For all those DC-based smarter elements that poke around here telling us - in quite lofty tones - that it's all the fault of the disloyal opposition, Josh Marshall points his finger at yet another example of Republican obstructionism:
Lieberman At It Again
It's starting to seem like it may just be better for Dems to try to make a deal with Olympia Snowe, kick Joe Lieberman out of the party and be done with it. The leadership in the senate thought that Lieberman was on board with the latest compromise. But in an appearance on Face the Nation and later in a sit-down with Sen. Reid, Lieberman said he'd join the Republican filibuster if the Medicare buy-in remained in the bill.
What's most telling about Lieberman isn't his positions, which are not that much different from Sen. Nelson's and perhaps Sen. Lincoln's. It's more that he seems to keep upping the ante just when the rest of the caucus thinks they've got a deal.
If it happened once, a misunderstanding might be a credible explanation. But it's happened too many times. Sen. Nelson has driven Dems to distraction on this bill. But his demands have been fairly consistent over time. Lieberman just doesn't seem to be negotiating in good faith. He keeps pulling his caucus to some new compromise, waiting a few days and then saying he can't agree to that either.
It's coming to a breaking point.
Goddamn, goddamn obstructionist Republicans.
Oh, and as far as a breaking point goes... Barack Obama's sole attempt at disciplining Senator Lieberman to date has been to back both his membership in the Democratic caucus as well as his chairmanship of the senate's Homeland Security Committee in November of 2008.
How'd that bit of rough-and-tumble party discipline work out?
And besides, we're talking about Barack Obama here. Barack Obama. What's the Pussy-in-Charge gonna do now? Break out the comfy pillows and threaten him with those? Breaking point? My ass.
You know what the Democrats should do? Kick non-Democrat Joe Lieberman (I-CT) out of the Democratic Party. That'll show him.
Posted by: Tim | December 14, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Bernie Sanders of Vermont is the senate's Independent.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | December 14, 2009 at 03:18 PM
I just don't know. Lieberman could have ended this show 3 weeks ago when the first cloture vote came along, so what's he playing at?
Posted by: No one you know | December 14, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Revenge.
Posted by: Uncle Fester | December 14, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Maybe he just doesn't like Christmas.
He's a Joo, you know... And Juice don't like Christmas.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | December 14, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Why don't they just say "the force is not with us" and be done with it. It would make just as much sense, and at least it might give people a chuckle.
Posted by: Allen | December 14, 2009 at 07:08 PM