So Joe Lieberman is no longer a Democrat???

[ShaneGR]

If he's filed as an independent and formed his own political party "CT for Lieberman" or whatever it is called, he's no longer a Dem right? And if he's no longer a Dem isn't it in the Democrats power to strip him of all his committee seats? What reason would the Dem leadership have for keeping Lieberman on those seats? He's no longer a Dem, he's called the Dem voters who ousted him in his primary "extremists". So, take his power away?

[TomInTib]

1. Darn good point.

You should email some talking heads on this one.

[longship]

You are right

Contact Harry Reid and tell him to use the committee assignments as leverage to convince Joe to back down and withdraw.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. That's right

if Lieberman hasn't officially resigned from the party, then he should be forced to. Those committee assignments are too important to waste on a spoiler.

[AndyA]

2. Honestly, I question whether Lieberman has been a Democrat for a long

time. Actions speak louder than words, and Joe's actions more often than not scream Republican.

[hippiechick]

3. Well his filing as an Indie shows he doesn't give a rat's ass ...

... about his Dem constituents or the Dem 'platform' .... its now plainly and clearly all about him staying in whatever seat of power he's been enjoying.

[LostinVA]

4. I agree -- he should be stripped of Dem power

There's no such thing as an "Independent Democrat."

[Bumblebee]

5. Jeffords, even though he caucuses with Dems, has no committee

assignments -- so why should Lieberman?

[Skinner]

6. It's a little more complicated than that.

Technically, I believe he is still a Democrat, and he continues to caucus with Democrats in the Senate.

But he is working against the Democratic party in the CT election, so I think Democrats in the Senate would be more than justified in stripping him of his committee assignments.

This situation is something of a conundrum for the Senate Democratic leadership, since Lieberman has said he would caucus with Democrats in the Senate if he wins the general election. They are kinda obligated to support Lamont, but they might be reluctant to push Lieberman too hard in the fear that he might caucus with Republicans if he wins the election.

My prediction: The Senate Dem leadership is going to lay low for a couple weeks and see what happens before they do anything decisive.

[Little Star]

13. Can he even be registered Dem and run as Indy?

[Little Star]

15. I'll take an answer form any one. I'm really curious.

[RB TexLa]

18. Yes he can.

Whatever party he creates can chose their own rules for nominating a candidate. Of course the "party" is just to move his name up instead of being listed in the middle of any other independent candidates.

[tridim]

7. He should also be stripped of his (D - CT) label right away

Since he's no longer a Democrat.

[Protagoras]

9. If Rove changed his registration to Democratic

then wanted to walk into our meetings we would not accept that would we? Joe has shown the same colors now and should be treated accordingly.

This is the chance for Harry to show actual DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP...he and Dean should come out together and punt Lieberman to the curb.

[Journeyman]

10. If Lieberman will caucus with the Democrats as an independent. . .

it would be foolish of the Democrats to antagonize him at this juncture. They needn't and shouldn't support his independent run, but with such a short time left before the election and so much riding on a possible shift in power in either House, to push him further from the party than he's already placed himself would not serve the interests of Democrats or the continuing effort to reign in BushCo.

If Lieberman were to win -- and in politics, everything is possible -- and the balance of power revolved on who he caucused with, it would be excruciatingly painful to see him toss in with the Republicans and keep the Senate tilted to the Administration. So long as there's a possibility we can take control of the Senate, we can't afford to needlessly antagonize any potential ally. To win control outright, with the undiluted support of elected Democratic candidates, is obviously the best possible outcome. But the objective must always remain the attainment of control, and if it's necessary to "climb in bed" with a skanky soul to acquire that, then that's what we will have to do.

Politics. It's the art of the possible.

[NNN0LHI]

11. He left the Democratic party on his own free will

These seats should be reassigned to a Democrat right now.

Joe wants to go his own way that is fine. Let him go.

It is a slap in the face to any real Democrat who has been loyal to the party and who is more deserving of these seats to do otherwise.

Don

[OnionPatch]

12. I heard him this morning

and he said he was going to run as an "independent Democrat." So I guess he still thinks he's a Democrat.

[Sgent]

14. Committee seats are not based on party -- and never have been

they are based on who the Senator chooses to caucus.

Bernie Sanders and Jeffords are not Democrats -- but still get committee assignments because they caucus with the Democrats.

[SoCalDem]

16. He called himself an independent democrat..

:shrug:

also known as LOSER:)

[RB TexLa]

17. He is still registered as a Democrat, so yes he is a Democrat.

Whatever party name is created is created to gain ballot line access, a party without a primary can chose it's rules for selecting a candidate they do not have to require that the candidate be a member of their party. Just look to New York where the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party often have Democrats or Republicans as their nominees.

I guess if Joe wanted to he could create 6 or 5 "parties" with him as the nominee.

[mikelgb]

19. he is a Connecticut for Lieberman

[DarkTirade]

20. Was he ever?

[Raine]

21. at least

he hasn't officially joined into the repig party. x(