Lieberman expresses fears of Dem majority in Senate RAW STORY

Published: Tuesday November 4, 2008





Print This Email This Update at bottom: Thursday is Liebermans 'day of reckoning'



Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) expressed fears to radio host Glenn Beck of a Democratic majority in the Senate. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) expressed his optimism on Sunday for a number of Democratic Senate seats reaching near 60, but wasn't as confident about the filibuster-proof supermajority. The story was reported Tuesday by ThinkProgress.



"Senator Hatch said to me that if we don't at least have the firewall of the filibuster in the Senate, that in many ways, America will not survive," said Beck on Tuesday.



"I hope it's not like that, but I fear," the Senator said. "I think the filibuster is key...It was really put there...somebody said to me when I first came to the Senate, '[to] stop the passions of a moment' among the people of America from sweeping across the Congress, the House, through the Senate, to a like-minded president and having us do things that will change America for a long time."



Thursday is Liebermans 'day of reckoning'



Thursday will be Senator Lieberman's "day of reckoning," according to a Capitol Hill paper.



"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is scheduled to meet with Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) on Thursday to discuss his future in the Senate Democratic Conference, according to a Democratic Senate source," Tim Taylor reports for Roll Call.



Taylor notes that "a growing number of Senate Democrats have been pressuring Reid to penalize Lieberman for aggressively backing Republican Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in this years presidential contest," and that his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and his place in the Democratic Conference are both "at stake."



"It remains unclear what Reid will say in his upcoming meeting with Lieberman, but Democrats believe he is inching toward at least wresting the Homeland Security gavel from him. Lieberman, who sides with Democrats on most issues except the war in Iraq, became one of McCains most ardent allies and one of President-elect Obamas vocal critics this presidential season," the report continues.



Lieberman released a statement on Wednesday congratulating Obama.



"I sincerely congratulate President-elect Obama for his historic and impressive victory. America remains a nation of extraordinary opportunity and the American people are a people of extraordinary fairness," Lieberman wrote. "Now that the election is over, it is time to put partisan considerations aside and come together as a nation to solve the difficult challenges we face and make our blessed land stronger and safer. I pledge to work with President-elect Obama and his incoming administration in their efforts to reinvigorate our economy and keep our nation secure and free."



Full Roll Call article at this link.



The following audio is from The Glenn Beck Program, broadcast on November 4, 2008.







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