While we all (or at least most of us here!) agree that Lieberman has to be punished, we need to be clear on how exactly we go about it. Some Senators like Evan Bayh are not helping matters by implying that only Lieberman is qualified on matters like Homeland Security.
And Majority Leader Harry Reid continues to make his wishy-washy statements instead of taking a firm stand. Reid's utterances almost make me feel like pulling my hair out!
How do we deal with Lieberman going forward? ...
Kos makes very good suggestions on how to deal with Lieberman in his recent story - "Deciding Lieberman's fate" http://www.dailykos.com/...
In the story, Kos suggests turning Lieberman into a backbencher with no authority is the best way to go:
Heck, throw him a bone with a minor sub-committee chairmanship, the kind they give promising freshman senators to beef up their resumes. That way he can't cry that Democrats are throwing him off the caucus. If he wants to reject that option, and he probably would since it would kind of be an insult, then so be it. Let him reject a gracious Democratic offer, rather than the other way around.
But no committee chairmanship. Those need to be reserved for real Democrats and genuine allies.
I think that is a wonderful suggestion and is the best way to go. I can't believe that the Bayhs and the Reids don't see it yet!
Anyways, here are several possible subcommittees for which we can consider making Lieberman the Chairman. Since Lieberman is oh-so-special a Senator to all of us, I had to create new subcommittees just to make sure that we reward him appropriately.
Here goes.
1. Subcommittee for painting USPS mailboxes
2. Subcommittee for airport water-fountain maintenance
3. Subcommittee for IRS document page-numbering
4. Subcommittee for mowing White House lawn
5. Subcommittee for food-tasting in Congress cafeteria
6. Subcommittee for getting "Joe" the "plumber" a job
7. Subcommittee for keeping an eye on Russia from Alaska
8. Subcommittee for picking up after Malia and Sasha's puppy
9. Subcommittee for teaching world geography to Sarah Palin
10. Subcommittee for managing McCain's Metamucil supply
Please feel free to add to the above list in your comments. And reco this post if you liked it.
Thanks!