Bayh may well have a point, that a happy Lieberman is less troublesome. That said, I don't think the Democrats really owe him much of anything. People occasionally cross party lines to campaign for the other side. That happens. But what seems to get lost in all the conversations is that Lieberman lost the Democratic primary and ran against a Democratic nominee. Still, he expects a chairmanship. Amazing.

I'd love to see Rachel interview Joe Lieberman, but I don't see how an apology would make anything better. It would just make him seem weaker.

Why would the Democrats expect Joe to apologize or change his stripes? He's been exercising his free will to be the kind of politician he wants to be. He's been doing what he wants. That's what he should do. Why should he act like he wasn't?

So what if he gets embittered if he gets ousted from his job? So what if a Republican gets his job. The country needs to move forward, and I really don't think the way forward is to be fearful of Republicans or to feel sorry for Joe Lieberman.

Barack Obama immediately comes out to defend a politician who put ideology and friendship before his country. He did this as proof that he plans to heal the divides caused by the past eight years. Few have been as divisive as Senator Lieberman.

I just am having a hard time getting over the fact that I just helped elect a mature adult to lead our country. Someone who truly knows the meaning of country first.

That all said. Does anyone think Lieberman will resign? Does anyone think he'll commit political suicide by caucusing with the Republicans. The guy will do whatever Reid tells him to do, and he'll be happy with it.

As much as I agree with Obama that we can not be vindictive, I also agree with him that the best people need to be in the best position. Given how adamantly Joe disagrees with Obama, why on earth would he want him in charge of Homeland Security. It's a delicate balancing act. Interesting to watch, interested to see how it plays out.

What? They're going to say "he's tough, sticks to his principles" and other bullshit, let him stay and do what he wants? I think he owes an apology before a deal can even be talked about, otherwise the apology is meaningless.

--Ron

I love Rachel Maddow ... so refreshingly cerebral and acerbic and cutting and funny. Joe is creepy and smarmy but better to have him closer (Godfather alert) Raum Emanuel as conciliere can give him an offer he can't refuse later. I would love to be at a meeting of those two.

If keeping Joe for awhile seems pragmatic, we shouldn't be surprised .. he can take the blame in the short term for lack of oversight over Homeland Security if anything happens ... as a pseudo republican foreign policy expert and Barak gets cut some slack for being more Mandella and Tutu to whiney faux moralists

The voters gave the Dems the White house and the Senate and congress but we couldn't give them a spine. As long as there is a single Republican in power the Dems will quake in their shoes. Just think what the Republicans would be doing to one of theirs who behaved as Lieberman has done.

And this is exactly why Democrats are spineless.

They would rather have a back-stabbing, untrustworthy, turn-coat who might potentially give them a vote down the road, than have a set of principals or expect others to live up to their own principals in the senate.

This is exactly the reason why Bush crimes will not get investigated. Because at the end of the day, an investigation will end up highlighting Democrat's own bad judgment and they fear what might happen in the future should an investigation occur.

Thus, they will let sleeping dog lay.

And the only way to stop this type of behavior is to reform the election process or as I call it, the selection process for choosing our governing officials.

http://voxvocisrespublica.blogspot.com/

Read my blog. Contact your Governor. Demand Constitutional reform.

Obama wants to lead "all the people," and he's willing to compromise his principles. I can see where he's coming from and sense what he wants to accomplish, but is sure is difficult for me to swallow.

I agree with Maddow and disagree with Bayh. But I think Bayh is echoing what Obama wants to do. But Lieberman does what he wants to do and will gladly screw the democrats. I think Bayh and Obama are making too much of the need for Lieberman's vote on key issues. I say screw him because he is not a democrat. He looks like a republican and quacks like a republican and waddles like a republican. He is devious and speaks with a "forked tongue."

The next thing that bothers me is the whole issue of war crimes. I sense that Obama is not going to punish the war criminals and that is hugely depressing. Maybe investigate them, but they'll walk, with Bush's blanket pardon. That's so unfair!

My first disappointment was FISA and then he tolerated the slime the repubs threw at him and even understood their reasons for their gutter-spewing crap.

I tell myself that he is a very smart guy and knows the hand he is playing but it is very difficult to accept.

It's repulsive that no one is going to pay for the massive incompetence and greed and cruelty that has occurred over the last eight years.

This is nonsense. A man who looks, sounds, and acts like a Republican gets to not only keep his chair but actually gets promoted in a Democratic administration he personally campaigned against because- even after obtaining a comfortable majority- the Democrats are so insecure that they will allow him to continue undercutting them even for the promise of a vote or two in the future on meaningless issues?

What is the point of even HAVING a majority if you cannot muster the willpower to diminish the standing of your politicall opponents? When did our worst political opponents become politically indespensible to US?!