Go Joe!
We need more Independents
Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) — Joseph Lieberman was re-elected to the U.S. Senate as a political independent after Connecticut Democrats snubbed him in 2006. Now, he’s living up to that designation as a potential obstacle to President Barack Obama’s top priority, health care.
Lieberman, 67, has clout among Democrats as part of the 60- member party caucus Majority Leader Harry Reid needs to bring his health-care measure to a final vote without Republican support. On Nov. 8, Lieberman said he’ll oppose any bill containing a public plan that would compete with private insurers such as Aetna Inc., based in his home state, because it could swell U.S. debt. Reid’s bill has that provision.
Al Gore’s running mate in 2000, Lieberman backed Republican John McCain for president in 2008. While Lieberman still aligns himself with the Democratic caucus, his threat to block health legislation “as a matter of conscience” shows a growing willingness and confidence to stand on his own, analysts say.
Is there some self-interest at work here? Of course, as Conn has a huge insurance industry. But Joe has all along shown that he’s got some fortitude where it’s needed.
Good for him, and I hope some others follow his example.
Morality, Nanny State, Politics | Mr. Bingley | 
November 17, 2009 6:32 am
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The biggest mistake the democrats made was to throw Joe Lieberman overboard; especially the way they went about it.
I think Lieberman does what he needs to do ensure his own survival which I suppose makes him an honest politician.
I’d like to believe this assessment of Lieberman, because I want to believe that there are honest politicians in this world. I don’t think he’s one of them though. While I don’t put him in the same category as the worst of the corrupt politicians, I can still never forgive him for not voting to convict Clinton after he committed perjury. That was a moment to stand up for integrity, and Lieberman failed.
Knowing is half the battle. …sorry, with the title I couldn’t resist. 😛
I definitely think there’s a little, no, ALOT of self-interest here. The more I learn about the political game, the more I learn about the power of money.
Apologies Skyler, I was being sarcastic, and I agree with you. Lieberman also failed the integrity test when he split his own party by running for Senate as an Independent after he didn’t like the message from CT Democrats in the 2006 primary. Did he think CT voters were supposed to just reinstate him in the Senate after Gore conceded the Presidential election? Did he think this made him more special than CT’s other Democratic Senate candidates? I do wonder when Senate Democrats will finally lay the lumber on this political freeloader by retracting the “seniority” perks he still enjoys at their expense. Regardless, he’ll still get the lifetime Cadillac healthcare plan the Senate voted to themselves. And now…it’s time for my afternoon chocolate.
Pluse, being able to stick a thumb in the eye of the Reid/Kos axis has to be considered a treat.
But Ave, Lieberman did in fact trounce Lamont in the general election so I think it’s fair to say that CT voters did support him, voters of both parties. His loss in the Primary was largely the result of media over-exposure of the activity of left-wing activists in the Dem party, their one and only “success” to date.
Senate Dems can not ‘lay the lumber’ on him as they desperately need his vote to support their razor-thin majority. They need him a lot more than he needs them.
NObody needs them.
::rememberstowaveatave::
Yep, the Dems are being wimpy and the Republicans are being stupid. What’s to respect?