Use it or lose it
By Steve Benen Friday Dec 28, 2007 11:30am
Brian Beutler has a great piece up on “The Year in Oversight,” and notes a point that doesn’t get emphasized nearly enough:
There certainly have been gaffes, softballs, and missed opportunities. And the most obvious are found in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security — the Senate’s version of Rep. Henry Waxman’s Oversight Committee in the House. Unlike Waxman’s enthusiastic probing, the Senate chair conducted zero proactive investigations into Bush administration malfeasance. It’s chairman? Connecticut’s Joseph Lieberman.
Senate Dems need to deliver a message to Lieberman: Use it or lose it.
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Why is anyone in the Democratic party giving this guy the time of day let alone the chair of a committee? All the Democrats I know are for John McCain for president.
Old white Joe: a traitor to democracy...
The longer Lieberman lives, the more he comes to look identical to his idol, the Devil.
Not much longer, Joe.
And this is why I have no faith in or respect for our Democratic Leadership. Why in the Hell does Lieberman hold the position of Chairman? He chose to break all rules of decency when the Democrats of CT. rejected him and ran & won as an Independent with Republican votes. This is just insane. This is also a good damn reason to not vote or Hillary or Obama - they supported this weasel over a good & decent Democrat, Ned Lamont, in that race.
A bit off-topic, but brand new.
Giuli has just commissioned a 'Campaign Theme Song', and it was played for the first time, today.
It's the tune from the 'Hallelujah Chorus', with the lyrics 'Nine, Eleven', continuously repeated.
Kind of catchy, but only the first time
Maybe this town in Vermont has it right! Read the story at www.rawstory.com
Vermont town seeks Bush, Cheney arrests
Town in Liberal Vermont Considers Measure to Have Bush, Cheney Arrested for War Crimes
Why on earth would Lieberman want to 'investigate' the enormous amount of funds Chertoff is diverting to Joe's homeland?
He knows how vindictive Olmert is, and Olmert wouldn't hesitate to uproot all the bushes planted in Lieberman's name in Tel Aviv.
Snip . . . . .
All Americans are now imprisoned in a world of lies and deception created by the Bush Regime and the two complicit parties of Congress, by federal judges too timid or ignorant to recognize a rogue regime running roughshod over the Constitution, by a bought and paid for media that serves as propagandists for a regime of war criminals, and by a public who have forsaken their Founding Fathers.
Bout sums it up.
Senate Dems need to deliver a message to Lieberman: Use it or lose it.
Really...What makes you think that they would do that? They're just fine with Joe.
You can't push around this SOB because he can dangle his "I'm going republican" threat and change the majority lead in the Senate to republican in an instant. He gets what he wants.
I guess it's easier for some to keep painting the Dems as weak.
We've got our own Constitutional terrorist right there in the Senate, and he can do whatever the hell he pleases. The voters gave us this slob, so if we're going to spotlight weakness, let's start with the Connecticut voters who seated this jerk.
Early 2001: Bin Laden Warns of Massive Attack on US in Training Camp Speech
Edit event
January 5, 2001: French Report Al-Qaeda Plan to Hijack Plane Possibly Headed to US; CIA Apparently Informed
January 11, 2001: Rumsfeld Warns of Surprise Attack Like Pearl Harbor
January 20-September 10, 2001: Bush Briefed on Al-Qaeda over 40 Times
January 24, 2001: Italians Hear of Brothers Going to US for ‘Very, Very Secret’ Plan, Other Clues
January 25, 2001: Clarke Warns Rice Al-Qaeda Cells Are Inside US and Are ‘Major Threat’
January 31, 2001: Bipartisan Commission Issues Final Report on Terrorism, but Conclusions Are Ignored
February-July 2001: Trial Presents FBI with Information About Pilot Training Scheme
February 7, 2001: DIA Director Predicts Major Terrorist Attack on US Interests in Next Two Years
Spring 2001: Tenet Warns Congress an Attempted Terrorist Attack against US Interests Is Likely within a Year
Spring-Summer 2001: Bin Laden Tells Mother He Cannot Call Her Again Due to Upcoming ‘Great Events’
March-April 2001: Al-Qaeda Defector Describes Plot to Hijack US Airplane
April 2001: FBI Translators Learn Al-Qaeda Suicide Pilots Plan to Hit Skyscrapers in US and Europe
and on and on and on.
The Democratic leadership in the Senate needs to just remove Senator Lieberman from his Chairmanship and let the dice roll where they may. If having Senator Lieberman be chairman is the only way to keep the majority, ditch him still. Let Senator Lieberman become a Republican. Let him once again betray the people of Connecticut and let the Democrats share power with the Republicans in the Senate until the elections in November. Its a small price to pay to get Senator Lieberman booted as chairman.
He should be forced to retire simply for being so damned ugly...
L.A. Confidential @ 11:
And where was The Pretzel King and his Court of Clowns during all this?
They should strip his seniority.
He left the party and is a first year Independent.
Lollimom @ 10:
Since he's republican anyway, the dems would be wise to make it official so they aren't constantly getting this "the Dems are in the majority and STILL aren't doing anything" vibe. If congress isn't going to do any oversight anyway, it would be better to credit it to a republican majority than a democrat one.
Lollimom @ 10:
They ARE weak. The important things in this nation's history didn't happen because of appeasers.
L.A. Confidential @ 8:
Just about. You left out us hand-wringing word-merchants. Unless you consider us part of the forsaking 'public'. Which is fair. 'It ain't whatcha say, it's whatcha DO'.
Helloworld @ 17:
Please don't take my entire message out of context like you did here. I provided valid arguments for what I said, and you lift one sentence to support the cliche, "Dems are weak". The Connecticut voters are the weak ones in this case.
lets send Jewy Joe over to fight for his home country, Israel. why this "independent" guy is the head of a committee is beyond me.
LA Confidential add this
October 2007. Bhutto states that Osama Bin laden is dead.
December 2007. MSNBC says new Osama tape coming soon!
Time to wake up folks!
and to stay on topic
Lieberman = Benedict Arnold
Sounds like a whole lot of people were napping through those boring high school courses on government. It's about more than Homeland Security - it's about every committee and the leadership. I know people aren't happy with Reid. Would they be happier with Trent Lott or Mitch McConnell? Come on folks - please think of all the consequences.
Same thing about the difference between 60 votes and 51 votes.
Come November - IF the Democrats stake out a bigger majority, then Holy Joe can be sent packing. A Democratic victory is not guaranteed if the republican spin is that the Dems are weak and you guys buy into that.
Preacher Boob @ 18:
You got that right. The final blow is realizing no matter what we do or say, we're outnumbered by people who will protect their own ignorance at any cost.
Not good
Not a
Hieronymous Bosch was certainly prescient.
He painted an exact portrait of Lieberman, in the center panel of 'The Last Judgment', which was painted around 1490.
Just wait until a Democratic president has an affair. Then Holy Joe will be all over it.
July 1, 2001: Senators Warn of Al-Qaeda Attack Within Three Months
July 3, 2001: US Intelligence Hears Bin Laden Promise Attack Is Near
July 5, 2001: Ashcroft Is Warned of Imminent, Multiple Attacks from Al-Qaeda
July 6, 2001: CIA Warns Upcoming Al-Qaeda Attack Will Be ‘Spectacular’ and Different
July 6, 2001: Clarke Tells Rice to Warn Agencies to Prepare for 3 to 5 Simultaneous Attacks; No Apparent Response
July 10, 2001: FBI Agent Sends Memo Warning that Unusual Number of Muslim Extremists Are Learning to Fly in Arizona
July 16, 2001: British Spy Agencies Warn Al-Qaeda Is in The Final Stages of Attack in the West
July 28, 2001: Captured Operative Had Links That Could Have Led to Moussaoui, 9/11 Plot
Late July 2001: Argentina Relays Warning to the US
Late July 2001: Taliban Foreign Minister Tries to Warn US and UN of Huge Attack Inside the US
Late July 2001: Egypt Warns CIA of 20 Al-Qaeda Operatives in US; Four Training to Fly; CIA Is Not Interested
Late Summer 2001: Jordan Warns US That Aircraft Will Be Used in Major Attack Inside the US
August: Bush goes on Vacation.
August 2001: Russia Warns US of Suicide Pilots
Early August 2001: Britain Warns US Again; Specifies Multiple Airplane Hijackings
Early August 2001: Government Informant Warns Congressmen of Plan to Attack the WTC
August 1, 2001: Actor Communicates Concerns to Stewardess That Airplane Will Be Hijacked; Warning Forwarded to the FAA
August 15, 2001: CIA Counterterrorism Head: We Are Going to Be Struck Soon
August 23, 2001: Mossad Reportedly Gives CIA List of Terrorist Living in US; at Least Four 9/11 Hijackers Named
August 23-27, 2001: Minnesota FBI Agents ‘Absolutely Convinced’ Moussaoui Plans to Hijack Plane; They Are Undermined by FBI Headquarters
etc, etc . . . . . . .
The trouble with the game the federal politicians are playing in Washington is:
They wiped their asses with the Rule Book, and flushed it down the toilet.
Now no one knows what the rules were/are, and they're making it up as they go along.
And these are folks, who ,when you meet them, the first thing you do is look at their feet.
If they have the correct shoe on the proper foot, you know someone else dressed them.
Mid August: Bush pretends he's Ronald Reagan at Prairie Chapel Ranch.
Important work being done. Clearing Cedar, stocking bass pond, naps, TV and pretzels.
http://tinyurl.com/367uvg
Christ, have you ever noticed!!
Lieberman looks like Kristol's twin sister.
I don't think a garlicky stake through the heart at midnight would kill Joe.
Let's feed him some month-old gefilte fish.
L.A. Confidential @ 28:
Sept 11, 2001
Bush sits in an elementary school classroom with a dumb look on his face. Waiting for his handlers and political advisors to instruct him on what to do next.
http://tinyurl.com/yqwcz4
L.A. Confidential @ 31:
Sept 14, 2001
After two days of frantic meetings Bushes advisors decide on a plan of action for the President. Urging him to action with what he does best. A Photo Op.
http://tinyurl.com/2egsdk
Lots of folks use the term 'Fu*k Head' rather loosely, on many occasions.
But it really seems to fit Joe.
Especially if you preface it with 'Lousy. As in
'Lousy-Fu*k Head'
The US is Joe's home away from home (Israel). I'd say he's a waste of space, but he's a negative impact on our democracy.
Even parasites have a function in life.
Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
And for once there isn't a mustard stain on his shirt collar. He must be getting good advice.
I hope Joe keeps ignoring the advice of his 'handlers', and showing up for photo-ops.
Sooner or later, that'll do him in.
When his 'admirers' get tired of barfing.
Lieberman is not a Democrat and the only reason he has a chairmanship is so that he caucuses with the democrats and gives them control of the Senate. IMHO Lieberman turns into a pumpkin on november 15th 2008 and either gets kicked out or switches to republican.
Message to Congress:
Excuses are like assholes...
Much as I dislike Lieberman, I think that somewhere deep down he sincerely believes that he's protecting his people by kissing up to the powers that be. This situation isn't helped by folks like the "progressive" broadcaster Mike Malloy who think they can substitute the word "Zionist" for "Jew" and spew all manner of antisemitic garbage over the airwaves. This attitude appears to be a remnant of Soviet era--and thus left wing--attitudes during the Cold War. Remember that Iraq was a Soviet client state and Israel was an American client state, and Lieberman, after all, is an old man who remembers the aftermath of WWII when the death camps were just beginning to penetrate the public consciousness.
You have to be fucking kidding me. Use it or lose it? That's really the best you can do?
How bout putting a black sack over his head, marching him out to the reflection pool in front of Lincoln, de-pantsing the POS, painting his ass blue and throwing him in. Then march back to Mitch McOnnell's office and saying, "if you wan't droopy you have to go fish him out of the pond." My guess, droopy would freeze solid before anyone fished his worthless Zionist ass out the pond.
How sad...no Joe apologists. Are there any? Bueller? Bueller?
So what if the Repugs get the Senate? I thought nothing could be accomplished anyway without the magic 2/3 majority. At least that's what we've been told for the last year.
Either way, there are the haves, and the been hads.
Joe will come back to life when there is a DEM in the White House don't worry.
Maybe Lieberman doesn't want to waste time and money like Waxman's doing. Had Clinton taken action after WTC.1, during his administration, 9/11 wouldn't have happened. Bush inherited Clinton's mess. Should he have grounded all the planes in August? Hardly. Former Democrat VP nominee is the only sane guy left in the party.
L.A. Confidential @ 26:
HEY now! Nobody needs you and your pesky facts around here. So just go back to LA LA land and hope you don't get visited in the middle of the night by your friendly neighborhood field officer.
Letting LIEberman keep his chair because he caucuses with the dems is bullshit. He votes with the republicans this time around constantly and even endorsed a republican for president. Throw the bum out.
Preacher Boob @ 29:
That's because they both graduated from the same Massad class. It's the last test to have your frontal lobe removed, your mouth stretched far enough to suck... well let's just say it's not the only thing to get stretched.
scruzman @ 45:
Where are the perpetrators of the WTC 1? Oh yeah, they were caught, had a TRIAL, and are in prison. Clinton was accused of "wag the dog" when he mentioned bin Laden because the republicans were more interested in where Clinton put his dick. Clinton put his dick in a woman and bush put his "dick" as VP. Which had the better outcome?
scruzman @ 45:
Criminal minds on the loose on C&L. Make that the criminal mindless. LIEberman will be tried in the Hague in a few years. Maybe his supporters should join him in the docket.
Joe Lie-berman is nothing less than a traitor to his country and should be prosecuted as such.
*
Andrew @ 6:
If only if were so goes Vermont, so goes the nation.
The unfortunate part is the Jewish and Muslim "Leadership" have been dragging their people into their personal disputes and conflicts since the 7th century.
I wish these "leaders" would just stop it and get along for the first time in history so their people as well as everyone else can have some peace, a little prosperity, and stability for a change.
But leaders and want to be leaders are driven by an addiction to greed, and lust for power over others.
Therefore the people are basically screwed.
Steve Franklin @ 40:
Hey Steve, you got one thing right. Slow Joe does believe he is protecting his people, not the people of Connecticut or the people of America or anyone to whom he has sworn public allegiance. He is a Zionist, he has said that himself, that's not a backdoor slam on "Jews" as you put it. There are millions of American Jews who don't believe that Zionism is a feasible political strategy. So YES outing Zionists, whether they are Jewish or Christian, is a good thing. BTW chimpy is also a Zionist, but by no stretch of the imagination is he a "Jew".
Preacher Boob @ 37:
He and William "the bloody" Kristol both wear toooooooooo much make-up for their photo-ops anyway.
*
Just. One. More. Senate. Seat.
HEY now! Nobody needs you and your pesky facts around here. So just go back to LA LA land and hope you don't get visited in the middle of the night by your friendly neighborhood field officer.
LOL thanks.
L.A. Confidential @ 53:
The tribal mentality just won't die over there. We should get our asses out - let them ALL figure it out for themselves and only engage in diplomatic endeavors - as pointless as it is to say any of that . . . . .
*
Any self-respecting woman who had a breast that looked like Lieberman would have it lifted, snipped, tucked, jammed full of silicone, then removed and buried.
The lines by the side of his mouth suggest a puppet.
I once had a toilet-plunger that got really, really old and decrepit.
When it looked like Joe, I sh*t-canned it.
Nice as the sentiment might be to tell Joe use it or lose it, the Democrats, I feel in watching your politics have absolutely NO choice. Lieberman, in coming out and endorsing McCain, shows that if the Democrats were to strip him of his chairmanship now, I think would switch parties thereby giving the majority back to the Republicans where there has been no oversight anyway. So in all reality, isn't no oversight in the hands of a Democratic Senate far superior than no oversight in the hands of a Republican senate?
scruzman @ 45:
As I recall, within one year the DOJ had the four chief conspirators on trial for the '93 attack (which occurred 38 days into Clinton's first term, as opposed to 9 months) and they are serving life terms.
And shall we continue the discussion on the various ways that money is being wasted by our government?
Had Clinton taken action after WTC.1, during his administration, 9/11 wouldn't have happened.
Oh really, Karnak? Such insight. How do you figure? With all of the "actions" that Bush/Cheney have taken, maybe you should carry on this discussion with the British, or the Spanish, or the Indonesians, or the Iraqis, or the Saudis. They are wondering why our actions haven't prevented THEM from falling victim to AQ since 9/11.
scruzman @ 45:
Dude, really, go down to the 7/11 and buy yourself a brain. Here, I got a quarter, no wait fifty cents. Go now, while they are still fresh.
"Bush Inherited Clinton's mess?" what fucking universe do you live in? Put down the revisionist crack pipe and step away from the double barreled mindlessness. You are now a danger to yourself and others.
"Should he have gounded all the planes in August?" Hmm.. Hard call I would say.... NO. But would strongly suggest deporting all those guys the FBI is saying would probably hijack planes and don't have valid visas. That would be 1) smart and 2) legal. They could even detain some of the people who were WANTED in other countries. How bout that for a start. NO? You would rather suggest stupid shit that seems impossible, "we could never have imagined anyone would fly planes into the WTC on the day that we were running mock exercises at NORAD and the pentagon about hijacking planes and using them as weapons." You sound like that.
How bout expecting the sensible reaction from a government that is reporting they know where people are planning to hijack planes are training. Sorry, it's much easier to sound stupid and use ridiculous hyperbole.
Continue, I was interrupting you.....
Trittydi @ 58:
So true. If I lived over there I would be thinking . . . Hey, I don't care if this is holy land or not at this point there is nothing civilized about this kind of destructive behavior and it's not worth getting killed over a stupid freaking piece of dirt. Bye!
Let the "leaders of men" battle it out amongst themselves in pistol duels and sword fights to the death.
Put it on pay to view cable TV and the capitalists would probably even be happy.
scruzman @ 45:
It's Clintons Fault. Wow that again.
What Bush should have done was said, I don't care what it takes, I don't care what it costs, I want to you stop whatever this plot is. DON'T FAIL.
L.A. Confidential @ 66:
scruz I suppose thats to obvious for you right?
The CT voters can go to Hell for electing this guy instead of Lamont. Joe is a rubber stamp for all things Bush junta.
The Democrats should have removed him immediately, after all, the Democrats of CN didn't want Lieberman. All this jerk cares about is Israel, even if it costs millions of American lives to keep our pro-Israeli policy in place.
One of the great weaknesses of the U. S. is all the foreign interest groups in this country that wag our federal government by the tail--now the Democrats are trying mightily to get another one--Mexico.
Scott @ 1:
John McCain for president? Democrats? I think you are confused.
L.A. Confidential @ 65:
Tough call. Having been there, I can tell you there isn't one person who thinks that way. You would think they would, but they don't. I thought they might say, "Woah, wait a minute can't we figure this out like reasonable people?" I was wrong too.
Think of it this way. A cabal of Hasidic Jews from Jersey is forced to live in fundamentalist Chi$tianland Oklahoma. Do you really think they would be able to live in peace there? No fucking way! They may start selling 10 gallon hats and knock off boots, but they are NOT going to "fit in". If they can't do it in OK then why does anyone think they can do it in the Middle East?
Che's Lounge @ 43:
Exactly. Just one more example of how we're being played. If we really need 60 votes to accomplish anything, why all the compromise? Why not call Lieberman's bluff and strip him of his seniority? Let him turn Republican. Let the GOP take the blame for enabling Bush, since they're determined to enable him no matter who holds the majority?
I believe it's because our party leadership is putting their own personal careers (read campaign coffers) ahead of everyone and everything else. Dems will rake in more cash as the majority party, even if they do nothing to oppose Bush. *Especially* if they do nothing, in fact.
scruzman @ 45:
Funny how much better shape the country was in with Cinton in office. Funny, Clinton's the most popular man in the world and Bush is burned in effigy in every other country.
kaT @ 73:
In every OTHER country? I guess you haven't been to many rallies lately. Chimpy gets charred in this country as well, quite often.
JustSickOfIt @ 71:
Oh, c'mon people, Joe Lieberman is a schmuck. And a very stupid one, at that.
After reading the comments I understand why Bush got in office twice. Blame the Dem Leadership or even the idiot Lieberman. But for those who bothered to read Senator Obama is on the committee to keep an eye on Lieberman. But Senator Obama is to busy to do his job and Obama hasn't even voted on any bills for his State. These people are voted in office to do their job for the people. Candidates go out campaigning but still do their job for the State they represent. Pelosi put Senator Obama on the Committee to watch Lieberman and he didn't do it. Illinois is in so much debt and the foreclosures are the largest in this sub prime crisis. Yes Oprah who can afford to look the other way watching her Chicago base go down hill. But Senator Obama wants to lead the US but can't do the job he has right now and this is his first term in office as Senator. If he gets elected President we will see he will do as much for the country as he's done for Illinois, NOTHING.
Lieberman is no American. With him Israel will always come first and to hell with the US and his party.
scruzman @ 45:
I have to respond to this statement above that seems so standard for Bush apologists. Clinton was in office 30 something days when the WTC bombings1 happened. If you check I think those responsible are in prison right now and Clinton did not go foaming off at the mouth blaming the previous Bush presidency. And perhaps if you are a republican supporter, then you might have suggested that your party spend more time worrying about the state of affairs in your country and AlQaida than trying to put every breathing moment into finding anything and even setting up a president so you could impeach him. Maybe if republicans worried about the country's business rather than the party's business, things might have been different too. And when did Bush decide that going after AlQaida for the Cole bombing was not worth his effort when he took office? Seems republicans were furious that Clinton didn't do anything right before he left office even though the FBI hadn't said who was responsible til later. Maybe it was at the same time Bush was warned on his August holidays and did nothing then either. And in case you didn't realize, even this Candadian knows that "the only sane guy left in the party" doesn't fit. He is an independent remember, not a Democrat. As for grounding planes -- it seems Ashcroft was told to stay off planes as were others, so perhaps the whole country could have been warned to be more vigilant in some fashion.
And from my personal standpoint, Clinton's impeachment still leaves him head and shoulders a better President than Bush could ever dream of becoming. Bush has failed at this job just as he did with all his other previous ventures. And just to ward off the standard..."There have been no further attacks in America since 9/11......" just remember Clinton kept you safer for longer than Bush has.
You know, sometimes you have to do what's right even though you're afraid it will hurt you. Do you keep a tumor because you're afraid of the knife? If you do then you suffer the consequences.
We are all suffering the consequences.
In all fairness to Mr. Lieberman, we are asking him to basically investigate himself.
Eric Paulsen @ 80:
I, for one, would look favorably upon the Democrats at election time if they booted "Chinless Joe" from his committees.
You hear me, Nancy? Harry?
Our officers in the military are useless, They may have money to do thier job, but they are nothing more then pirates when they follow these worthless devil worshipers. Lieberman is a traitor.
I have a solution to the whole christianist, palestinian, israeli problem. Get all their asses out of town for about a week and then nuke the whole fucking place, taking especial care to wipe out all the "holy" places. Slag, molten glass, and radiation. That will end the tribal superstition thing once and for all. No "holy" places to squabble over, peace reigns, end of story.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no super hunk or anything. Having said that, can you imagine looking in the mirror and seeing that face staring back at you? Makes my blood curdle just thinking about it. It's a race between him and Mitch McConnell as to which one has the saggiest hounddog face.
Sorry, back to our regularly scheduled moron-fest starring George W. Bush and his Band of Criminal Cronies.
Even Droopy Dog would smack Holy Joe upside the head for being so phlegmatic, slow and just plain disconnected.
Wait a minute...I thought this was the guy who was robbed of the vice presidency, right? The guy who should be running for president on Al Gore's legacy right now, right? Anyone who didn't vote to make Joe Lieberman the second most powerful man on the planet was a fool, a spoiler or a villain, right?
Right?
The John and Joe team , what a scary thought .