Comments on: It’s Official.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:53:35 +0000

Petty and narcissistic is what the Village is all about, Eli. That’s why Joe is so well loved.

I agree that the central issue is his performance. His decision to go balls to the wall for a campaign clearly destined to lose was just as astute as his oversight of DHS. The fact that he was disloyal to a man who helped him stay in the Senate is a clear sign that he’ll betray the Democrats as soon as its convenient.

By: Eli

Eli — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:05:15 +0000

As I understand it, the way the organizing resolutions that set the rules for each Congress usually are, it’s really really difficult to remove a committee chair. So unless they write the organizing resolution specifically to allow for this (which I would be very interested in knowing about), there will be zero accountability for Joe until 2011 at the earliest.

By: david

david — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:42:16 +0000

Eli, that’s a brilliant thought. Let’s hope you’re on the mark. That would in fact be a really clever move. Can’t they remove him later if he misbehaves? Or if they’re not getting to the filibuster-proof 60 anyway?

By: Eli

Eli — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:33:44 +0000

Yeah, I love that. *Everybody* loves Joe, despite the fact that he’s one of the most petty, narcissistic, unlikeable politicians this side of Dubya himself.

And unfortunately, his seat isn’t up until 2010, unless Obama can entice him into a nice out-of-the-way cabinet post or ambassadorship where he can’t do any harm.

By: Donna

Donna — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:31:21 +0000

The fact that the vote wasn’t even close is what throws me for a loop. He should have lost that committee and been offered one where he can do little harm and not get in the way of the Obama administration.

Well, his senate seat is up for election in 2010. I hope the people of Connecticut will do what the weasley congress won’t, throw the bastard out, and elect a real Democrat.

By: Eli

Eli — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:19:40 +0000

It doesn’t really have an effect on how many votes they have – Joe was going to vote with the Republicans whether he kept his gavel or not. The problem is that Joe is still in charge of an important oversight committee where he can continue to let the Bush administration’s handling of Katrina slide, and possibly even start witch hunt investigations of the Obama administration.

Unless the Democrats specifically structured the organizing resolution of the new Congress to make it easy to remove him from his chair, any promises they extracted from him in exchange for his gavel are less than worthless.

By: bluespapa

bluespapa — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:13:47 +0000

I agree with all of your assessments. But what the Democrats do have right now is 55 seats in the Senate. Very likely 56.

And Sleazy Joe in their pocket — at last for now.