Lieberman Switch Wouldn't Flip Senate

[SoFlaJet]

contact Harry Reid throw him out;

Washington, DC
528 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Toll Free for Nevadans:
1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343)

With Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) publicly stating he'd consider becoming a Republican if Democrats block new funding for the Iraq War, many Democrats worry that control of the Senate hangs in the balance. However, their fears are unfounded. Many think back to 2001 when former Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) began caucusing with Democrats instead of Republicans, taking control of the Senate out of GOP hands. However, the two situations - though outwardly similar - contain one important difference.

If Lieberman were to caucus with the Republicans, they would still not take full control of the Senate, despite Vice President Dick Cheney's ability to break 50-50 ties. This is because of a little-known Senate organizing resolution, passed in January, which gives Democrats control of the Senate and committee chairmanships until the beginning of the 111th Congress.

What's the difference between now and 2001? A small but important distinction. When the 107th Congress was convened on January 3, 2001, Al Gore was still the Vice President and would be for another two-and-a-half weeks. Therefore, because of the Senate's 50-50 tie, Democrats had nominal control of the chamber when the organizing resolution came to a vote. With Dick Cheney soon to come in, however, Democrats allowed Republicans to control the Senate in return for a provision on the organizing resolution that allowed for a reorganization of the chamber if any member should switch parties, which Jeffords did five months later. There was no such clause in the current Senate's organizing resolution.

[WCGreen]

1. Well, I'll be dipped in shit...

I didn't know that and so I have been wrong...

[SoFlaJet]

5. Yea WC

I was sure I had heard something like that-why Harry doesn't do this, and why more, no, ALL of us don't demand it here.We need to do something-Harry Reid and the democrats in the Senate are doing everything they can too try and stop the madness of this war.The GOP is on a scorched earth policy now-deny,delay and destroy any and everything the dems are attempting to do regardless if it's what is best for anyone BUT the republic party-they truly are despicable humans

[AZ Criminal JD]

6. Reid is smarter than the OP

Reid doesn't do this because he knows that if the Senate went 50-50 another organizing clause could be presented and voted on with Cheney breaking the tie. There is nothing in the Senate rules that say these clauses can't be brought up in mid-session.

[CTLawGuy]

14. changing the senate rules takes 2/3 approval

so the OP is correct.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. I wish Snowe would flip to Indy or Dem

That would make Lieberman's threats mute.

[SaveElmer]

3. Why she is a Republican...

I'll never know...

[TwilightGardener]

4. Someone posted a thread offering to trade LieberWorm for Hagel last weekend,

which I heartily endorse, but it was shut down by the mods--why? We weren't advocating a Repub/Dem trade--we were advocating a Repub/Independent trade. I don't see why that's against the rules.

[acmavm]

7. Dammit! We need to just throw the guy out, now. We've put up

with his lies, blustering, warmongering, and blackmail for too damn long.

Cut the old bastid loose!

[fooj]

8. I've written him TWO letters asking him why he continues to deceive the public on this matter.

Thanks for trying to get this info out there! I've been trying for months! Even have it posted in my journal! I want to know WHAT they have on Harry.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. self deleted

[Hippo_Tron]

10. McConnell would shut down the Senate until a new organizing resolution was passed

However that does beg the question, if the Senate is shut down, how is Bush going to get his next Iraq supplemental appropriations bill?

[SoFlaJet]

11. McConnell has essentially done it already

invoking cloture 42 times in 6 months-screw these republicans-if they wanna play hardball then hardball it should be.I'm curious to see what Harry's response to my E-mail will be...

[Hippo_Tron]

13. He's done it on high profiles items, but Congress passes lots of stuff that we never hear about...

Because there's little debate. All of that stuff will be stalled as well.

[SoFlaJet]

12. Oh yea my thanks to Benhurst

for this story