Thank you. Thank you.
Just one thing to add-- it is not "normal Muslims v. extremists." It is faithful, religious Muslims against the distorters of the faith. Just like in Christianity it is the truly faithful (like the Rev. MLK, Jr.) against the prophets of hate and greed you see on TV pretending to be religious.

You can also make a good argument that he did a poor job of chairing the committee the last two years.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see him booted. But...

If the Dems had 60 seats in their pocket, they would and could wipe the floor with Lieberman. But they don't. And for all his serious flaws, his vote is worth preserving on a number of other issues. If the price for that is his chairmanship, so be it. Obama is trying to send a message of reconciliation and unity, what better place to show it than in his own "house."

It seems clear that Obama wants Lieberman to remain in the Democratic caucus.

A couple of days ago, I wrote that Obama should show him the door, and would.

I was wrong. Additionally, on reflection, I agree with Obama's call. You can't begin "new politics" by taking revenge, no matter how sweet.

Did you read the post? This isn't about taking revenge or score settling. It's about having someone who can't do his job because he's blinded by prejudice.

Hear. Hear.

He scares the crap out of me. More and more all the time. Revenge is about the past, but this is about the future. Get him out and clear the way for someone with a level head on his shoulders.

These facts are so compelling, there should be no debate. Strip him of the chairmanship now.

Lieberman as a weasely little man who I'd just as soon never hear from again. Still, he differs with Dems on foreign policy and security issues, not on social et al issues. If a chairmanship is what it takes to keep him caucasing with the Dems, fine, let him have a committee--just not Homeland Security. Give him something to do with Education or HUD or whatever. He doesn't support the Dems on security issues, campaigns against them, so giving him authority is such matters is just counter-productive, no?

As a supporter of Senator Lieberman I am offended by the threats from Senator Harry Reid and many of his Democratic colleagues to strip Senator Lieberman of his Chairmanships simply because he chose his friendship with John McCain over party politics. In repose to these threats, I have set up the a blog, Let Joe Stay (http://letjoestay.blogspot.com/) with the hope of mobilizing like minded people to contact their Senators as well as Senator Reid and inform them not to put their pettiness ahead of what’s right. Senator Lieberman is the best man for these Chairmanships and to remove him would be foolish. If this is truly the time for hope and change, then Sen. Reid should forgive and forget and allow Joseph Lieberman to keep his Chairmanship.

If America is going to survive we need to elect CONSERVATIVES and rid ourselves of the Communist, Socialist, Marxists, Progressive, Radical Islamic, Liberal, RINO, & Democrat Party.

An awful lot of people don't seem to get the point, which Obama is smart enough to see: The gain in righteousness by booting Lieberman isn't worth it in the added risk of not getting enough votes to override filibusters on what are likely to be mostly "social et al issues". It's not so much the moral importance of not taking revenge as it is in assessing what it will take to get the job done. Obama is displaying self-control again. Sure, it would be better if Lieberman could be persuaded to take chairmanship of some other kind of committee; but I'd be willing to accept as blackmail the status quo if that's what it takes to increase the odds of getting a decent healthcare reform through, for example. Could Lieberman do enough substantive damage in his current chair to outweigh the improved odds on domestic issues?

Obama would probably use more diplomatic language than "blackmail" -- let's think back to how FDR or Lincoln would have handled such a problem.

Adam is incorrect to assume that people who are concerned about radical Islam are racist. Bruce Bawer (author of "While Europe Slept") writes factually about the threats to freedom of speech from fundamentalism (christian or muslim).
When a religious organization becomes so loud they preclude a nations freedom of speech we are all at risk.
Adeam would do well to educate himself on what is happening in Europe.

If Lieberman thinks radical Islam is destroying us from within then good for him for speaking out. Check this out:

Muslim free speech protection call
bbc

Governments across Europe must do more to protect people of Muslim backgrounds who face threats and attacks from militants for exercising their right to free speech, a report said.
The report from the UK-based Centre for Social Cohesion thinktank highlighted the case of 27 politicians, authors, journalists, activists and artists across the continent who had been targeted with violence and intimidation because of their comments about Islam and cultural practices associated with the religion.
And it warned that official failure to offer victims the protection they needed had left "significant numbers" of Europe's ethnic minority citizens unable peacefully to express themselves and created the impression that more Muslims were opposed to open debate and free speech than was actually the case.
It is the duty of European governments to protect the freedom of speech of all citizens, regardless of race or religion, and to pursue and prosecute those who try to use threats to silence them, the report, entitled Victims of Intimidation, said.
"Through doing so, European governments will be able to promote greater religious and social harmony by demonstrating that they see Muslims and those of Muslim background as full and complete citizens, neither restricted in their freedoms nor unduly permitted to issue threats against others," the report concluded.
Among the cases highlighted were those of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, who lived in hiding from death threats for a decade and Maryam Namazie, who received threats to her life after setting up the Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain and denouncing the veil.
The report also discussed the case of pop singer Deepika "Deeyah" Thathaal, who says she has been threatened, spat at and attacked with pepper spray for videos which show her dancing suggestively with a man and taking off a burqa to reveal a bikini underneath.
Douglas Murray, director of the Centre for Social Cohesion and author of the report, said: "The inalienable right to freedom of speech and expression has come under threat by Muslim extremists. Fellow Muslims are finding it increasingly difficult to criticise elements of their faith or culture without fear of significant reprisal.
"In a free society, no belief or set of values should remain beyond open criticism. To grant a belief system amnesty from discussion concedes that intimidation and violence can succeed.
"Unless Muslims are allowed to discuss their religion without fear of attack there can be no chance of reform or genuine freedom of conscience within Islam."

"Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer."

"If America is going to survive we need to elect CONSERVATIVES and rid ourselves of the Communist, Socialist, Marxists, Progressive, Radical Islamic, Liberal, RINO, & Democrat Party.

Posted by: TopAssistant | November 11, 2008 1:29 PM"

There are a lot of conservatives leaving the republican party due to the religious right.

Keyes' veep choice, Wiley S. Drake, asked his followers to "pray for the deaths" of those who turned him into the IRS? A very christian thing to do.

Dole created ads calling her opponent "godless".

These tactics are backfiring today. As long as religion is this entwined in politics, they will lose.