Election 2008

“President-elect Obama looks forward to working with anyone to move the country forward. We’d be happy to have Sen. Lieberman caucus with the Democrats. We don’t hold any grudges.”

— Stephanie Cutter, spokesperson for President-elect Obama, indicating that the new president isn’t interested in petty disputes or holding political grudges. I think the Democrats should do whatever they want and don’t care whether they keep him or let him go. I just don’t think they should put up with any of his recent “threats”. Clearly, Obama can rise above it, but Lieberman can’t. Clearly if Mr. Obama is holding this position the Democrats aren’t likely to take away Lieberman’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee.

“Yeah, and the only one who was calm was Obama. And he said, ‘You know what? I’m gonna make a speech about race and talk about Jeremiah Wright and the perspective of the larger issue. And either people will accept it or I won’t be president of the United States. But at least I’ll have said what I think needs to be said.’”

— David Axelrod on President-Elect Barack Obama’s response to the Jeremiah Wright flap during the primary. According to Robert Gibbs there was no discussion, he just did it.

“Although committed to their philosophy, they are incredibly pragmatic. They have lived through an experience in the minority. And they know how they got to be in the minority. And they know one very important political principle. They know that if President-elect Obama succeeds, all of us succeed. And if he doesn’t succeed, his failures won’t be limited to him.”

— Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s Chief of Staff, in an interview before he accepted his latest position. Obama isn’t going to be rolled by folks like Barney Frank. That’s just right-wing scary talking points.

“My hat’s off to the leadership of the Obama campaign in the 2nd District. It was well-fought. By and large, in the 2nd District, it was a clean campaign. We stayed away from the extreme rhetoric.”

— Hal Daub, Nebraska State Director for McCain’s campaign, congratulating the Obama campaign for winning the one electoral vote in Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district. The 2nd CD is centered on Omaha Nebraska. Nebraska, along with Maine, are the only two states to split their electoral votes. It’s the first time Nebraska has awarded a split decision and the first time any part of Nebraska went for a Democrat since 1964.

“Senator Lieberman’s preference is to stay in the caucus, but he’s going to keep all his options open. [Sen. Mitch] McConnell has reached out to him and at this stage his position is he wants to remain in the caucus but losing the chairmanship is unacceptable.”

— An aide to Sen. Joe Lieberman on what happens if Harry Reid strips Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee. Fuck him! Let him go. What’s he gonna do, vote against his own views? He already supports the Republicans on national security issues and Democrats on social/domestic issues. If he becomes a Republican is he suddenly going to start voting differently? I see no reason to let him keep his chairmanship, if he wants to caucus, let him. I’d be surprised if he won another term from CT voters.