Senate Democrats slap Lieberman’s wrist

Senate Democrats voted today to remove Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., from the Environment and Public Works Committee, costing him the chairmanship of a subcommittee.

The Senate Democratic Caucus could hardly have given the disloyal, selfish Lieberman a lighter penalty for having repeatedly voted against his party on Iraq, echoing Republican demagoguery about not supporting the troops as he did so.

Nor could Lieberman’s colleagues have been more benign about Lieberman’s having actively campaigned for Sen. John McCain, denigrating Sen. Barack Obama in the process.

We’d like to know if Senate Democrats gave a moment’s consideration to what their lame comeuppance says to Connecticut Democrats, who voted decisively two years ago to replace Lieberman with Ned Lamont.

Lieberman said to hell with Connecticut Democrats by switching his party label to suit his own interest in remaining in office. Today, Senate Democrats thumbed their collective nose at Connecticut Democrats by caving in to Lieberman, in effect endorsing his selfishness.

At least there were no reports of hearing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” from outside the old Senate chamber where Democrats met.

Senate Republicans also met privately today, taking no action on Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska. So, he will get to head up the convicted-felon wing of their caucus.

The donkey, an animal that kicks hard, has long been Democrats’ mascot symbol. Senate Democrats ought to modify their donkey so it’s wearing a sign that says, “Kick me.”

There’s more about the Lieberman situation in our previous post.