FRANKEN SHUTS LIEBERMAN DOWN

In a recent heated exchange, Sen. Lieberman was in the middle of remarks on the Senate floor, but was interrupted by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), who was the presiding chair on that day.  Sen. Franken reminded Sen. Lieberman that he had already been speaking for 10 minutes and should wrap up his remarks immediately.  Sen. Lieberman used a well known Senate rule to request “unanimous consent” for one minute more to make additional remarks, which is traditionally granted under most circumstances.  But Sen. Lieberman was visibly caught off guard when the presiding Sen. Franken boldly told him NO! He objects to Lieberman saying another word, thereby ending remarks immediately.

Sen. Lieberman tried to recover verbally, but looked as stunned as if Mike Tyson himself had just entered the Senate and knocked him down for the count.  Lieberman’s Senate “boyfriend,” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) immediately came to Lieberman’s defense, saying in all his years in the Senate he’d never ever seen a sitting Senator denied one measly extra minute to finish remarks.  But, it appears McCain is suffering from a bad case of “selective memory.”  Back on October 10, 2002, the Senate rushed a debate on a war authorization giving President Bush the power to use force against Iraq. During the frenzied floor debate, then-Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN) spoke in favor of an amendment that would have restricted Bush’s constitutional powers to wage war against Iraq. After a minute and a half, Dayton ran out of time.  So he asked for an additional minute to complete his remarks.  “I OBJECT” said Sen. McCain, thereby shutting down Dayton and his remaining remarks immediately.

So, not only was this a golden opportunity for Dems to launch their first “we’re out to get you” strike at Lieberman for back-peddling on his support of health care reform, but also a chance for the new Senator from Minnesota to avenge the former Senator Dayton from Minnesota, in a heated moment with John McCain.  Looks like things are about to get very interesting on Capitol Hill in 2010!