Lieberman’s position is not as strong as people think.

[Kber]

Lieberman’s position is not as strong as people think.

Let’s say he breaks his campaign promise and caucuses with the republicans. That means the house will be sending bills to the senate that will force Cheney to issue tie breaking vote after tie breaking vote. Meanwhile, the house will be investigating and exposing all kinds of corruption and sludge. This scenario practically guarantees both the Whitehouse and the senate will go democratic in 2008, in which case, Lieberman gets stripped of all political power and become a pariah for the remaining 4 years of his term, after which the CT voters will not forgive him for breaking his word and throw him out for good.

Leaving the democrats high and dry will be political suicide, and one thing you can count on with Joe is that he’s not the suicidal type.

[AndyA]

1. I was very unhappy for Ned last night. That was the one hope I held out

for: that Connecticut voters would place Ned in the Senate. It just wasn't meant to be, though. I hope all of us don't live to regret that decision.

[bemildred]

3. Ned did a great job.

He carried a lot of weight, even in losing, like a number of other candidates.
Rome was not built in a day. He deserves our thanks and our future support.

[Kber]

5. I think Ned helped change the national discussion

and deserves credit for that!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. For the next two yaers it will not matter really

we got the four seats we needed for a clear majority... yes Viriginia, when all said and done will go to us.

And with Bernie causcusing with us it will be 52...

so mathematicaly you are right, he is not as strong, for two years.

And if in 2008 he sees a dem victory all over, he will switch back to dem, or at least try...

[Kber]

4. Actually, I think we have 51 seats with Bernie and Lieberman

if Lieberman jumped ship, we'd have 50 - 50 with Cheney breaking the tie. I think Skinner posted on this earlier.

(and that assumes we won Virginia, which I think we did.)

My point was even this "worst case scenario" isn't likely given Joe's penchant for self preservation.

[TheWraith]

6. 51, not 52.

We've got 48 outright now, plus VA which is going to be ours once they issue the call, plus the two indies, Sanders and Lieberman.

[MGD]

7. He can be part ofthe wave or he can be drowned by the wave. What would you do?

[Kber]

8. Exactly!