Lieberman to Lead Senate Veterans Affairs Committee?

by: Brandon Friedman

Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 16:15:24 PM EST


Warmonger and former Democrat Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has spent the last two years cheerleading for war with Iran.  This is despite the fact that both our military and its families are already strained beyond our capacity to fight our current wars.  Lieberman also fought hard against the pro-troop Dwell Time Amendment last year--a move that served to weaken our Armed Forces.  And, like many Republicans in Congress, he's been prone to conflating Iraq with 9/11.  So it makes perfect sense, then, that he would spend that same time campaigning tirelessly for John McCain--a man who has a deplorable record when it comes to veterans' issues.

For all these reasons, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met with Lieberman yesterday to discuss his role in the Democratic caucus--specifically Lieberman's Chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.  Most news sources are now reporting that Lieberman's conduct over the past year has been enough to make Reid consider stripping the Connecticut senator of his responsibilities--as he rightly should.

That said, I just assumed that the Democratic Senate--Reid in particular--would never let Lieberman close to holding any positions that could affect troops and veterans.  After all, as recently as May, Lieberman sat on the board of advisors for the pro-war, pro-Bush group Vets for Freedom.  Which is why this news is all the more shocking, sort of like a punch in the gut:

Most senators are receptive to Lieberman's argument that allowing him to stay represents the type of unity that President-elect Barack Obama espouses.

The aide also said that Lieberman was not offered a subcommittee, as has been reported, but rather was offered chairmanship of a lesser committee. He didn't specify which one he was referring to. However, if Lieberman left Homeland Security, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) would be next in line and would have to give up Veterans Affairs, which would then be open for Lieberman.

While the Politico reported it above, CNN is also confirming that Reid has offered the Veterans Affairs Committee to Lieberman.

This is both bone-chilling and completely unacceptable.  Naming Joe Lieberman as the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee would be a slap in the face not only to America's veterans, but also to the groups who've lobbied on the community's behalf.  I'm no Senate insider, but it's clear to me that Harry Reid must find something else for the pro-Iran War, pro-Iraq War, and anti-dwell time Lieberman to do.  The Veterans Affairs Committee is a wholly inappropriate position for Lieberman, as evidenced by his record.  We will fight this all they way.
Brandon Friedman :: Lieberman to Lead Senate Veterans Affairs Committee?
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Lieberman to Lead Senate Veterans Affairs Committee? | 22 comments
All I Can Say (4.00 / 2)
IS HELL NO!!!!!!!!!

And you folks up in Washington, whoever' s up there, better start Lobbying and Hard!!

The rest of us Need to Start making Calls and Sending Messages!

Where's Clark, get him to start pushing back!

With luck little joe will turn to whatever it is they still call the gop.

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

From the CNN ticker, it seems that LIEberman is trying to leverage (4.00 / 1)
a power struggle putting his services up for sale opening  the bidding to both the DEMs and the GOP. The 'leaks' are coming from LIEberman's aides.

Reid on CNN-TV is saying that LIEman votes with the DEMs most of the time. WORM. So, if LIEman votes with the DEMs most of the time, who cares who he caucuses with?

Think it is time for Reid to give up on his 'leadership' role. He's still thinking like a loser.

Perhaps, Rahm Emanuel can send him a dead fish. LIEman as Chair of the VA Comm. would be totally against the stated campaign policies of Obama-Biden.

Also, see that Byrd is giving up his Chairmanship of Appropriations.

Horse Head (0.00 / 0)
Fish is so, oh I don't know, how about scaly, hmmmm although most are polluted so can't be eaten!!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
I wouldn't assume that this "offer" was in fact an offer ... (0.00 / 0)
We've no idea what the behind-the-scenes machinations are, but I don't see the guy getting to head up any committee after what he did during the campaign.  (He went far beyond what was reasonable.)  

I'll also note that Leiberman's already thrown down the gauntlet by allowing aide to say this scenario isn't "acceptable".  Whether this was the agreed-upon script (kinda like Syria saving face by squawking about our recent over-the-border operation), we'll find out in due course.  I say it's more likely he gets zippy committee chair and he gets to try and save face by dismissing any other "offer" out of hand.  

http://politicalticker.blogs.c...

US Senator Akaka is currently the Chairman of the Veterans Committee (4.00 / 1)
Call  him at his Hawaii office and tell him, "No"! veterans don't want Joe   " VOTE NO 2 JOE"!!!! We Want the Jr. Senator from Va.," Webb"!!!!!!!! Aloha!!!!!
Give (4.00 / 1)
us Webb or Hagel.
Hagel has retired. (4.00 / 1)
Akaka deserves to keep the chairmanship.
[ Parent ]
Well (4.00 / 1)
Akaka is good too. He is a veteran as well. He should probably retain his post then.  
[ Parent ]
To borrow from the modern Drill Instructor lexicon, (4.00 / 1)
Reid should be on the "launch pad"

Our problem in the senate is Reid. He needs to get the hell out of the top seat if we're going to get anything done and build bipartisanship. Indeed, Lieberman as Chair of Vet committee makes about as much sense as Ted Stevens chairing the ethics committee.

Amen.......... (0.00 / 0)
And Pelosi as well, both are a disappointment, was abit understandable some of their stances, but even with the slim margins they caved Way Too Often, looked like they were being blackmailed and probably were!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
Ya', they had to pass a bill that Shrub wouldn't veto... (0.00 / 0)
Now, they don't have a Veto hurdle. They just have to deal with the BLUE DOGS.

Webb will now be the SR Senator from VA.

Hagel was a very conservative GOP Senator.

[ Parent ]
Pelosi (0.00 / 0)
need to go bye bye yesterday. She is utterly terrible. How did we even end up with someone that horrendously terrible in the House, much less in a leadership role. I can live with Harry Reid. Granted, Webb is awesome and I tend to think Hagel was conservative in a good way. It is sad that we are losing someone as good as Hagel, but hopefully Webb's status as a senior Senator will put him more and more towards leadership positions.  
[ Parent ]
I Really (0.00 / 0)
Liked her and thought she'd be great, like the women I've dealt with in the Construction Industry who'll get me what I want or listen to problems without the macho man game playing, trying to tell me what I need while they sit in an office miles and sometimes states away, but she's really been an upset, her and reid!!  

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
Well (0.00 / 0)
it's not just us Jim. The Congressional approval rating has been pretty abysmal for several years running. Well we had two honest, stand up guys in the Primaries, but the Cabal forced both of them out.  
[ Parent ]
Not good news (0.00 / 0)
This is the guy who we gave body armor to in 2005 during a c-130 flight to Baghdad because he didn't carry any. The next day we (crew chiefs and specialists) were mortared on the Baghdad flightline after we had to drop off Sen. Lieberman so he could hobnob in the green zone.  I'd be happy to forward the official report from the USAF if you need it.  
Definitely email that to me. (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Please send to me too (0.00 / 0)
ben@2dinar.com

TX

[ Parent ]
Sen. Akaka to chair "both" veterans & homeland security (0.00 / 0)
or Webb and the jr. Senator from Il. who is replacing Obama as a veterans affairs member?...or I hear Bob Casey from Pa.,?
Hardball to discuss LIEBERMAN becoming a GOP... (0.00 / 0)
It's on now.
Wish He Would (0.00 / 0)
Gives 'Indies' a real bad name, though alot of those who call themselves Indies also do and most of those speak the rhetoric of the extreme right.  

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson
[ Parent ]
I'm (0.00 / 0)
Indie and I'm Ron Paul/Jesse Ventura and Co. all the way. I think the Indies may be going in a much better direction lately.  
[ Parent ]
No Lieberman for Vet Affairs (0.00 / 0)
Brandon, we should get a petition going NOW

I have to believe that something extraordinary is possible. (Mrs. John Nash)
Lieberman to Lead Senate Veterans Affairs Committee? | 22 comments
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