The Hollywood Liberal

Cholera waylaying Congo refugees
A cholera outbreak in a refugee camp has spread to eastern Congo’s provincial capital of Goma, as humanitarian groups called for more UN peacekeepers to protect civilians caught up in the fighting between government forces and rebel troops. Human Rights Watch said the UN security council should bolster the 17,000-strong UN force in Congo - the world’s biggest UN peacekeeping mission - by 3,000 soldiers and police.

McCain on whether Lieberman will lose his Homeland Security gavel: ‘I hope not.’
Speaking with Jay Leno last night, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his deep admiration for his friend Joe Lieberman. “I have never known a finer man than Joe Lieberman,” McCain gushed. Asked whether Lieberman’s support for McCain might cost him his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, McCain said, “I hope […]

Speaking with Jay Leno last night, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) expressed his deep admiration for his friend Joe Lieberman. “I have never known a finer man than Joe Lieberman,” McCain gushed. Asked whether Lieberman’s support for McCain might cost him his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, McCain said, “I hope not,” adding, “on national security issues, he’s really, really good.” Watch it:

While a number of Democratic Senators have expressed their hope that Lieberman will not be kicked out of the caucus, many of them are mum on whether he should retain his gavel. “We aren’t going to referee decisions about who should or should not be a committee chair,” said Stephanie Cutter, a spokeswoman for the Obama transition team.

Check out ThinkProgress’s new report, “Joe Lieberman: The Progressive Who Lost His Way.”

Officials Guiding the Process Are Named
The Obama transition team yesterday rolled out a new list of officials who will help guide the process, singling out the Treasury, Defense and State departments as its first three areas of focus.

More Than Moderation
WASHINGTON — There is a broad consensus that President-elect Obama’s broad victory should be accompanied by broadly appealing policies and broad-minded appointments. The new president should follow the broad outlines of this advice — except where he should completely ignore it. The most impressive aspect of Obama’s victory was, in fact, its breadth. He improved on John Kerry’s performance among independents, suburban voters and Catholics. He won or tied every age group except those over 65. He made gains among low-income voters and the most affluent. It was important for America’s first minority president to secure a clear majority, rather than boosting the turnout of a few groups to gain a narrow, divisive victory. Obama not only won; he won in a healing manner.