Should Lieberman retain seniority as a Democratic Chair?

[kentuck]

of any committees? This is a decision that the Party will have to make. After all, he has no more power than any of the other 50 "Democratic" Senators. Either one of them can create a tie vote and send it to Cheney for the tiebreaker- if all the Republican vote straight Party line. That is highly unlikely in this new political atmosphere, in my opinion. That said, Joe Lieberman should be given an opportunity to switch back to the Party. If he does, he should enjoy the seniority of any other Democrat with time in the Senate. If he does not, he should not be in charge of any committees. Just my opinion.

[gfnrob]

1. Time to kiss and make up.

:pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals:

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Absolutely not

He ran as an independent. He won as an independent. According to news reports, he will be sworn in as an independent.

He should not be allowed to hold Democratic leadership positions and chairmanships; that rewards his treachery and besides HE IS NOT A DEMOCRAT.

[LynneSin]

3. So you're ok if the Republicans offer him a Committee Seat

in return for Lieberman supporting Trent Lott as Majority Leader.

It's a shitty concept but that's basically what we had and I am NOT giving up the Senate Judiciary committee just to appease the anti-Lieberman crowd (which I can't stand Lieberman but I'm not that radical).

Give him his committee as long as the guy is NOT on the Judiciary

[gfnrob]

6. Would your beat down be worth losing control of the senate???

[BOSSHOG]

11. Yes we must kiss his butt before the republicans get a chance

to. Throw him a bone, make him feel important, KEEP HIS VOTE, on most occasions. We can't fuck around with a 51-49 edge (and that margin assumes joe is in our camp.

[Lowell]

4. Leiberman rejected the party and its wishes

when he ran as an Independent. He was steadfastly in the Repubs corner on all measures last term. I see no reason why he should be given any special consideration this time. He must prove himself just like everyone else. He ran as an indy, he should serve as one.

[NewJeffCT]

5. he shouldn't, but he will

I heard him on local radio saying that Harry Reid called him first thing in the morning on Wednesday, congratulated him and told Lieberman he did not have to worry about his seniority.

[SoFlaJet]

13. and it's smart play

forgive and forget-welcome him back in the fold because whether we like it or not-we need him-give him a chairmanship and let us see if he does the right thing for WE the people

[NewJeffCT]

14. As a CT resident

I expect a lot of earmarks! We're always last, or next to last, in dollars per capita returned to our state.

If Lieberman is so powerful, that better frackin' change.

[Thrill]

7. Yes you can't hold a grudge against this guy

This is politics. Kiss and make up.

[gfnrob]

10. When siblings fight, they should kiss and make up.

[bowens43]

8. Yes absolutely.

We need him.

[Zodiak]

9. He shouldn't, but he will

It is a matter of political necessity and expediency. Both trump principles nowadays. I do not like it.

But if we work hard, Joe can be made irrelevent in 2008. All we need is one more seat. Let's work on targeting that seat NOW instead of later.

[LynneSin]

12. Best answer yet

One seat and we could have done that this year

But those committees are much more important - deal with him

[Zodiak]

23. The Ford race

was important if only for that reason. I wish we could have ousted Joe in front of all of America for his refusal to end the war in Iraq (amongst a whole lot of other traitorous actions), but that is an awfully tall drink to order in just one election with a newly awakened populace. We came close, and that is victory in itself.

If we can put forth popular legislation consistently over the next two years with a clear plan to put America back into the hands of the People, then we WILL make Joe irrelevent in two years. It doesn't matter if Bush vetoes all of it...the People just want to know that someone has their backs and will vote that way in 2008.

That is not such a tall drink to order.

[kentuck]

15. But, don't forget....

He was elected with 70% Republican votes and 30% Democrats... He knows which side his bread is buttered on...

[SoFlaJet]

22. and how betrayed will THEY feel

when they see all the money they wasted on a dem in the end.I think they had hoped he'd switch over to the GOP,but they don't know Joe like we know Joe.It's always about him and what HE can get,and unfortunately for them,he gets more from us.....

[Jawja]

16. Yes.

Caucus with the Dems gives Dems the Senate. He should be considered and probably get a Chairmanship.

It's a "win-win" proposition.

[lumberjack_jeff]

21. Agree. n/t

[Ferret Annica]

17. He should be stripped of his seniority an not given leadership positions

He has made his bed, let him sleep in it. This might mean suffering short term problems, but means a long term gain derived from adhering to principle and setting a good example of what happens when a candidate cares more for their own political skin then about the people she or he serves or works with.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Allowing the Repubs to pick Stevens' replacement on the court...

is not a "short-term" problem.

Kiss and make up.

[kentuck]

25. There is the assumption that every other Senator will vote Party line...

That is highly unlikely, even on SC Justices. There may be instances where one Democrat, other than Lieberman, could vote against his or her Party and throw it to Cheney, if all Repubs voted in line? This is a highly unlikely scenario, in my opinion. Every Senator has the same potential as Lieberman to put sand in the ointment.

[lumberjack_jeff]

28. If Lieberman caucuses with the Republicans, they own the committees

If they own the committees, 90% of the damage is done.

[kentuck]

29. Then the voters of CT could recall him?

:)

[Ferret Annica]

26. Smirk and Snarl are not going to get away with a conservative

ideologue with a power split in the Senate.

Kick Joe's butt and not be ready to make nice.

[grizmaster]

18. No, the seat should go to the ranking democrat.

And since Lieberman left the party he isn't entitled to a party chair.

If Lieberman wants a chair he should rejoin the party.

[kentuck]

20. There's always the option...

of offering his Chairmanship to the Republican that is willing to cross the aisle?? :)

[DaveinMD]

24. yes

we need him to caucus with us.

[madfloridian]

27. He got 70% of Republican vote...how much of the Dem vote?

"Lieberman has the support of 70 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of independents, according to an Oct. 20 Quinnipiac University survey. Republican Alan Schlesinger trailed far behind in single digits in the head-to-head matchup. Lieberman's coattails could carry the GOP incumbents to re-election and undercut Democratic hopes of majority control of the House."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2946163#2950515