Regarding Lieberman—this is totally ridiculous:
When Senate Dems caucus tomorrow, the Democratic leadership is likely to propose that he keep his Homeland Security chairmanship but lose a lesser sub-committee chairmanship instead, according to a source familiar with the situation.
If it happens that way, Senate Dems will be allowing Lieberman to keep his plum spot despite the fact that he has been a disaster at the post, and despite the fact that he endorsed efforts by the GOP to imply that Obama is in league with terrorists, suggested that Obama endangered our troops, and said Obama hasn’t always put the country first.
If Obama—who’s now the head of the Democratic Party—allows Lieberman to keep this slot, and then picks Clinton as Secretary of State, he’s either an absolute genius of leadership or a total power-loving hack. What happened to all that change we were hearing about? Stand up for a different direction.
Again, maybe Obama is so brilliant as to be able to make people who spent the last years denying he was worthy to lead the country now follow his demands. Or, more likely, we’re going to see more of the same center-right establishment foreign policy that Obama supposedly represented a move away from.
November 18, 2008 at 12:15 pm |
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November 18, 2008 at 3:09 pm |
I’m with you on the Clinton thing. I don’t get that appointment at all, for either side really.
For Clinton, I would think that she would be more interested in creating her own legacy in via work in the Senate. A great example is Ted Kennedy, who failed in his attempt to run for president, but has gone on to become one of the most significant members of the Senate in the modern era. To me this would be a much more appealing route for Clinton, and I think it would be a better use of her political clout to become a real leader in the Senate.
For Obama, I think this is a political move. One it keeps Clinton supporters happy. It also takes away a person who could act as a lightning rod in the Senate. For example, say Obama issues a somewhat controversial policy idea. The media immediately is going to go to Clinton because she ran against him, and is probably the most prominent national figure in the Senate. What happens if she opposes it for whatever reason? Suddenly there is the perception of a rift in the Democratic party, and it makes it significantly more difficult for him to get whatever it is he wants done. Instead, he puts her in as Sec State, where ultimately she works under him, and theoretically would be pushing an agenda that is coming directly from him.
But I agree from a philosophical perspective, campaigning on a different direction and then appointing Clinton who intentionally positioned herself as the establishment candidate within her party doesn’t work so well.
I’m torn on the Lieberman issue. From a PR standpoint it makes Obama look forgiving and benevolent, to publicly support Lieberman for retaining his chairmanship. From that perspective it fits with his message of bipartisanship and cooperation. Ultimately though, this is going to come down to internal caucus politics, and with a secret ballot I don’t think Obama’s word is going to carry as much weight. Interesting analysis. This paragraph has to be talking about indeed:
“Perhaps more interesting than whether Lieberman survives today’s vote is what the reaction will be among the Democratic base — particularly the netroots — to the verdict.
The liberal blogosphere has been demanding Lieberman’s scalp ever since 2006 when they helped fuel Ned Lamont’s upset victory over the incumbent in the Democratic primary — only to watch Lieberman run and win as an independent in the general election.
On the eve of the vote, the netroots were a-blaze with anti-Lieberman rhetoric. ”
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/the_lieberman_vote.html?nav=rss_blog
November 18, 2008 at 4:36 pm |
netroots? man i am surprised by all these 21st century terms that becoming part of the political lexicon. most of these attacks seem to be coming from blogs and comment boards, where most people are just spinning their wheels.
is lieberman going to get away with that whole “i am a lifelong democrat” platitude after the crap he has pulled? i do not know. but let’s wait and see what congress (especially the committee members) have to say about this. but you are right, it might not be setting the right tone for the obama administration.