost....that should of been it. But then he just kept going with the slaps. Joe is all about joe now. We all liked him at one point in time and yes he did so much. But guess what people politic change people. Power changes people. Joe changed. Which is fine, we all are entitled to, but I lost my trust in him. You have to trust the politicians that represent us. and I just have lost the loven feelen. But I do get why they are hanging on to him. We are stuck with him till 2012...better make the best of it.

Posted by: Rob Moitoza | November 18, 2008 6:00 PM

I also agree with Veronica. Anybody that thinks this guy has any "principles" is not following the news. He sold out just so he could stay in Congress and stay rich. That is not a man of "principles".

Posted by: Musk | November 18, 2008 6:13 PM

Posted by: Karan Giblin | November 18, 2008 1:56 PM

" . . . No, this is absolute revenge for a man acting independantly. God forbid, we have that right taken away from us! What is this HITLER Germany?"

LMAO!! Yeah Karan. Its a carbon copy of Hitler's Germany. There's absolutely no difference. Zip!! Nada!! Pretty damn sharp of you to catch that Karan . . . Pretty damn sharp!

Posted by: Pat | November 18, 2008 7:25 PM

... Democrats have somehow not yet learned that right wingers respond to nothing but raw power. They do not compromise.

I fear Obama has shown an until now hidden streak of naivete'.

If he doesn't learn better soon, republicans will destroy his administration in short order, the country itself be damned.

Posted by: strangerthanfiction | November 18, 2008 8:04 PM

Joe could have backed the Iraq War. He could have remained neutral or even quietly backed McCain. But he loudly bashed Obama, while boosting McCain and Palin, he gave the keynote at the GOP Convention and sent money to GOP Senate candidates. He's very lucky that Obama showed the magnanimity and bipartisan touch and courage to stand up to the left that Joe said he was incapable of. Joe quietly fled New Haven for Stamford. But the CT Dem Party should definitely take strong action against him. Joe has betrayed CT Dems in favor of his own burning ambition. Let's hope he will never fool any Dems again into voting for him.

Posted by: Andy | November 18, 2008 8:29 PM

Obama is brilliant. He's going to kill Leiberman with kindness. Obama will prove just how misguided Joe was. At the same time Obama shows that he's here to fix the counties problems, not to squash people like a bug (Although I have to admit -Leiberman is one nasty grubb) -And what's Leiberman to do about it? -he knows that he's on very thin ice -if he acts out again the rug will definitely come out. Add to it, at the end of the day Leiberman knows he's toast. In 2012 Connecticut won't send him back and both Dem's and Republicans will both be saying 'Good riddance'!

Posted by: Chris | November 18, 2008 8:54 PM

"A man of principles"? Is political opportunism a "principle"? I no longer live in Connecticut, but sure hope that local voters will next elect a Democratic candidate who will do great things for the state, while upholding real principles. Holy smokes, this guy is a whining embarrassment to the entire country. Sorry you are stuck with him for now.

Posted by: cemmcs | November 18, 2008 9:46 PM

...was he derilict in that position, did he fail to properly run the committee?

Yes. He promised during the campaign to use his position as chair of the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the Administration's handling of Katrina and then after he was elected, he did not follow up. Ther really has not been any oversight at all with him as Chair of the committee.

Posted by: mindoflen | November 18, 2008 9:50 PM

Before you set out for revenge, dig two graves.
More at http://mindoflen@blogspot.com

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | November 18, 2008 9:51 PM

If Joe had had his way, we'd be looking at President-Elect McCain, and Joe would be leaving the Senate to join his administration.

Then Rell would have appointed a staunch Republican to replace Lieberman in the Senate.

So no, this isn't right.

But it was dictated by Obama, and I hold the hopeful belief that it was part of a "no-filibuster" deal with Joe, McCain, and Lindsay Graham.

If by giving Joey back his chairmanship, the Obama administration has opened the door for the Democratic agenda, so be it.

Lieberman has still proven himself to be a piece of shit. Imagine the trepidation among women had Joe's pro-life buddy McCain actually prevailed.

Posted by: LetJoeStay | November 18, 2008 10:50 PM

I guess Sen. Lieberman got the last laugh! To say I am happy right now would be a great understatement. Sens. Reid, Dodd and others ignored the few, but loud, angry voices calling for retribution against Senator Lieberman and instead decided no to punish Joe for endorsing and supporting his friend, John McCain. We, the netroots community in support of Joe, congratulate him on his recent victory. Way to go, Joe!

http://letjoestay.blogspot.com/

Posted by: barrigordon | November 18, 2008 11:11 PM

Joe Lieberman is an embarassment to CT. Someone needs to make him document how much time he spent doing the business of the state that pays his salary this year (not much since his nose was so far up McCain's ...). When exactly does he do the work for his state? Does he vote the way THEY would want him to? Isn't that the purpose of a Senator? How many people in CT support the war? Why do we continue to let our respresentatives not represent our views? There should be a recall vote and he should lose his seat now, not in 4 more painful years. Not to worry as a Democrat would be elected to fill his seat. Please CT - fight for your rights and don't allow this to continue. I respect Barack for taking the high road, but the state of CT should not.

Posted by: David | November 19, 2008 1:32 AM

Didn't he run for the senate in 2000? Seems rather opportunistic to me for someone supposedly committed to be Vice-President.

Posted by: Freedem | November 19, 2008 4:12 AM

Orwell had it right when he pointed out that the best way to ensure power would be to run your own opposition as well.

Lowell Weicker was always the Liberal, and for that the Republicans cut his political throat, and have backed Lieberman ever since, running fall guys each time.

Lamont removed the mask and showed Lieberman for what he has always been, what he has done since is no different. If the Senate Democrats want him to caucus with them then let them have him like Bernie Saunders as a non-Democrat who happens to caucus with them.

And then work to elect a real Democrat at next opportunity, and a Democrat for Governor as well. I too hope that Obama can avoid a Chamberlain Compromise.

Posted by: Laraine | November 19, 2008 4:12 AM

Lieberman has managed to spin the story, and Harry Reid has followed suit, to make it sound as if the sole issue was retribution. It's not. The position of Homeland Security chairman is a highly influential one and in this post, Lieberman has done a terrible job and has played the role of Bush's lap dog. Asked to investigate the government's ineptitude after Katrina,for instance, he said didn't want to play the blame game. After his disgusting behavior during the campaign, he has now been rewarded with another chance to damage the country further in this important post involving national security. It's mind boggling. I'm an Obama supporter, but I think the president elect made a big mistake here.

Posted by: dan | November 19, 2008 5:05 AM

Lieberman has acted like the schoolyard dweeb who petulantly complains to the playground guard that he is being picked on while serendipitously pulling the other kids chains and then hides behind the playground guards coattails. Is that someone I respect, please, you better be tough, adept or very likable and cute to win in the playground, or able to stay out of the fray. But as a man with the ego to venture into "national" politics you deserve what you dish out and then some when you screw over your friends.
BTW Obama deserves the kudos here for showing that he is the natural born alpha and trust me lieberman has not even begun to understand the game he got himself into. Yeah, I despise school yard bullies no matter what guise they hide behind.

Posted by: GQ | November 19, 2008 8:50 AM

Lieberman is not only a troll, but a troll who has made a lot of wrong decisions since 2000. He should be booted for his incompetence if for no other reason. Period.

Posted by: LetJoeStay | November 19, 2008 10:59 AM

What a bizarre and biased story filled with innuendo and half truths. As you are well aware, Sen. Lieberman did not seek Precedent Clinton's impeachment, but was deeply saddened that Mr. Clinton had blatantly lied to him by assuring him that he had never had any form of improper relations with Ms. Lewinski. By writing that in speaking out against President Clinton having lied under oath, you imply he sought Mr. Clinton's impeachment by stating that Sen. Lieberman was "joining impeachment-seeking Republicans in condemning then-President Clinton for having sex with an intern." That is blatantly false. Moreover, you state that he called "on the White House and Karl Rove to help him raise money and deliver the Republican vote by ensuring their party didn't field a serious candidate" without any factual support, which makes sense, since there is none. This simply did not happen. Lastly, you accuse Sen. Lieberman of supporting his close personal friend, John McCain, because "In return, Lieberman was in line for the most powerful posts of his career -- secretary of state or defense secretary." Your proof of this quid per quo? None is given. Listen, if you want to write Op Ed pieces, go ahead. But don't try them disguise them (no matter how poorly a job you may do) as news. It's misleading and insulting.
Sincerely
http://letjoestay.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Insider | November 19, 2008 11:41 AM

The real problem is that he went against the democratic machine. He voted over 90%, on democratic issues but favored the war and the escalation and all of a sudden the democrats want him removed.

He is strong on national defense, whats wrong with that, I just don't understand how these liberal are so quick to forget the evil happening in the Middle East, and how they don't like America or Isreal, becuase we all don't practice the same faith. The liberals ( backed by the ACLU ), want the president to close Gitmo already. Don't they see or care that they are putting our men and woman over seas at risk. My rant is over, thanxs for letting me vent, I apologize to all you left wing liberals who are still crying over Hussians hanging.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | November 19, 2008 1:43 PM

Hey Insider the real problem is that the american
people are sucks for follwing both parties!!! Left
wing,Right wing it is the same bird.Wake up and smell the mackral.It is both parties, One is the boxspring,The other is the matress,Look at good old vice pres.cheney and former attorney alberto gonzales being indicted as we speak!!! Look at Obama bring back the clinton crooks back in to the
mix.Wake we should focus on a third party now!!!!

Posted by: jackie | November 19, 2008 5:29 PM

letjoestay,

it's quid PRO quo.

(joe gotta go.)

Posted by: coach777b | November 20, 2008 11:37 PM

Principles? Exactly what principles are you citing? Lieberman's principles are "Whatever is good for Joe is good!" The man has NO priciples. The state Democratic establishment has a vested interest in keeping Joe alive. He does favors for them. Ask anyone on the Democratic State Committee if they have ever been granted a favor or profited from assistance from Joe/ There will be "No Comments" all over the lot. Lieberman does not represent the people, the voters of Connecticut. Check his voting record. He stands tall for Israel, which deserves to have champions, but they did not put him in office.