I called Senator Claire McCaskill’s office in Washington today to ask if she had voted to retain Joe Lieberman as chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. I was able to leave a message with Maria Speiser, Senator McCaskill’s press secretary. After a short round of telephone tag I was able to speak with Ms. Speiser.
I asked her how Senator McCaskill voted. Ms. Speiser replied that she had voted for Senator Lieberman. She added that her reason for doing so was to follow the lead of President-elect Obama – moving past the election and working together because there are a lot of challenges.
I asked – given Senator Lieberman’s previous lack of oversight hearings – if Senator McCaskill thought he would change his ways and if she was confident that he had done a good job as chair. Ms. Speiser replied that Senator McCaskill always encouraged oversight. Claire McCaskill is a member of the Homeland Security committee.
Finally, I asked how Senator McCaskill would explain retaining Senator Lieberman as chair to those in the grassroots who worked to elect Obama, all while Senator Lieberman did the opposite. Ms. Speiser replied that Senator McCaskill had worked hard [to elect Obama], too. Senator McCaskill’s view was that the election was over and we needed to move forward. Ms. Speiser added that President-elect Obama had also encouraged this view among senators.
here on Huffington Post. Highlights:
and:
at least I would have a logical arguement against my Senator. She has been a major disappointment for me. I plan on putting my $$ next election cycle in ANYONE but her.
the Democrats do.
I find Lieberman annoying. But if Obama had asked me to keep him on the committee I would have voted that way rather than start out with a difference with the new administration on such a dumb matter. On the other hand, I think it was a dumb thing for Obama to get involved in. The way I see it, Obama now owes the Senate. Over something dumb. Does this strike anyone else as the typical kind of advice someone like a Tom Daschle (his most high level advisor who is a former senator) would have given to Obama? It does to me.
This did not make my respect for Claire drop. It’s at rock bottom already.
I recommend everyone to go over and read Nate Silver. It is clear that Obama is gearing up to propose national health care. He has just named an Attorney General appalled at Gitmo. He will begin to bring the troops home.
He is facing the collapse of the US automobile industry, and every day brings more and more bad economic news.
Lieberman is a whiny little annoyance. Lieberman knows it was Obama’s decision to be magnanimous. And, look at all the good press Obama is getting. Obama has much bigger issues in front of him than crushing Lieberman now. Lieberman can’t roam too far off the reservation because he knows many in the caucus want his head and will get it next time.
We will not go away and I know that I have money to send to Connecticut when a real Democrat challenges Lieberman in 2012.
Lieberman is now the most marginalized Democrat in the Senate to not support the Obama program.
Obama is supposed to be an excellent poker player.
Let us remain angry and be ready to pounce if Lieberman should get on Fox to attack the Obama Administration. When Obama takes office, Lieberman will learn what is like to cross someone who is from Chicago and has Rahm Emmanuel as his Chief of Staff.
Time is one our side to bring Holy Joe down.
It didnt bother me one bit that Lieberman campaigned against Obama even though I have been a big Obama supporter from the start. He was only doing what he thought was best for the country and he had the courage to display that. Thats called leadership. We expect it out of the R’s to fight against their own party on issues such as the medicaid cuts and education funding. So we have one Demo that had an opposing view for a year.. Lets continue to cry about that because thats constructive right!? This is an issue that doesnt even deserve to be in the press. Keep the eye on the prize and help President Obama change the course of the country.