Durbin round up

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin spoke at a Veterans Day event at Camp Butler National Cemetery outside Springfield on Tuesday. Afterward, he talked to reporters. Here are a few items that didn't make my story for tomorrow's print edition:

On Sen. Joe Lieberman:
Durbin said he had mixed feelings on whether the former Connecticut Democrat who was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000 should continue to meet with Senate Democrats in Washington D.C. Lieberman was re-elected a few years ago as an independent but has remained in the Democratic circle and meets behind closed doors with Democratic colleagues. But he was a vocal supporter of Bush's agenda in Iraq and Republican John McCain's bid for the White House. That has some Democrats saying he should be kicked out of the Democratic club. As Durbin put it, Lieberman is "enjoying all the benefits ... (but) didn't show the same loyalty."
Durbin said four Democratic senators have been asked to come up with recommendations for what do to. He wouldn't name the four.

On an Obama administration:
Q: Will you have extra pull with President Obama?
Durbin: "No."

On his daughter passing away just days before he won re-election and Obama was elected president:
Durbin: "It is a reminder that politics has its limits."