The job Lieberman is failing to do
By Steve Benen Wednesday Oct 10, 2007 5:18pm
USA Today had a good item about Rep. Henry Waxman, the California Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. As the article explained, Waxman wields the gavel very effectively, using the committee’s oversight powers as a successful watchdog should.
And then there’s Waxman’s Senate counterpart: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the same committee, who apparently doesn’t care about doing his job at all. Subscription-only Roll Call had this depressing report today:
Though the two committees have similar investigative powers and mandates to uncover waste, fraud and abuse of government funds, Waxman has held eight hearings on Iraq and contracting abuses this year, while Lieberman has held only one on reconstruction challenges in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
And though Waxman rarely has missed an opportunity to fire off angry letters to the administration over potential waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct among government contractors, Lieberman — along with his predecessor and current ranking member, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) — has shown relatively little interest in tackling those issues.
And what of all the contracting abuses that Waxman is scrutinizing? Lieberman said he gets “angry when I hear about fraud or corruption in the spending of American dollars,” but it’s not one of his “priorities.”
A year ago, seeking re-election, Lieberman said this committee was his top priority, and he was desperate to return to the Senate so he could wield the gavel. And now that he has the authority he sought, he’s decided not to conduct any real oversight of the administration at all.
He seems to have desperately sought a chairman’s gavel just for the sake of having it — Lieberman wanted power he had no intention of using. Instead of a Senate Committee on Government Affairs that functions as it should, Lieberman just treads water, using his gavel as a flotation device. It’s an embarrassing waste.
Login or Register to post comments.
Can we trade lie-ber-man for Ron Paul?
"He seems to have desperately sought a chairman’s gavel just for the sake of having it ..."
Er, not quite. By being chair, he has some control over discussion. He is minimizing discussion of things that reflect poorly on what the US is doing in Iraq. Mission accomplished.
The first thing to do when the Senate shifts to Dems is to make sure this Bozo looses his Committee Chairmanship.
And of Waxman and Lieberman, which has received more support from the Democratic party?
This man was the vice presidential candidate in 2000. He represents the mainstream of the Democratic party leadership.
This is who the Democrats are.
Zell Lieberman is the biggest disappointment for Dems in the last decade. We can only hope he joins the GOP after the '08 elections.
Was this guy really the VP nominee in 2000?
I'd sure like to know what they have on him.
phlounder @ 5:
He was plan B. If Gore had won he would have been dead within 6 months.
Ok, the big crybaby Lieberman had to sit on a committee else he was going to have a big hissy fit, but why give him the chair or an important committee?
I say that if Loserman threatens to switch parties or switch who he caucuses with because he isn't getting what he wants, then call him on that. Let him make official what is known by everybody.
And again a big f-you to Connecticut for reelecting this asshole. You picked him over what sounded like a very good citizen.
It's official, Joe's a Republican. Over site? We don't need no stinken over site....
I bet Hillary would like Lieberman as vice president. She can be the new Bush and he can be her Dick Cheney.
Read the comments about Waxman on the USA Today article, and weep.
Most are very negative about this fine and dedicated Congressman.
So sorry for the USA.
Yeah, Lieberman's a real putz. He has some chutzpah.
Yellow Elephant Safari @ 1:
We probably could trade him for a box of athletic tape and a player to be named later.
He seems to have desperately sought a chairman’s gavel just for the sake of having it — Lieberman wanted power he had no intention of using.
------
You're wrong there.
He's using his power alright.
To cover up for the Bush Administration.
Is there a citation/link for Lieberman saying the committee was his top priority during the 06 election?
Conan @ 10:
It sickens me to think that you're probably right. Then again Hilary sickens me in general, Republican-lite bores me.
They can't boot him from the seat right now? Does he still vote with dems at all or is there even any reason left to try and appease this asshole?
Joe made it very clear when he ran as an independent in 2006 after losing the Democratic primary that he believes it is his right to be a senator and his right to be a committee chair, and his right to have all the perks and bennies. I hope when the Dems get a veto proof majority in 2008 they relegate Joe to the back benches where he belongs. He's the ultimate DINO.
Remember when this puny turd was bloviating about how he was going to look into the wretched Katrina failures, just before election? ...anything new to report on that front, Joe?
> Was this guy really the VP nominee in 2000?
Not only that, any progressive-minded person who didn't vote for him was vilified, marginalized and called a fool.
If the Democratic Party and their loyalists had prevailed, this man would be running for president right now, on the strength of two terms as Veep.
And Iran would be in his sights.
Now, I am NOT going to vote for Hillary. I don't care. Can't do it. Sorry. She's flat out evil.
So, tell me, will my vote for a Green candidate be a vote for Guiliani? Will those of use who vote our conscience be once again attacked, called fools and idiots, because we WON'T endorse corruption just because it caucuses with us?
Joe Lieberman should be re-called. Stripped of his American citizenship and sent to Israel. That is the country he really loves. I think he has dual citizenship. IMO anyone with dual citizenship should not be eligible to hold office in the Congress or Senate.
Someone tell me again why that Lieberman puke still has a committee chair? It's is bizarre that the Dem leadership gave him this job and then has let him keep it.
The only consolation to Gore conceding the 2000 election is this shitbag, quisling toad is not the VP.
william @ 23:
Consolation? That just leaves Dick as VP. This asshole is bad, but no way he could have been worse than Dick Vader.
*sigh*
Are there any artist who can do a rendition of J low sucking an elephants Dick. Moderator? go or no go
The visual that you all have in your heads right now must be truly disgusting as is the subject of the picture.
You'll notice he never says he gets angry about the corruption, just that he gets angry when he's forced to acknowledge it. Funny, that.
So why can't Harry Reid yank his gavel and give it to Tester or Obama or someone else who might maybe have a conscience and a sense of duty to the Constitution? Are they afraid he might split the senate and spoil our majority — as if the Senate is doing anything to end the war anyway?
nick @ 11:
Those crap comments are largely due to the fact that the neocons gave their minions their marching orders. Their "leaders" are telling them Waxman is investigating right wing radio and wants to reinstitute the Fairness Act. He's their boogeyman of the week.
dxwoods @ 28:
I suggest Feingold.
WHY does he have the gavel? I thought the Democrats were in the majority.
LIEberman is not a Democrat.
off broadway Joe only cares about satisfying his daddy fetishist masters. He doesn't care that the connies have looted the treasury as long as he can play grab ass with Hannity and Mark Levin on their radio shows
Hillary and LIEberman...now there's a ticket I hadn't thought about. Scary fuckers.
I cant believe that Connecticut is this conservative bastion in the Northeast. Liebermann is such an embarrassment his own party banished him and made him run as an independent and he still got elected.
What a terrible shame for the thinking people of Conneticut and all across America
Putting Lieberman in that position is like asking a bear to manage a honey factory. Surely the Dems could have given him a piddly committee but no. I gotta tell you, I am a Dem but I am flat out of patience with the Dem leadership at this point.
After he lost the Democratic primary, Lieberman decided to run as an independent, only because he knew the Republicans in the state nominated a candidate they would not support. The Republican party in Connecticut never gave any financial or political support to their own candidate. That directive HAD to have come from the national level. Republicans elected Lieberman, so to whom does he owe his allegiance? What a creep. Its not surprising that he comes from the same state as Benedict Arnold.... He is a lying, traiterous, disloyal scumbag.
He needs to be recalled now. Why is there no recall Liberman movement going on in Connecticut?
Shag @ 37:
They have to amend the state constitution first. They don't have any provisions for recall as of now. Bummer!
The voters of Connecticut badly screwed up in the last elections.
>He needs to be recalled now. Why is there no recall Liberman movement going on in Connecticut?
Um, cuz he's governing as he campaigned? What did the people who voted for him expect?
It's not like he promised to end the war and bring the troops home or anything.
The people of Connecticut voted for him because regardless of the fact that Ned Lamont had the party's nomination, Lieberman was the "serious" candidate.
Lamont was just some Nader-like spoiler who would be too radical and push the poor, dumb voting public back to the Republicans.
Joe Lieberman, being "serious," would have sense enough not to push the decidedly unserious anti-war agenda of the "radical left."
After all, the Democrats have to bide their time. They can't afford to let crazies like Ned Lamont derail them now that they're so close to controlling everything.
Lieberman. Is. Doing. What. The. Party. Wants. Him. To. Do.
Agent Provocateur @ 24:
How would he be any different, this is the question you should ask. If you come up with something gimme a holler.
Lieberman wanted the gavel to specifically make sure it is not used. go figure it out.
I really hope that the people of Conneticutt kick his worthless ass out of office the next chance they have!
Someone must be holding something over him. Or, perhaps he was their mole in case Ketty got elected?
More than using his oversight committee chairmanship as a flotation device, Lieberman is filling the position so he can kill oversight attempts in the Senate. In short, he is there to co-opt oversight.
nonya @ 42:
Bingo!
Pull his gavel, boot him from every committee slot and let him caucus with the Republicans like he does anyway. If he declares as a Republican, he will simply be making official what is common knowledge. F*ck him. If I have EVER had a bone to pick with Al Gore, it was his naming of this moldy glob of dickcheese as his running mate in 2000.
This is just what Lieberman wanted.
He could help the Bush Admnistration cover up their mistakes.
While Waxman does his job and earns his salary from the taxpayers. While Waxmans serves his constituants to the fullest of his capacity, Lieberman dances for Bush.
I know many people from Conneticutt, and they are embarrassed to have Lieberman serve them. They are sorry that he was elected.
But I guess if you don't know what else to do except trick the people you were supposed to represent, then there is no Honest job for you.
Lieberman is a shill for Bush. He may as well have become a republican.
I cannot believe that this shell of a man was the Vice President of the USA, until Bush stole it , of course.But who am I to judge.
Old Joe will have to Atone for his sins one day to a Mightier Administration.
Can anyone name a politician who is MORE sleazy then Joe liarman? He is one disgusting piece of humanity. That man has no shame.
JasonS @ 20:
Yep. You're either with the Democrats or the Republicans. Even if you think voting Democratic is just a vote for the lesser of two evils, it's not the greater of two evils. Every vote thrown away is just a failed chance to stop the GOP.
Zell Lieberman is the biggest disappointment for Dems in the last decade. We can only hope he joins the GOP after the ‘08 elections.
Was this guy really the VP nominee in 2000?
Lieberman is the product of Israeli influence on the Democratic party. Having a Vice President with more allegiance to the Lobby than to the Constitution would have been a major coup for Israel. Hillary Clinton carries the same monkey on her back.
JasonS @ 20:
so tell me, will someone else's vote for hillary be a vote for "pure evil"? do you those who might end up voting for her, or more generally democratic in the hopes of incremental improvement, do they not vote their conscience? they're endorsing evil?
take a deep breathe friend...
This item misses the main point - Failing is where Holy Joe shines.
*
phlounder @ 5:
Remember his comment during the election cycle that you could not be moral if you were an atheist? I sent off a letter absolutely flaming him on this and never had any reply from them whatsoever. It was ALMOST enough to change my vote. If they had been up against anyone but bush . . . . .
*
holy joe doesnt just need to have his chairmanship stripped...he needs to be sent into the gulag
that means no seats on any committee
no power whatsoever
any time he tries to bring an amendment to the floor, block it
work on no bills with him
let the fucker change parties
he is a traitor to his country and his party
harry truman woulda kicked this man's ass
enough of this two faced asshole
Every time I read about Lieberman I think about how nutty it was for Obama to campaign for him in 2006.
Clueless.
Why? is LIE-berman head of a commitie, two pepole put LIE-berman there, H.REID and H. Clinton. Reid and H. Clint are both sock-puppets for LIE-berman. H.Clinton had a very big hand in getting him re-elected. and Read is just afrade of LIE-bermand and friends.
Lieberman is a liar.
He bilked the Connecticut voters in 06 and I am willing to bet the farm that the stupid bastards elect him again in 2012 if he runs
Thanks, Connecticut! Great freaking job!
Thanks Conneticutt voters. Thanks corporatist "Democrats" who applauded him after the elections.
I eagerly await the day that a future war crimnes tribunal features this asshole, in an orange jumpsuit and shackles, awaiting sentencing.
Hang in there guys, Jan '09 the dems will have sufficient majorities to kick this ass to the curb.
Why does the Israel lobby have so much money to give to these whores? I think it might have something to do with the billions that are given every year in the form of foriegn aid.
Connecticut deserves Liebertool.
America ought to launch an attack on Connecticut for keeping this knucklehead thorn in our political side.
he gets angru when he hears about it, so he'd rather not hear about it
any way to get rid of the bozo? any chance when there's a new congress, or are we stuck until he's booted out?
Every time I see a picture of this chickenhawk I always want to shout a "Fuck you!" to Connecticut voters.
Can't they kick him out of the Democratic Caucus? I guess they can't do the Democratic party since he's some kind of quasi independent, kinda. Or something. I thought that a Representative lost its seniority if it switched parties. I guess not, since his defection to the independents didn't do that.
In any case, they should officially disown him. He gives the Dems a majority in name only because of the way he votes, toes the NeoCon terrist organization line and spews their talking points. And, more dangerously, he gives the impression that the Dems really have a majority. And that leads to the feeling in the voters that the Dems can't get anything done even with a majority. And if his switching to a "real" other party strips him of his seniority, so much the better. He'll lose power and influence and then he'll have to hang out with the other freshmen senators (plebes).
Or, perhaps, they could censure him.
Beware the new Red Menace!
Don't say "Iraq War", say "Bush's War."
NEVER EVER say "surge". Say "Bush's Escalation."
Remember Highlights(r) for Children
Goofus always says: "Surge."
Gallant always says: "Escalation."
E Pleb Neesta
GODISNOWHERE
If HPV vaccination and sex-ed cause promiscuity, then confession causes sin.
Ummm . . . guys? Connecticut = Pratt Whitney, General Dynamics, United Technologies, Sikorsky Aircraft, Hamilton Sunstrand, Goodrich Corp., Northrop Grumman . . . OH! the list goes on and on.
Kosher or not, Lieberman's just bringing the pork back home!
And CT luuuvs him for it.
Nothing gets done because Joe is actually a lying Reslug, that happily kneels in front of Dumbya.
Yellow Elephant Safari @ 7:
Wow ya know what i never looked at it like that, he was a Bush backup. Look at him now he didn't even run under the Dem ticket and he is obviously a pro-war pro Bush senator. Jeez these Neo-Cons really do have there fingers in everything dont' they.
David Charles @ 70:
I'm from Connecticut and I have to say people in this state don't love our members of the senate or congress very much at all.... That is unless your of the the Greenwich folk makin the big bucks. (entering Greenwich from anywhere else in Ct is like visiting a foreign country
I think Lieberman is wielding his power effectively by not doing anything meaningful at all! It's not inconceivable that you would try to get re-elected so you can you protect government from Oversight investigations by the senate. I don't know how much Lieberman is connected to this administration, but certainly he's doing them great favors by not doing anything meaningful at all.
[...] job Lieberman is failing to do article from Crooks and [...]
Login or Register to post comments.