Any way to find out how Harkin voted on Turncoat Joe?

[rurallib]

I would like to thank him I hope.
Let's face it. We can call and email til we die and it makes really little difference.

[Debi]

1. I'd sure like to know. n/t

[4dsc]

2. Why the Lieberman saga ended in accord

Magnanimity in victory

The peacemaking Tuesday illustrates the Churchill adage: “in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity.”

And Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., told reporters after the closed-door meeting that once Obama magnanimously said he felt comfortable with Lieberman staying in the Democratic ranks, Senate Democrats acceded to his wishes.

“There is something different about this guy, Barack Obama,” said Cardin. “He really wants things done differently in Washington. It’s not about partisan politics. Partisan politics is over.”

Whether partisan politics really is “over” will be seen in the months ahead, but a filibuster-proof majority would make it harder for Senate Republicans to have any effect. In that sense, partisan politics may be moot on some issues.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27783957/

In other words, there's a new sherrif in town..

[rurallib]

3. Yet, I think even Churchill would agree that there is a point beyond

which once crossed there is no turning back. Joe has long since crossed it and leaving him in a position of power makes it very possible that he will undermine the Obama administration. His history is not as someone who is a compromiser or any type of team player. Joe has always been only for Joe. He also seems bent on doing whatever Israel wants no matter the cost. No, Joe is one of those who should not be trusted with anything of vale=ue.

[Critters2]

5. Exactly. I believe this was a mistake. nt

[Critters2]

4. He voted no. According to the Chicago Trib, he was furious after the caucus

and read parts of LIEberman's RNC speech to reporters. I'll hunt up a link.

Here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-lieberman_wednov19,0,2966830.story

The relevant portion:

On Tuesday, some of his liberal activist supporters reacted with anger when Senate Democrats—at Obama's urging—turned aside attempts to strip Sen. Joe Lieberman of a committee chairmanship. The liberals, and some senators, had wanted to punish Lieberman for campaigning with Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee.

An independent who allied is with Democrats, Lieberman of Connecticut is reviled as a turncoat by Democratic loyalists and despised by anti-war activists for his support of the Iraq War. So his continued presence in a high-profile post was a bitter disappointment to many of the same people who enthusiastically embraced Obama.

"Outrageous," declared Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who pulled out a copy of Lieberman's speech to the Republican National Convention to read passages aloud to reporters staked outside a meeting of Senate Democrats.


Critters
in a (quite solid, I'd say) bid at self-redemption

[rurallib]

6. Thank you. This is good to know.

BTW Obama did not tell the Dems to leave Turncoat Joe in his committee chairmanship. Obama only said to let Joe caucus with the Dems and never said anything about his chairmanship. Ergo Obama was mute on the chairmanship and by not saying anything implied he was not in favor of his continuing there. Obama only said to let Joe caucus with the Dems.
I would totally agree with Obama on this. Let Joe caucus with the Dems if he wants and bust his ass back to a buck private. To me Harry Reid is once more the the great capitulator. Reid could have spoke against Joe. He could have no doubt pulled some parliamentary procedures so that it would never come to a vote. Yet Reid once again used his standing to show that there WILL BE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR FUCKING OVER THE PARTY. Yet another stellar job, Harry. Adn no I don't want us to be like the lockstep Repugs but any organization needs some structure and rules. And to make them work they must be enforced.

[CornField]

7. Hmmm...

That stands in almost direct contrast to what Harkin told me the Sunday prior to the election:
http://iowaindependent.com/8209/harkin-when-it-comes-to-lieberman-maybe-its-better-to-forgive-and-forget

[Debi]

8. Other than the 'forgive and forget' part Harkin didn't say anything about Chairmanship either

only about caucusing. I guess we could presume that if Lieberman had been stripped of his gavel that he'd go caucus with the GOP....just as much as we are presuming that letting him keep it will guarantee his caucusing with us. But it does put a little more clarity on how Harkin probably voted. And that's a bummer.

[Critters2]

9. Hmmm. So it does. I really had the sense, from the Trib, that he was pissed.

I mean, reading parts of the RNC speech sure sounds like an expression of anger.

Well, 13 people voted against Joe. I'd sure like to know who they were, and send 'em a thank you note.