On the Joe Lieberman Acquittal

If I were not rational, pragmatic or relied on emotions … I would probably call for Joe Lieberman’s blood. “Feed him to the wolves,” I would proclaim but at the end of the day that is not how it occurred or did it?

Senate Democrats secretly voted to decide the fate of Lieberman and nothing happened. Surprising? Not really and here is why.

First, we need to know what got Lieberman into this mess. Well that is quite elementary you see; Lieberman’s role in the John McCain camp was disrespectful, dishonorable and cutthroat.

Not only did he campaign for John McCain, he spoke at the Republican Convention where he served as a surrogate for the McCain camp. He danced to the tune of the GOP and helped spread a message of hate and lies abut the Barack Obama campaign.

He betrayed Democrats and after aligning himself with the losing candidate there was no going back. All expected some type of punishment. Would he be kicked out and forbidden to caucus with Democrats? Would he lose his chairmanship in some prestigious committees?

No! Democrats ended up not doing anything to Lieberman. He was stripped of of his EPW subcommittee chairmanship but there is more to this story.

Steve Benen adds, “Sounds like a slap on the wrist, right? As it happens, it wasn't even that -- Lieberman told reporters this afternoon that the caucus changed the rules this morning so that no member can be chair a committee and two subcommittees at the same time. Lieberman keeps the two gavels he wanted, and loses the one he didn't.”

I understand my friends in the blogosphere that are angry and upset with this decision. Believe me, there is a part of me that wanted to see his head roll … figuratively not literally.

Jobsanger claims, “Just what the hell does it take for Senate Democrats to show some respect for themselves, their constituents and their party and GROW A SPINE! This slimy toad Lieberman is not even a Democrat. He was elected as an Independent, and given the honor of caucusing with the Democrats. But that should be a two-way street. He wants the Democrats to give him Democratic privileges, but he is unwilling to show the party and its candidates any respect.

He really doesn't deserve to be allowed to caucus with the Democrats, and he certainly doesn't deserve to retain ANY committee chairmanships. Those should be reserved for supporters of the party. Senate Democrats need to take a stand and kick this slimeball out of the caucus.”

Folkss are trying to make sense of this mess and are speculating on how Lieberman was spared.  Doug Mataconis states, “I’m betting we’ll find that Lieberman’s hide was saved largely thanks to the direct intervention of Barack Obama, which is somewhat ironic considering that Lieberman spent the better part of a year campaigning for the guy that Obama just beat in the election.” While this is entertaining, it does not matter who or why anyone voted for Lieberman or not. The issue is over. I don’t care about Obama’s role in the decision.

One thing is for sure. I believe in Karma and she is a b*tch. I would like to be naïve but deep down I know what really happened. Democrats kept Lieberman and expect the great state of Connecticut to handle this matter. At the end of the day it is they who were betrayed. Instead of letting the top party members decide his fate … Democrats have left it to the people.

It may seem like nothing happened, but in reality, Lieberman was setup to be sacrificed come 2012.