Was the Lieberman angle:
As expected, Senate Republicans stopped the resolution expressing no confidence in Alberto Gonzales. The vote was 53-38, meaning Democrats could not cut off debate and move toward a vote on the resolution. Republican Sens. Collins, Coleman, Hagel, Specter, Smith, and Sununu voted with Democrats. Perhaps more interesting is the fact that Joseph Lieberman voted with Republicans, which might be interpreted as a further move toward the GOP. It's one thing to stick with the president on Iraq and advocate a tough policy toward Iran, but siding with most Republicans on Gonzales? Interesting.
First off, if 6 GOPers voted with the Democrats (and gained themselves some cheap anti-Bush bona-fides for their re-election battles), that means that only 47 of the 50 Democrats (one is still in hospital) voted for it. Figuring that Obama and Clinton are absent - what was Reid thinking? There was no chance he was going to get cloture. So, we are left with this - yet another sop to the kook left. If you lefties buy this sort of nonsense and stick with the Democrats in 2008, then I'll lose that last shred of respect I have for you.
Secondly, and more importantly, as noted in the quote, Lieberman is joining the GOP in something other than Iraq. This was an easy opportunity for Lieberman to burnish his liberal-Democrat credentials, and he eschewed it - on principle, it would seem. Could be that we're much closer to a GOP Senate majority than we've expected - and Lieberman wouldn't even have to go GOP, he'd just have to opt to caucus with the GOP on organizational matters, and the GOP would have 50 votes and VP Cheney to break the tie.
We're also a lot closer to Secretary of State Lieberman in a putative GOP White House in 2009.
Posted by Mark Noonan at June 12, 2007 02:51 AM
Track
del.icio.us
digg it
IM
Facebook
Comments
Please, you clearly have no respect for anyone who disagrees with you. Who are you trying to kid?
Posted by: pm at June 12, 2007 08:58 AM
If you lefties buy this sort of nonsense and stick with the Democrats in 2008, then I'll lose that last shred of respect I have for you.
Typical concern troll nonsense.
You think anyone to the left of Joe Lieberman is a borderline traitor. Democrats just fine in 2006 not listening to the advice of people who wish them ill, and I hope they will continue to do so through 2008.
With that said, this vote was a few weeks too late.
Posted by: Jeremy Wilcox at June 12, 2007 09:12 AM
While us "lefties" may be upset at the Democrats, we shall never move to the GOP.
You see it's just a simple matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, or more accurately the choice between a national party (the Dems) with problems and a party set on destroying America and ruining the Federal Government.
I'll stay with the Dems, because I do in general think America is a great nation despite what the current leaders do in its name.
Posted by: LiberalMind at June 12, 2007 02:08 PM
....what was Reid thinking?
Reid thinks?
If you lefties buy this sort of nonsense and stick with the Democrats in 2008, then I'll lose that last shred of respect I have for you.
Still holding on to the tiny shred, are you Mark?
I used that as one of my squares after watching Rosie the other day.
Lieberman is joining the GOP in something other than Iraq.
Good on ya Joe!
Posted by: neocon at June 12, 2007 05:43 PM
Order Matt and Mark's book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
Please, you clearly have no respect for anyone who disagrees with you. Who are you trying to kid?
If you lefties buy this sort of nonsense and stick with the Democrats in 2008, then I'll lose that last shred of respect I have for you.
Typical concern troll nonsense.
You think anyone to the left of Joe Lieberman is a borderline traitor. Democrats just fine in 2006 not listening to the advice of people who wish them ill, and I hope they will continue to do so through 2008.
With that said, this vote was a few weeks too late.
While us "lefties" may be upset at the Democrats, we shall never move to the GOP.
You see it's just a simple matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, or more accurately the choice between a national party (the Dems) with problems and a party set on destroying America and ruining the Federal Government.
I'll stay with the Dems, because I do in general think America is a great nation despite what the current leaders do in its name.
....what was Reid thinking?
Reid thinks?
If you lefties buy this sort of nonsense and stick with the Democrats in 2008, then I'll lose that last shred of respect I have for you.
Still holding on to the tiny shred, are you Mark?
I used that as one of my squares after watching Rosie the other day.
Lieberman is joining the GOP in something other than Iraq.
Good on ya Joe!