Joe Lieberman

Bygones be Bygones

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:27:22 -0500

"I think the worst thing to do would have been to kick somebody out of the caucus on the first day of business."

— Democratic Sen.-elect Kay Hagan, on her vote to allow Sen. Joe Lieberman to keep his committee chairmanship despite supporting Republican John McCain. Quoted on Nov. 20, 2008.

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Hagan casts her first vote

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:17:50 -0500

Sen.-elect Kay Hagan has already cast her first vote.

Although the incoming freshman senator has not yet been sworn in, she was allowed to vote as part of the Senate Democratic caucus Tuesday.

The question: Should Sen. Joe Lieberman be allowed to remain chairman of the Homeland Security committee?

Some had argued that the Connecticut independent should be stripped of his chairmanship for making disparaging comments about President-elect Barack Obama and supporting Sen. John McCain. But Hagan said he should keep the post.

"We've gone through a rancorous campaign not only in North Carolina but across the country," she told Dome. "I am not here to divide people and parties, and I want to work across party lines. I think the worst thing to do would have been to kick somebody out of the caucus on the first day of business."

The caucus decided in a secret 42-13 vote to keep Lieberman in place but issue a statement condemning his remarks.

Hagan would not share any details about the discussion, which was held behind closed doors, but she did say it was "the most fascinating caucus" she's ever attended.

No welcome mat for former VP candidates

bkrueger — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:27:59 -0400

Which former Democratic vice presidential candidate - John Edwards or Joe Lieberman - would be less welcome at the Democratic National Convention?

That was the question that The New York Times put to several convention delegates. Their completely unscientific conclusion?

Lieberman, who is campaigning for Republican presidential nominee John McCain, is the bigger pariah.

"Edwards was only unfaithful to his wife. Lieberman was unfaithful to an entire party,” Massachusetts delegate Phil Johnston told the Times.

Dole's Democratic cosponsors '03-'08

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:55:08 -0400

How bipartisan has U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole been?

From 2003 to 2008, the Salisbury Republican was the primary sponsor of 140 bills. Of them, 80 had no cosponsors, 27 had only Republican cosponsors and 33 had Democratic cosponsors.

Overall, her 264 cosponsors included 164 Republicans and 100 Democrats, or about three-to-two ratio. A bill to give British Prime Minister Tony Blair the Congressional Medal of Honor was the most bipartisan measure, with 30 Democratic cosponsors.

Another bipartisan bill would have phased out reduced-price lunches at public schools by increasing eligibility for free lunches. Six Republican and eight Democrats signed on.

The most frequent Democratic cosponsor was Sen. Barbara Mikulski, who signed on to seven bills, including ones to investigate Camp Lejeune's drinking water and recognize the Lumbee tribe as well as several amendments to bills.

Sen. Joe Lieberman signed onto six bills, including ones to set aside a portion of the gross domestic product for defense spending and provide job training in college. Sens. Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin, Richard Durbin, Frank Lautenberg and Bill Nelson each signed onto five bills.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards signed onto four Dole bills, including recognizing the Lumbees and honoring Blair.

Previously: Dole's cosponsors in 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08.

Dole's Democratic cosponsors in '03-'04

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:45:44 -0400

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole was fairly bipartisan in the 2003-04 session.

With the candidates for Senate touting their records of bipartisanship, Dome has been taking a closer look at the number of Democrats who signed on to legislation Dole sponsored.

In the 2003-04 session, the Salisbury Republican was the primary sponsor of 16 bills. Of them, eight had no cosponsors and eight had Democratic cosponsors.

A bill to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to British Prime Minister Tony Blair had 48 Republican cosponsors and 30 Democrats, including Sens. Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, Joe Lieberman and Chuck Schumer.

Overall, that boosted her Democratic cosponsors to 48, compared to 66 Republican cosponsors, or about a three-to-two ratio.

Her most frequent Democratic cosponsor was fellow North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who signed on to the Blair honors, a bill to recognize the Lumbee tribe, an amendment on a Medicare bill and another amendment.

Previously: Dole's cosponsors in 2005-06 and 2007-08.

Claire McCaskill

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:14:57 -0400

Claire McCaskill

The Democratic senator from Missouri talks about why she's endorsed Kay Hagan and Barack Obama, what it's like to be one of 16 female senators and what she thinks of Sen. Joe Lieberman's support for John McCain.

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Dole an unlikely backer of climate bill

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:40:33 -0400

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole decided a year ago that climate change was real.

As the U.S. Senate casts a historic vote on the first comprehensive bill aimed at global warming, the Salisbury Republican is an unusual supporter.

"I think it's very important that we move on this, because the costs of inaction are just too great," Dole said in an interview Thursday. "The data became more and more voluminous."

She was further persuaded by two Senate buddies — Independent Joe Lieberman and Republican John Warner — who talked to her about the impact of climate change on national security.

The bill will allow companies to "buy" credits in exchange for emitting carbon. Political analysts say that Dole's support for the bill, which is expected to fail, had "national ramifications."

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr opposes the bill, saying it would hurt the Southeast because of its effects on coal-powered plants. (N&O)

Club for Growth targets Dole

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:26:44 -0400

The Club for Growth is targeting U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

The free-market group is spending $250,000 on radio and television spots against Dole and five other senators over a bill that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Congress is at it again. This time, they're pushing massive new taxes and regulations in the name of global warming," says the narrator of the ad over dramatic music.

The ad then cites a study commission by the National Association of Manufacturers which found that the state could lose 146,000 jobs per year and see a 135 percent increase in electricity prices

Dole, who is running for re-election this year, is a co-sponsor of the measure sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, and Sen. John Warner, a Virginia Republican.

"Call Sen. Elizabeth Dole today," the narrator says. "Tell her to vote no on the Lieberman-Warner climate bill. North Carolinians just can't afford another huge costly government program."

Update: Dole was one of the original co sponsors of the legislation that would rely on a "cap and trade" program to give American companies a financial incentive to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, Rob Christensen reports.

Dole has also been subject to an automated telephone calling campaign by a group financed by coal companies according to Elizabeth Ouzts of Environment North Carolina.

She said environmentalists thnink the Lieberman-Warner bill does not go far enough and provides too many financial incentives to companies.

A transcript after the jump.

Ad on Dole

Bucha to introduce Obama

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:11:37 -0400

FAYETTEVILLE—Paul William Bucha will introduce Barack Obama.

The Vietnam veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor winner told Dome he would give a short introductory speech at today's event.

"If I don't change my mind," he joked.

Bucha has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq war. In 2004, he was on the board of advisors for Operation Truth, a 501(c)4 group that criticized President George W. Bush's handling of the war.

He also spoke out about attacks on 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, particularly his Purple Heart.

In 2006, he introduced anti-war Democrat Ned Lamont at an event in his home state of Connecticut. (Lamont won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Sen. Joe Lieberman, who re-registered as an independent.)

Perhaps it's not surprising that Bucha is not on the Clinton team.

In 1992, he was one of a group of veterans who raised questions about Bill Clinton's avoidance of service in the Vietnam war.

How Edwards did last time in N.H.

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:21:43 -0500

John Edwards came in fourth in New Hampshire last time around.

During the 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry bounced back after being behind in the polls based on his first-place win in Iowa.

He won New Hampshire with 39 percent of the vote, followed by Howard Dean at 26 percent. Wesley Clark came in with 13 percent, and Edwards close behind at 12 percent, trailed by Joe Lieberman at 9 percent.

Edwards was hurt that time around by the fact that Kerry, Dean and Lieberman are from New England and had good name recognition.

History may repeat itself tonight. Coming off a strong Iowa win, Barack Obama is ahead in the New Hampshire polls, followed by Hillary Clinton. Right now, Edwards is in third.