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The word leaking out that Harry Reid offered Joe Lieberman the chairmanship of Veterans Affairs has generated a lot of heat. Mine included.
Lots of us are signing the online petition saying that Joe Must Go. For three prime reasons that can be summed up "The Kiss," Katrina, and the Kampaign….
And while I for one have no room in heart or mind for any accommodation for Joe the Backstabber and Breaker of Pledges, I do see a certain stark beauty in Reid’s offer to Lieberman of the chairmanship of Veterans Affairs.
Let him see what he has wrought. Let him deal with the families of the dead and the wounded. Let him tour the hospitals and rehab centers. Let him walk side by side with the soldier learning to walk on steel and computer technology instead of a leg. Let him see the face of the man blinded and burned by an IED.
Let him face himself. If he has the courage.
90 Comments
Great post, PS, thanks.
Indeed, Prairie!
Time for TraitorJoe to be up close and personal with that which he has wrought. Ideology has consequeces. Unfortunately, innocents have suffered for TraitorJoe’s ideology.
Ps – my only problem with this is that I feel Joe would treat this chairmanship in exactly the same way he’s been treating the one he has right now: Negligently. I would not put that on our veterans and their families for anything. They deserve better.
Heart-touching, PS. Thanks. I somehow doubt that Lieberman would ever deal with the things you mentioned. I can’t imagine him being compassionate enough to visit wounded soldiers – unless he needed a photo-op. I just don’t like or trust him.
Thanks. How absurd to put Joe in charge of veterans affairs. Joe received deferments during Vietnam and has been more than willing to send other people’s family members off to a war based on a “pack of lies” Send Joe packing. Or put his some place that he can do no harm.
I was baffled by Reid’s offer at first, but this makes perfect sense… and knowing what a gutless piece of shit Joe is, I can totally see now why he would deem such an offer “unacceptable”…
How deeply offensive… to be offered the honor of being legislatively responsible for the needs of veterans and to turn his nose up to it like he was offered some meaningless, trivial position…
Joe the Backbench Republican sounds great…
Good Morning Prairie and Firedogs,
am headed out for a double shift blerrggh
but allow me again to express my outrage
The Reid offer of the Veterans Affairs Chair speaks volumes about their priorities – apparently Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs is seen as a place where you can hide the crazy uncle
wtf ???? – over 40,000 wounded in the last 5+ years, Walter Reed a cesspool, and no one talking about PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, or exposure to Depleted Uranium
not to mention the slap in the face to all those who have sacrificed by placing a war monger in charge of their affairs
these are pigs!
disgusting !
Great irony…I would really hate, however, to see his incompetence brought to the vets who have already lost so much. Surely there is a place with less visibility and less critical need for effectiveness. Maybe he could do serious ground work to repair what Katrina wrought…like build houses, feed the homeless, and clean up after the Mardi Gras parades.
Joe Lieberman does not give a flying fuck about Vets. If I were a Vet I would be completely insulted having a non Vet being given the Chairmanship of Veterans Affairs. This is an important post…do not give it to a yellow bellied coward
If JoeLIE did take the VA job don’t you think the heat from the blogosphere and vet groups would make his life a living hell forcing him to act in the best interest of the veterans and not his own?
I prefer to make the sanctimonious twit twist in the wind, but there something to be said to force him to eat his own cake, er matzo ball.
That’s not clear: there is need for effectiveness, but not the same sort, I guess is what I meant.
I think you have hit on a perfect punishment for Joe.
Why is it that the Dems feel like they need to kiss Liebermans lilly white ass? Let him suffer the consequences of his decisions. Do they need his vote that bad? He did not do his job anyway as the Chair of Homeland Security
If I were a Vet Lieberman would piss me off. Why would Reid do this to the Vets?
My contempt for Joe Lieberman knows no bounds*g*
h/t Punaise
Joe deserves nothing but scorn.
I mean, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the part where we redirect all the energy spent on stopping the Republicans from doing bad, stoopid things to making the Democracts do good, smart things?
I’m just sayin’….
Nice post PS it would be fitting for him to see all our Vets who have been ruined by the Iraq War that he still backs!! But then again he deserves nothing from the Democrats. Why would you reward such a traitor, Judas! He can’t give back the thirty pieces of silver!!
Digg is open pus so please Digg this thought provoking POST!
So, what are we going to do about this? Are we writing/calling/faxing the members of the committee? Because they NEED to know how we feel about Lieberman and esp about this offer of the Vets committee.
hi prairie and pups;
i don’t think he should get anything. no attention whatsoever. only the speeches he’s allowed on the floor of the senate. no other input. we need ‘A’ game players. he’s not one of them.
pete rose was expelled from baseball for betting on baseball, lieberman not only bet, he bet on the other team to win, and tirelessly did his best to throw the game.
and a long list of other things.
just wrote my first oxdown about why i think he should get nada…felt good.
I have already emailed Reid yesterday but think I will also email the other members of the Steering committee. If they are going to do the deciding I want them to know that they will get no support from me.
The photo reminds me of a scene in Cusak’s War Inc., where the corporation fits amputees with those steel legs and “has them dancing”.
Sort of trying to say it’s okay if you loose your legs in our war, we’ll fix you right up.
I don’t know how the archive thing here works, but it was a scene in the link at the top of his book/movie salon a week and half ago, or so.
PS- Great post! Thanks for your passion on this issue. HoJo Lieberfuck has to go, there is no question about it.
It’s funny isn’t it, that even when we hand the fucking democrats in the Senate a clear majority they still act like they only have 48 votes? And here I stupidly thought that handing them a clear victory would restore their spines. How stupid of me.
Lieberfuck would send “staff” out to meet with the veterans, because he’d be too busy having meetings with his republican spooning partners and giving them suggestions on how best to stab his former colleagues in the back 24/7/365. He’d never go see a man walking on steel unless there was a huge press availability included, so he could use it in his next campaign to try to fool the people of Connecticut again.
I would agree whole heartedly Toby.
Our Veterans deserve the very best some one like John Kerry or Jim Webb. They understand the plight of Veterans and would fight for their rights to the benefits that they have earned by putting their lives on the line for our country and way of life.
We have for too long under Rethuglian rule short changed the Veterans. All of them from WW1 to the current crop, the Rethuglians time after time made sure they got scraps of what they earned. I say let those who have short changed the vets have their benefits equaled to the vets. You would see some real action on Veterans benefits then!
Isn’t it anti-Semitic to criticize Lieberman?
Nope..he’s not an a**hole because he’s a Jew. He’s just a Jew who happens to be an a**hole.
I disagree emphatically with this post. There is nothing in Lieberman’s behavior or personality to suggest that he would take any real notice of the men and women damaged by his callous support of the war. He would do a few photo-ops, prattle on about how much he cares, and continue to grind the knife into the back of the Dems from this “moral” perch. NO!
I am anticipating the response of Libermans constituents (remember them Joe??) if he crosses aisle…got more popcorn saved just for that!
While you are at it don’t forget what Chambliss did to Max here in Georgia. That is something we have a real chance to influence.
New post upstairs…
That would be poetic justice. Both LIEberman and McCain have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to veterans issues, while simultaneously wrapping themselves in the “phony flag of patriotism” meme. There a great site called Vet Voice that has illuminating entries. Worth a look.
I don’t think this is “the VA job ” it’s head of the Senate Committee, not that the little weasel should be given that either.
Raven, do you think Obama campaigning against Chambliss would help enough to tip the election?
McCain wanted to end the benefits that (we) veterans were guaranteed when we enlisted: lifetime access to the VA healthcare system — that was the deal. He wanted to now give those of us without combat related injuries a “card” to find an (naturally for profit) insurance company instead of our free access to VA hospitals/clinics. I don’t want McCain’s buddy Lieberman anywhere near Veterans Affairs, especially now when he’s bitter and possibly spiteful. He has no character or honor.
Well said. Wow.
Now that you put it this way, I’m feeling better about Sen. Reid. If this was in his thought process (giving Lieberman Veterans’ Affairs forces him to face the consequences of his war hawkitude), it’s brilliant.
I’m not getting a new post.
It’s a real crapshoot, you never know what will happen in these special elections. I signed on with the Martin Campaign as a Veteran and I hope they play that card as much as possible. That being said there are an awful lot of stupid ass, lost cause motherfuckers in Georgia.
My bad…I thought I saw something new…
NO!!! Our vets deserve better than Lieberman. Why do you think he’d be any better on this than he was concerning Katrina? Joe’s gotta go! We won’t hit 60 anyway, so why not kick his but out of the caucus? Elections have consequences.
Enough of this boring shit about vets any way. Nobody gives a shot.
Offering Joe the chair of Veterans Affairs damns him if he accepts (it for the reasons stated in the OP), and damns him if he doesn’t (what, Joe, you don’t care enough about the troops to show some leadership, you bastard?)
you assume he has a heart, you assume too much
If I had Joe here, I’d put it into Rethuglican terms he could understand: Joe, this is like making a financial investment. There’s a risk. You took the risk of supporting McCain and turning yourself into a Quisling for the POSSIBLE return of some benefit in the future. Well, McCain lost, so you lost your investment – it did not pay off. So, go away,.
oooo, Crazy Courtney Love upstairs…….
Good morning, Raven. I think a lot of people care and now’s the time to do something about it. I told Reid that the idea of giving Vets’ committee to Joe was laughable.
When it suits there rah rah bullshit anyone “in theater” is a “combat vet”, when it doesn’t then it’s fuck those remf fobbies.
i was bullshittin around trying to see if there was someone I could irritate.
Sorry to go OT but thought that this needed to be shared ( would have tried to do a diary except my DSL connection is on the fritz)
http://www.indiancountrytoday……35064.html
Yep. Here in FL too. The largest Confederate Battle flag in the world floats over the I-4 and I-75 junction, about 10 miles from my house.
You live next door to the Dragon?
lol
I feel quite sure that you will get your chance at some point during the day. Go for it !
Nah, across the Bay. He lives on the civilized side,
Yeah, I think it’s time for me to write a nice, polite line or two to dear old Harry.
“Senator Reid.
Now listen up, you spineless little motherfucker!!
…
…
Sincerely”
LOL
“Oh, please tell me what I am doing to be such a fucking pain in the ass? I just want to know so I can do better in the future”
You know it’s true, dude. The cultural differences between Tampa and St. Petersburg are too huge to properly describe.
“I’d like you to show me the evidence of that. Do you have a YouTube?”
The only people I’ve seen ypu be “a fucking pain in the ass” toward were people uncomfortable with having their assumptions questioned.
More, please…
Mebbe it’s cuz we gots more hippies over here now. Didn’t used to be that way. You had the beach people in the Pinellas beach cities, the hip city people in Tampa and those just hangin’ out waitin’ to die in St Pete. Gulfport was fishermen and smugglers.
Aw shit, hit the reply button, dummy. That was for RonD at 57.
Actually I was paraphrasing
Thank you all for your passionate comments. Note that I don’t think Lieberrat would ever accept this chairmanship, he has neither the character nor courage.
Again, I think he should have been offered nothing. But there is a delicious schadenfreude that Joe-the-Backstabber has had his best offer…it’s only going to get worse from here.
and yes, I would have said so long Joe, it’s been not so nice to know ya. Let him caucus with the Lieberman party. In the broom closet. In the basement. Behind the boiler. Also known as “Office of Senator Joe, I-Lieberman”
Tampa is characterized by an alliance between redneck good ol’ boys and criminal government, in bed with the Mob. People freak out when you say that out loud, but it is absolutely true. The only rule here is “be a good neighbor”-if you do that, you can get away with any damn thing you want, up to and including murder.
Exactly. Joe deferred in Vietnam, makes sure his own children and grand children are protected and then sends off other people’s family members to wars of choice for oil and Israel.
Vets should not have to deal with such a yellow bellied coward.
Maybe he can get Joe The plumber to join him and he will have a party of 2. They deserve each other.
I got called for Federal jury duty couple years ago. The area around the courthouse was like a dead zone. Multi-story buildings vacant, obviously for years. I couldn’t believe it. Was hoping to get assigned to Judge James Moody so I could give him an earful about his conduct over the Sami al-Arian case. Perfect opportunity. Got another judge though and was excused for cause. ‘Cause I had been a witness in a federal drug case and was prejudiced against the government. Imagine that.
Way to go!
Some years back, the Tampa shrimp docks got raided by the feds…they said that less than 10% of the freight coming in there was actually shrimp. The rest was weed, blow, and illegals. Boatloads. Right on a major road.
Doubtless he has visions of Lieberman Palin 2012…
Along with all his other self-aggrandizing fantasy.
Did you see the submarine the smugglers got caught with in Columbia?
Yeah, that traffic killed the smuggler’s landing in Gulfport years ago. The big dealers were in Tampa so less road time with the goodies.
No, but that’s been a standard method for at least ten years. The “tow-behind” submarine, anchored to the hull from the outside. Board it? Search it? Sure. Won’t find a thing, unless you go over the hull with divers. When I was building boats for a living, we used to get inspected regularly.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/09/19/drug.subs/
That’s an adapted sailboat hull and deck, mostly hollow. Look at that deck and profile-that’s a sailboat. Probably built right off the same tooling as a production boat, after hours, with a reinforced laminate and a crew paid in cash.
Cool,great info!
I id some prototype work some years back for a sailboat builder, adapting a hull for a small sub to try and get a navy contract. Didn’t work out, but….there’s no doubt. The hull design of a sailboat is remarkably similar to a WWII sub hull. That’s the starting point, and saves one from having to design from the ground up.
I read the book about Higgins and how he developed the landing boats from his experience as a rum-runner.
I didn’t know that, but it makes perfect sense…the problems faced by a smuggler trying to get ashore quickly while evading surveillance are presumably very similar to the problems facing an amphibious landing. Smuggling as an amphibious-landing training camp.
teddy’s upstairs…
Lieberman to Lead Senate Veterans Affairs Committee?
by: Brandon Friedman
Fri Nov 07, 2008
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.~~~~~~~~~VetVoice
The offer on the table of Veterans Affairs was unacceptable to Lieberman. I contend the offers proffered by Reid or the Dems hereafter will keep getting less and less.
Lieberman had the best offer he was gonna get [and at that far too much in the consensus of all of us, methinks].
He should be shown the door–and it should be closed in his face.
And McConnell and Co should learn in no uncertain terms that there will be a price to be paid for taking in the likes of Lieberman.
Lieberman–Caucus of One
A man without a party, forever doomed to sail the political seas,solo, a “Lying Dutchman”?
“Lying Putschman” more like.
Which was his worst act? Questioning the very patriotism of Obama?
Participating actively with lies and innuendo he knew to be false?
Breaking his word?
Attacking Democrats and their standard bearer at the Republican Convention?
His acts of dishonor are legion.
I’m thinking that Reid knew exactly what he was doing. He’s telling JoeL either do the job, or get out of the caucus.
JoeL thinks he’s a Really Important Senator, not having learned anything from the election results, and Reid is telling him he’s not.
An interesting conection, one I hadn’t thought of. Thank you.
The anger against Joe Lieberman goes back to 2006, when he was NOT the only Senator who continued to support a forever occupation.
He was unique as a Democrat in going out of his way to taunt those whose support he demanded.
I can see Lieberman’s connection to the Veterans’ committee. He has caused so many of them to be killed or wounded with his actions.
I’m sorry, but why play mind games at all. Why offer him anything? What in heaven’s name did Joe Liberman do to merit any chairmanship, let alone Veterans Affairs? To me, that’s a slap in the face to all vets.
Sit Joe down and make him watch ‘The Godfather’ a few times. Lieberman is a sanctimonious twerp. I agree with the above. Why offer him anything?
Everyone should check out this 2006 piece by Matt Taibbi on Joe’s election campaign, it begins the night Lieberman was supposed to concede.
one graf i enjoyed: