First thoughts: Joe the Chairman?

Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:26 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann
*** Joe the Chairman? If the news is correct, then the liberal blogosphere isn't going to be happy. NBC's Ken Strickland reported yesterday that, according to sources familiar with the negotiations, Democrats today are expected to vote in favor of letting Joe Lieberman keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee -- but give up the gavel on a subcommittee he chairs. (The vote happens this morning by secret ballot, and Lieberman is expected to address Senate Democrats before they vote. Per Strickland, we should know the final outcome by late morning.) So what happened? First, Strick says, Obama told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he wanted Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus. Later, Lieberman told Reid it would be "unacceptable" for him to give up his gavel, which was considered by some as a veiled threat that Lieberman would jump to caucus with Republicans if he was forced to give up the gavel. In short, Obama tipped the scales in Lieberman's favor, one source said, explaining it this way: If the wrath was directed at Obama, and he got over it, shouldn't the Democratic caucus do the same?

*** Obama’s first test with the left: The news that Obama is the one mainly responsible for the wrist slap that Lieberman is expected to receive -- as well as the continued speculation that the president-elect is inching closer towards selecting Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state -- is really going to test Obama’s base. Many of the true believers aren’t going to be happy campers. Then again, with some pundits suggesting that Obama’s initial moves (picking Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff, courting the Clintons) don’t really signal the change he promised to bring to Washington, isn’t it precisely change that Lieberman is about to go unpunished? After all, one of Obama's messages was to put the bitter partisanship of the last 16 years behind us. Does anyone think that a Clinton or a Bush Administration would be as forgiving?

Video: President elect Barack Obama's credo 'no drama Obama' is being tested early as he eyes Sen. Hillary Clinton for Sec. of State and Senate Democrats decide Joe Lieberman's fate. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.

Also, as Maureen Dowd wrote on Sunday, Obama bringing in Hillary as his secretary of state doesn’t represent the return of the Clintons; it says the opposite. “If you have a president who’s willing to open up his universe to other smart, strong people, if you have a big dog who shares his food dish, the Bill Clinton era is truly over.” One more point about Lieberman going unpunished: Could Obama truly meet with McCain yesterday in a sign of bipartisanship as Obama and Senate Democrats plotted to take away Lieberman’s gavel at the Homeland Security committee? By the way, imagine what this week would be like in the press corps had a more severe Lieberman punishment been on the docket. Talk about your drama.

*** When rivals meet: Speaking of yesterday’s Obama-McCain meeting, does the fact that nothing concrete leaked out mean nothing concrete was worked out? Also, it was supposed to be a 90-minute meeting, so why did it end up only 40 minutes. Not a good sign?

*** “V” is for Vetting: For the second day in a row, the vetting of Bill Clinton dominates the chatter about Hillary’s chances of becoming secretary of state. Today's New York Times doesn't feature just any byline -- but one that has given the Clintons particular heartburn: Don Van Natta Jr. How much stomach will Team Obama have for a Van Natta (or potentially a Michael Isikoff) sniffing around the Clintons?

*** Bailing out the bailout: In addition to today’s vote on Lieberman, the other big news on Capitol Hill is today’s testimony by the Big Three US automakers and the United Auto Workers in favor of a bailout. There is still a split between the two political parties on this issue. As the New York Times writes, "A showdown vote over the auto deal is set for Wednesday, and at the moment Democrats appear short of the 60 votes they need to move ahead, meaning the session is likely to be abbreviated.” The New York Times also has a very good separate piece about how the political power for the entire auto industry -- from the corporate heads to the labor unions -- is waning. By the way, how much does the perceived failure (to date) of the $700 billion financial bailout hurt the auto industry's chances of their own bailout? Why should any member of Congress feel comfortable about voting for an auto bailout if the one of the financial services industry hasn't worked out as planned?

*** Playing defense: As for the $700 billion bailout, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson has an op-ed today defending his actions. “I am very proud of the decisive actions by the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the F.D.I.C. to stabilize our financial system," he writes. "We have done what was necessary as facts and conditions in the market and economy have changed, adjusting our strategy to most effectively address the crisis. We have preserved the flexibility of President-elect Barack Obama and the new secretary of the Treasury to address the challenges in the economy and capital markets they will face. As policymakers face the difficult challenges ahead, they will begin with two considerable advantages: a significantly more stable banking system, one where the failure of a major bank is no longer a pressing concern; and the resources, authority and potential programs available to deal with the future capital and liquidity needs of credit providers.”

*** The remaining races: In Alaska, election workers will count approximately 24,000 ballots today, which could give us a clearer picture in a race where challenger Mark Begich (D) currently leads incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens by 1,022 votes. After today, overseas ballots will remain to be counted, and the process, according to the Anchorage Daily News, will last through the week of December 1… In Georgia, early voting began yesterday for the Chambliss-Martin Senate run-off, and there were reports of some lines (the turnout of the youth and black vote in this runoff, by the way, will be the ultimate test of Obama's base; have they become permanently engaged in the overall political process or only engaged in Obama individually?)… And in Minnesota, the five-member state canvassing board meets today to officially certify the original results in the Coleman-Franken race, with the manual recount beginning tomorrow.

Countdown to Georgia Senate run-off: 14 days
Countdown to Electoral Vote Count: 51 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 63 days

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Comments

one of Obama's messages was to put the bitter partisanship of the last 16 years behind us.
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I think that is why you are seeing him meeting with McCain, 'forgiving' Lieberman, considering Hillary Clinton as a potential SoS, etc. A 'Team of Rivals' indeed. That is the kind of leadership that is needed right now. Politics and ideology aside -- if you've got a good idea, let's hear it.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:34 AM)

“more stars than there are in heaven," is how MGM studios were described in its golden era.

So we have the dynamic duo - Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow - not present Monday evening. Yet we still get Arianna Huffington, Lawrence O’Donnell and Bill Maher. Their voices have been critical these last few years. They are smart people. Very smart. And not about to cow down to the right wing. Or to anyone for that matter. It’s awesome to just sit back and listen to them.

It’s kind of like spending the evening with Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant and Will Rogers. Beautiful, handsome, sophisticated, funny. With powerful punches. It just doesn’t get any better.

Does anyone know if Andy Card receives a pension and health care from the government?

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:38 AM)

Here in California, our joy is tempered somewhat by the passage of Prop. 8 - jaycee, Ventura Ca
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California is buring down, is $15 billion in debt, has more illegal aliens in state then legal residents, and you're worried about Prop 8? Typical liberals, can't see the (burning) trees for the forest.
The Arnold (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 10:23 AM)
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Nice little rant, Arnold. Wrong target, though. You need to talk to the conservatives who put that piece of garbage on the ballot. Liberals were fine with the status quo. We ended up spending over 70 million dollars in California to address a non-problem invented by conservatives when, as you so correctly point out, we desperately needed those resources to address real problems. Typical conservatives. They cry about big intrusive government when it’s time to pay for the government services they take for granted, but have no problem using government to stick their noses into our bedrooms.

jaycee, Ventura, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:39 AM)

I have not forgiven Joe Lieberman, although a major mea culpa would probably satisfy me. That said, I believe that Obama and the Senate Democrats should be merciful.

JTat EHT (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:40 AM)

Lots of Back-Stabbers on the Democratic team. Powell, Hillary, Lieberman. Barack best not turn his back to anyone of these characters.

Caesar Julius, CT (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:40 AM)

I am one of those "lefty bloggers" and "Obama true believers" and I support him today as much as ever. I don't think getting revenge at Lieberman is what he should be using his political capital for, and even though I would like to see Lieberman punished, I respect and admire Obama's decision to take the high road and recognize that he will need Lieberman's support in the Senate in order to get legislation passed that will help the American people, and that that's more important than getting revenge for hurt feelings (and given how much he respected Lieberman when he started in the Senate, what Lieberman did has got to hurt). Barack's a bigger person than I would be for being willing to forgive.

As to Hillary for Secretary of State, I'm not thrilled with it but I'm not too upset either. I think Kerry or Richardson would be better, but I can see some advantages to Hillary. And I don't believe she's so much more hawkish than Obama. I believe she voted for the war because she knew that she was going to run for president and as a woman she felt she had to prove she was "macho" enough. That does not excuse her vote, and it's one of the reasons I did not support her in the primaries. But I think it's something we should keep in mind in determining whether her views are really so much more hawkish than Obama's, because I don't think they are. And even if they are he's the one who will be setting the agenda. Like with the Lieberman thing, I respect his reaching out to a formal rival and working to bring about change by putting some of the bitter battles of the past behind us. So I can't speak for all liberal bloggers, but I will say that this one is as much of an "Obama true believer" as ever (though I don't think he's perfect and I never did).

Laura, Arlington, VA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:41 AM)

Obama forgiving Lieberman speaks volumes about his character. George W. Bush would never do something like this. He's a tiny man, a miniscule man, an insignificant man, compared to president-elect Obama.

Full Moon (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:43 AM)

Barack Obama knows how to vet candidates and will select some really great people to replace the incompetent fools of the current tyranny. The first that needs to go is that clueless fool who runs the family planning agency as we need someone smarter than an idiotic abstinence first fool. Just look how incompetent the Wasilla Hillbilly was at keeping her wanton daughter abstaining from getting pregnant underage. I see that the statistics bear out how wrong that policy is.

We need to investigate "Criminal" Paulson to see how much he's done insider trading for his own good. I bet he's up to his neck in bank stocks and is doing everything he can to recoup his investment. He is a big part of this whole global financial meltdown and he needs to pay for his incompetent stewardship. He has totally failed to help out the homeowners who need the help.

Prison for Paulson!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:43 AM)

Don't forget the the basic premise of Washington..
"so goes the funding so goes the power."
With jobs, healthcare and infrastucture on the funding front burner....so goes the homeland security budget down the sink hole...Senator Lieberman will be a beggar and that branch will wither and die on the vine slowly...
So, SEE YA JOE...wouldn't want to be YA!

BJ, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:44 AM)

I'll bet the I. in Joe I. Lieberman stands for Iscariot.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:45 AM)

OBAMA KEEPS QUOTING ABRAHAM LINCOLN AS AN INSPIRATION FOR BEING A PRESIDENT.

ABE LINCOLN WAS NOT A LEFT-WING, BLEEDING-HEART, LIBERAL --- AS IS OBAMA.

LINCOLN BELIEVED OUR 'DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE' BEST DESCRIBED OUR COUNTRY'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES. (With Empahsis on INDEPENDENCE).

LINCOLN HAD NO QUALMS ABOUT IMPRISONING ENEMY COMBATANTS AND EVEN CONFEDERATE SYPMATHIZERS. LINCOLN ALSO DENIED THOSE IMPRISONED ALL CONSTITUTIONAL & LEGAL RIGHTS.

WHAT DOES OBAMA HAVE IN COMMON WITH LINCOLN? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. !!!
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IS OBAMA ANOTHER ABE LINCOLN ??? (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:45 AM)

Obama's success and re-election will be dependent upon his ability to reign in the far left wing, and govern from the center. If his far left supporters think, or ever thought, that he would do all that they wanted, governing from the far left, they were and are naive. That woudl otherwise be a recipe for gridlock, and in action, which would be worse for him. He is making good choices now. He is a majority winning president, unlike Bill Clinton, and the current leader of his party...Reid, Pelosi, and everyone else, must accept his refusal to be pulled to the far left. And, by not picking Hillary as his Sec. of State, the dem. party will crack apart, and the repukes will take ove in 2010. Just deal with it!

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:46 AM)

Sen. Lieberman is going to face another big problem when he tries to run for re-election in Connecticut...he will probably loose his seat, although it's not until 2010, but he will loose it.

Joie, CT (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:46 AM)

Ted should smell the coffee and be reluctant to find solace in that 5 by 10 ft. cell waiting in the wings..

BJ, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:48 AM)

I find the term "liberal blogosphere" to be hilarious! :)

I don't know whether to consider myself a part of it or just an interested citizen expressing my opinion . . . the media just LOVES creating new labels for everyone! lol

Anywho . . . about Joe Lieberman . . . I wish he would go away, but the simple fact is, whether or not he keeps his chairmanship is simply a sideshow - nice to talk about, but doesn't affect my standard of living one little bit.

If Joe cared about anything other than himself, we wouldn't be in this situation to begin with.

So if it make Joe Lieberman feel like a big boy to keep his chairmanship, and we get to move on to the things that are really important as a result, then I say that is a WIN for the liberal blogosphere, which I assume was developed to deal with important issues, not little men with big egos.

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:49 AM)

The repugnant ones broke the auto industry and now they don't want to help fix the paroblem they caused by protecting the auto industry from facing the reality of higher fuel efficiency. I hope that everyone who works in the auto industry is paying attention and knows who to blame for letting the auto industry go down the tubes and who saved it. The repugnant ones want to let the companies fail, forcing hundreds of thousands to millions of retirees lose their health benefits and retirement pay.

I don't buy the nonsense that somehow the Clintons will overshadow Barack Obama. Barack is way too popular now and He is The Man! I think that Hillary is a great choice for Secretary of State, far superior to the clueless prissy poser now screwing up our foreign diplomacy.

I really hope the Dems just cut off the remaining funds of the bailout and wait until Barack is president and he has a new Treasury Secretary who will help distressed howmeowners. What a waste that bailout has been because of White House incompetence and ideology.

Down with the Freeloader Market Theory!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:50 AM)

Paulson and Stevens might make good cell mates..

BJ, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:50 AM)

Trees, trees, everywhere, but where is the forest. Pundits like David Gregory can only see trees and not the big picture. The big picture is Obama's stragegy. Make peace with Lieberman, make peace with McCain, become open to Hillary: all part of a bigger strategy of reaching across the isle and creating new relationships.

The comment about Obama's first test with the left is nonsense. The intelligent left know Obama has to lead from the center. Most progressives do not want to go down the path the conservatives have taken by pushing their own conservative agenda. Leading from the center will serve Obama well. He will get support from moderate Republicans, Democrats, and more importantly, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Paulson bail out is shameful. Why? It fixes the ledgers of the banks, but does not help Main Street. Not nearly enough strings to the money.

My bet is most Americans are not too thrilled about bailing out the auto company. Maybe the free market should work and we have a big two, or a big one. Maybe each company shoud only be making 5 models, but each model is safe and fuel efficient. If Congress rewards poor management, I can think of a lot of American companies wit poor management. Remember Zenith, RCA, Nash, Studebaker: they were American companies who no longer exist due to poor management.
Maybe free market should shake out the poorly managed.

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:51 AM)

It is fact that Joe Lieberman is a political "two-face," and needs to be watched very carefully. Joe shoud not go totally unpunished politically, however he does still have some power in the Senate. Obama has given Joe a political "gift," and he had better not abuse it. Obama will be watching Joe very carefully. So Joe needs to watch his step very carefully politically. Remember Joe, America is watching as well. Time to move forward America!

Rock,Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:53 AM)

Obama is a pragmatist; he wants as many dems in Congress as possible, because of the races that are as yet undecided. DONT PUT CLINTON IN THERE!!! bILL IS STILL THE ALBATROSS AROUND HER NECK HE ALWAYS WAS, WITH HIS HINKY DEALS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS. JUST DON'T DO IT!! The auto industry should go into receivership, and all the management and engineers be fired, bring in a new bunch thatunderstands the public's need forfuel-efficient, well-made cars in the 21st century thatcan actually COMPETE with other countrys' cars. Americancars are CRAP, and that's why the Big Three are in such trouble. and abailoutwon't help---look at Chrysler; they didn't learn a thingfrom thelast bailout, except "keep making junk,andifnobody buys em, beg Big Gumint forabailout again!? Which is exactly what they've done.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:55 AM)

Does anyone else see the Bailout money as just 'business as usual' for this inept administration? We have heard for years all of the millions and millions unaccounted for in Iraq, and now we are getting equal and fair treatment domestically with the Bailout. I don't necessarily believe it is entirely Corruption, per se - it is just a stunning incompetence and complete disregard for transparency, regulation and oversight. January 20th can't come soon enough. Could Bush go ahead and step down now?
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Jess, from yesterday – Apparently you weren’t watching the same campaign or debates that I was. McCain is a ‘has been, washed up’ DC Career politician. His mediocrity and frat boy behavior caused his ‘sacrifice’ for his country and he’s played the POW card every opportunity he could. He has gamed the system, his personal life and basic relationships to a literal tit for tat. His idea of Country First is McCain First. He is lacking in character and substance and was not able to articulate a single policy issue during the campaign that would be different from the existing administration. He showed a complete lack of judgment in picking the pit-bull with lipstick after one face to face interview. The ‘heartbeat away’ would have been a blunderous disaster. I can see you are still in pain; but Obama received over 7 million more votes than McCain. In our wonderful democracy – Obama WON. And yes, as a public servant who has literally been paid by my tax dollars, McCain DOES still have to prove something to me. He is in DC to do the People’s work. I don’t give a good hot damn which state he represents – I help pay his salary and bennies and he needs to not forget that as he continues in his service to this great country.
^^^
Byrd Doggie (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 2:32 PM) but of course, that dog won’t hunt… (Laughter card, please).
^^^
New York Mike (Sent Monday, November 17, 2008 3:03 PM) On the Schumer comment,…the term ‘professional comedian’ implies that someone might actually pay money to hear his jokes. He is amateur at best.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:55 AM)

Obama, nothing more than a Trojan Horse. Reality , low classed vote puts a hollow and shallow person in the White House. Thus the White house Cabinet will be loaded with has been failure. Yes, Your Washington self serving paper hanger has been given more power to destroy remaining America.

fact (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:55 AM)

Of coarse there's a split between the two party's.Or should we call it red vs Blue.You see the states that hold our auto makers are Blue states.The people that would be effected the most live in Blue states.These people where sold put years ago,and now they Bush admin,wants to put the final nail in there coffin.While Honda,Toyota,and the others doing biz in the south are doing fine in Red states.See they sold out so there high school educated work force would have jobs.Of coarse there are no unions,no job safety,no job security,but they have a job.Be it a lot less then a union worker makes ,so it comes down to this,Will Detroit change its ways,or will the unions give some,will Bush help those blue states.I think not,he's to busy filling his friends on wall street pockets with our cash.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:56 AM)

If nothing else, this will show that Barack Obama is more of a man than Joe Lieberman will ever be.

GmcDuluthMN (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:56 AM)

I, too, was calling for Lieberman's removal, but, realistically, once Iraq is done with, there will be essentially nothing else from bringing him back into the fold.

I hate that he went certain places "I fear that America will not survive with the Democrats get 60 seats", but we can't get bogged down in petty partisanship. This is what we asked for. This is why we put Obama in charge.

I also take this as a real sign that the Democrats feel like they have a shot at 60 still.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:00 AM)

In Alaska, election workers will count approximately 24,000 ballots today, which could give us a clearer picture in a race where challenger Mark Begich (D) currently leads incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens by 1,022 votes.
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The best thing about a Begich win, which seems likely, isn't that there would be another Democrat in the Senate. The best thing about it is that his winning would block Palin's path to the Senate, which would open up after Stevens resigned or was kicked out of the Senate.

Sarah would have to do her demagogue routine in Alaska, so us folks in the "lower 48" wouldn't have to listen to her. If she were in the Senate, Sarah the Senator would be hogging the news all the time for at least the next four years talkin' 'bout Joe the Plumber, Nancy the Nurse, and maybe Tommy the Train and Roger the Rabbit.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:02 AM)

No one is saying Leiberman was a bad Chairman so why should he lose his position? It would just be petty revenge. Obama is being sensible better to have Leiberman working for and voting with the Dems than to assuage hurt feelings.

Grace, Mountain View, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:07 AM)

Lieberman represents the voters of Connecticut. It is their role, and only theirs, to decide whether to punish him for supporting McCain against Obama. I don't think the President should punish people who disagree with him, hence the reason I consider Bush one of our worst Presidents. There was a man who wanted to "spread democracy" without understanding the basic principles inherent in it.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:08 AM)

FR - I just want you guys to know, although sometimes I come down hard on the media (and it's only because you guys need at times "oversight) I really do appreciate what you guys do.

Now, the so called bail out, housing crisis etc; why have no one in government or the media pointed out the real reason we are in this financial mess?

We all now it was the greedy oil companies and speculators that created a chain of events that affected our main street markets in an effort to continued the wind fall profits of the wall street markets.

But, yet we bailed Wall Street out, even after many were made billionaires.

The Bush administration is completely responsible for the down fall of our economy.

SO, don’t forget that it was the oil companies and speculators that started the price rise in energy cost and thereby affecting everything directly and indirectly associated with it.

Oil companies and speculators started the big economic downward spiral. Their actions are what caused the rise in prices on food and other everyday needs. They are what caused less money in the consumer’s pockets, which is needed to sustain our economy.

They are why people are scared to spend whatever extra money they had. They are the reason people are losing their jobs.

So, we know President Elect Barack Obama, won’t allow this to happen to U.S. again. He will stop the speculators and the Oil Companies from ever stealing the money of hard working Americans; simply by gauging and monopolizing the markets.

Frankly, as an American I wish we could prosecute these villains and send them to prison for treason.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:08 AM)

Well, I'm a "true Obama believer" and have been for a long time. Garrison Keiller said it best ..... now is the time for Obama to start disappointing his followers, stunning his enemies and doing what's right for America. I think Lieberman should lose his key chairmanship, Clinton should be spanked, and McCain should be sent to Alaska with Palin. But that's just me. Obama is obviously a much better person. I would say the bar is being set very high for these folks who are getting a warm welcome. The question will be -- are Lieberman, Clinton and McCain up to the moral challenge?

Kathy from Pinellas Park, FL (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:13 AM)

Even if Joe Leiberman keeps his chairmanship, there is such as thing as karma. His colleagues, his constituents and the general public will be wary and distrustful of him and he may not survive the next election. President-Elect Obama is doing exactly the right thing by letting Joe Leiberman's fate unfold on its own, without stepping in and speeding up the process.

Remember folks, what goes around really does come around without our interference, so it is wise to be merciful.

Gail, TN (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:13 AM)

Stop the bailouts now...no money for detroit...no bailouts for farmers either....no more bailouts for granny in florida...no more bailouts for those dumb enough to live on the beach...no more bailouts for local companies...I wonder how many of those rightwing free marketeers will give back their bailouts?

Rick, NC (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:16 AM)

Regarding the auto companies bail out, people of privilege do not understand what will happen if the bail out is not granted. Mika on Morning Joe rants about the bail out, but she was born into privilege and does not understand the average working family. The average worker has a wife, three children, a mortgage and a car payment. Should we just let them sink because of the auto executives who ran their companies into the ground? Mika should show a little compassion for the workers who had nothing to do with the collapse of the auto industry. She has never had to worry how she was going to feed her family. In my opinion she is showing contempt for the auto workers.

Dottie Swarthmore PA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:16 AM)

Just as I thought, the dems are weak and bent. Rove can thumb his nose at congress, bush openly brakes the law without fear of retrobution, Chaney can shoot a friend in the face being drunk as a lord. And our national treasury sacked and looted right in front of our faces. When is justice going to prevail. Get rid of Lieberman, Put Rove & Meier in jail, lets start making people for their transgressions agenst the paople of the U.S.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:16 AM)

Not even sworn in, Obama, being nothing more than a Trojan Horse. The to date results equals loading the White House cabinet with old dead blood. Nothing more up setting is the fact, inner bickering of saving those who have fallen and being re elevated to position. America needed a President "leader" not more of yesterdays Washington self serving paper hanging useless failed policies. ""JOE"" should be sent packing! a turn coat to a party and now wants to return to the fold of failure!

A handful of failed and derailed little Gods which have and continue to be not removed from our government. Get rid of sending failure back to Washington,, ""NOW THAT WOULD BE CHANGE"""!!!!!!!!

fact (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:33 AM)

Even though I'm ashamed that Joe Lieberman is my CT senator, I agree that Obama is showing leadership and not vengefulness with this decision.

Hopefully the State of CT will not repeat past mistakes and we'll resoundingly vote this guy out of office next time.

Kathie, PV, CT (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:36 AM)

I am all for Lieberman keeping his Chairmanship. Let the people of his State VOTE HIM OUT of office if they do not like it. This is not the time to act like 6th Graders on Recess. There are serious problems in this country the President Elect needs to address without a lot of in-fighting going on.

Barbara Jean - Pompano Beach, FL (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:50 AM)

Where's the vicious partisanship that has served the neo-nazi party so well for 8 years?

Typical neo-con moron (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:56 AM)

Everything was GREAT under GWB wahhhwaahwahh Obama has already ruined the universe waahhhwaahhh (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:59 AM)

I for one would like to see the media and the public GIVE PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA A CHANCE before we begin criticizing. He has just been elected, could we give him some time without picking apart his every move, without analyzing how each thing he does will "play" with the liberals or conservatives, etc. Good grief!!!!!He is going to be the President of all the people--Democrats and Republicans. Could we please stop making everything about partisan politics? He says he wants to work for unity in this country, couldn't we all try to work with him?

Dorothy, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:02 AM)

"I really hope the Dems just cut off the remaining funds of the bailout and wait until Barack is president and he has a new Treasury Secretary who will help distressed howmeowners. What a waste that bailout has been because of White House incompetence and ideology." Eric, Salinas, CA

I believe that it was the democrats that got us in to the whole mortgage crisis to begin with, starting five years ago, when Barney Frank rejected Bush administration efforts to clamp down on Fannie and Freddie, claiming they were - quote - "not facing a financial crisis," dismissing fears as exaggerations that would "pressure" the lenders to cut back on housing loans to those in need.

Eric, your bigotry and hate filled posts never stop amazing me.

Probably won't clear the liberal filter (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:09 AM)

Palin will make a great senator.

Michael Furlong, Long Island (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:12 AM)

I must agree with Dottie from PA. I usually tend to side with Mika on Morning Joe, but the past couple of days she has showed contempt for the auto workers. Maybe she should try driving an American made car. We have all sat here and watched while the government has bailed out AIG and all the rest of the money grubbers on Wall Street only to see them continue business as usual. i.e. executive trips. The auto industry has given the American people exactly what they have asked for, SUV's and luxury vehicles. If the Big Three go under then this country will be in a world of hurt. Mika needs to wake up and smell the coffee. I heard the irresponsibility of the execs at the Big Three mentioned several times this morning on Morning Joe. Well, how does their irresponsibility compare to the execs of AIG or any of the other financial power houses who have done their best to become very wealthy while destroying our economy? Put some stipulations on what is to be done with the money, but for the sake of all of those auto workers and their families the government needs to do something to help.

Pam Indiana (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:17 AM)

To "Is Obama another Abe Lincoln"
You are not a very good student of history. One of the greatest feats of leadership in this nation's history was Abe Lincoln insisting over the objections of Congress that the defeated enemy keep their guns, horses, and remaining provisions. Most wanted to "punish" the South. Lincoln understood that reconciliation would be better accomplished if southerners could still hunt and provide. After his assasination, Johnson was impeached for continuing on this process but narrowly won. I'm not sure "imprisoning and denying rights" was high on Lincoln's agenda.
As far as being liberal - freeing the slaves instead of continuing the status quo doesn't sound very conservative to anyone other than you. To me, regardless of the title, it was very liberal.

R. P. IL. (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:22 AM)

I just opened a "new bank", it's call Safe Yard Savings and Don't Loan. Convienently located for 24 hour access in my back yard. I have sent money Zar Paulsen my request for a $ 25 Billion dollar bail out, but he has yet to reply. Does anyone know what goverment agency I need to talk to, I just keep getting a busy signal.

Broke in Florida (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:29 AM)

As they say, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer". Old Joe will get his, you wait. It will come further down the line when it doesn't look so much like revenge and the media isn't paying quite as much attention.
As for Hillary - she isn't "Old dead blood" but a very talented and intellegent politician. As long as Bill can pass the vetting process, I think she'd do a great job - and she is a faithful democrat.
The American auto industry has needed something new for years but continued to build the biggest gas gussling road hogs they could. Now not only can you not give them away at the dealer lots, but if you already own one, you are stuck with it forever. Shame on them - some countries (China) won't even sell our cars there because they don't pass their gas milage requirements. Run by the crooked oil companies right into the ground. Time for change. Maybe a tough lesson for us all is better than giving those crooks cash to pour into a sinking boat.

Teach (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:34 AM)

Robin (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:41 AM)

I'm no fan of Lieberman and hope the voters of Connecticutt will throw him out in 2010, but I'm realistic enough to know that he has already lost the battle that meant the most to him. The war in Iraq WILL come to a certain end and the Neocon dream IS dead. Except for his militaristic tendencies Lieberman agrees with the Democrats on most issues. He's marginalized and will never again enjoy the influence he squandered in the sandbox. No one on either side of the aisle will entirely trust him ever. That's good enough for me.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:41 AM)

Love Rahm Emanuel as Obama's chief of staff. Would love to see Lieberman go, go, go! No matter what happens, the BIG CHANGE is, Obama looks to what is good for the country.

Sophie, Oakland, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:42 AM)

Michael,was told once.keep your friends close,but your emenies closer.

Mark Folger,Henderson NV (Sent Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:47 AM)

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