Eric E.'s Blog

Eric E. Commented on Reid Spokesperson: Democratic Senators May Vote On Lieberman's Fate In Full Caucus Meeting by Greg Sargent

2008-11-07T21:28:17Z

I think we're agreeing here. Lieberman MUST lose his leadership roles. Reid is offering him a way to do that without a public flailing, and a vote allows Reid to get the job done without making Reid the flailor. That's why the party elects a whip.
If Lieberman is silly enough to bend over and say, "Thank you Sir, may I have another," well, that's his choice.

I'm not convinced that he couldn't serve the caucuses ends on lesser committees, and I'll leave it to our elected professionals to make that call.

Eric E. Commented on Reid Spokesperson: Democratic Senators May Vote On Lieberman's Fate In Full Caucus Meeting by Greg Sargent

2008-11-07T21:15:05Z

Poor choice of metaphor. Call him a Benedict Arnold or Brutus, or some other traitor, but linking someone Jewish with Judas falls too close to an age-old pillar of anti-semitism, which I'm sure is not what you want to convey.

Eric E. Commented on Reid Spokesperson: Democratic Senators May Vote On Lieberman's Fate In Full Caucus Meeting by Greg Sargent

2008-11-07T20:55:23Z

Hmmm. Ingmar Bergman might have been interested in that match-up.

Eric E. Commented on Reid Spokesperson: Democratic Senators May Vote On Lieberman's Fate In Full Caucus Meeting by Greg Sargent

2008-11-07T20:54:39Z

And I repeat:
A vote from Lieberman may be valuable on many important issues down the road. Petty vendettas and loyalty oaths were the at the black heart of the Bush/Cheney/Rove/DeLay debacle.
Governing is more important than the individual governors. A compromise allows Lieberman to save face. If he is too proud to take it, then a vote looks better for Reid. One way or another, Lieberman will not be allowed to keep chairmanships that involve core Obama international policies.
He would be fine on domestic issues so long as he can't interfere with investigations of the Bush administration. I have no love or admiration for Lieberman, but he has a long record of voting the right way on domestic issues.
Lieberman's bluff to switch to the GOP is a stupid bluff. They cannot offer him much. I defy anybody to find a legislator who voluntarily switched to a minority party after elected. And if he does switch, his career is over. Ask Chris Shays.
I think McCain goes back to being a happy gadfly, which he's good at, for awhile at least. Anyone taking bets on whether McCain, Lieberman and Graham link arms and stroll into the sunset, rather than face re-election next time around? I think loss of power ends more legislators' careers than loose zippers.

Eric E. Commented on Reid Spokesperson: Democratic Senators May Vote On Lieberman's Fate In Full Caucus Meeting by Greg Sargent

2008-11-07T20:38:31Z

Hmmm. Ingmar Bergman might have been interested in that match-up.

Eric E. Commented on Georgia Senate Runoff Kicks Into High Gear With New Dem Ad Starring Obama by Eric Kleefeld

2008-11-07T02:41:00Z

Yes. Please. Take Texas. Far. Far. Away.

Eric E. Commented on BMW Direct Candidates Predictably Lose Elections]]> by Kate Klonick

2008-11-07T02:38:06Z

I wonder if they pride in their losses for supporting the free market and reminding others of Caveat Emptor?

Eric E. Commented on In Private Meeting, Reid Tells Lieberman That It's Unlikely He'll Keep Committee Slot by Greg Sargent

2008-11-07T02:11:05Z

And if he is, so be it. At best he becomes less significant. Most likely he becomes rather irrelevant. I really doubt he'll join the Rs. If he was going to do that, he would have already done it. He gains nothing from joining the minority party. I can't recall anyone, ever, doing that.
If we get out of Iraq cleanly and quickly, it wouldn't surprise me if Joe pinned the D back on his lapel, apologized publicly, but not really, making some sort of mush-mouthed defense about loyalty to individuals and beliefs being more important than lock-step politics. But judging from the comments above, he re-election chances as a D,R or I are diminished. More interesting of a question is whether he or McCain will even run again.

Eric E. Commented on In Private Meeting, Reid Tells Lieberman That It's Unlikely He'll Keep Committee Slot by Greg Sargent

2008-11-07T01:49:23Z

Amazing! After watching the campaign for two years, and watching Clinton and the entire Republican party self-destruct due to infighting and taking their eyes off the prize, I would hope that a few more of you would learn from Obama's example.
This is national politics, not schoolyard grudges.
Remember how silly the Republicans looked when they said they didn't vote for the $700B bailout . . . because Pelosi hurt their feelings in a speech?
Lieberman, properly, was given a chance to save face and some political power. If he is too narcissistic or foolish to compromise, then his committee will be given to someone else, but their is no benefit gained from flogging him further or ostracizing him. He knew his actions might make him less significant, and they will. That is enough. He has given many years of support to liberal causes, and he continued to support the Dems through this past cycle on most issues. Who knows what vote on S-CHIP, or universal health care, or an economic stimulus plan will need his help for cloture or to pass?
If you are more interested in petty vendettas, I suggest the remaining Tom DeLay Republicans have a party where you will feel right at home. If you are interested in seeing Obama lead this country down a better, safer and more productive path, may I suggest you suck it up and get over it? Please.