Not to gross anyone out, but think of how powerful Joe Lieberman could be tomorrow?

[Brotherjohn]

If Dems win 50 seats, 'Pubs hold 49, and Joe-mentum is a wildcard as an Independent.

He could pull a "reverse-Jeffords" and take Senate rule away from the Dems (split Senate). I don't think he'd be THAT vindictive, but ya never know.

Or if Dems win 49 and 'Pubs hold 50, he could pull a Jeffords to take Senate control away from Republicans. I can't see him doing this, though. Rocking the boat for his masters too much.

Then, I notice some polling web pages (notably http://www.electoral-vote.com:2006/) that are predicting Dems to gain control seem to be counting Lieberman as a Dem, which of course he no longer is. Does he retain his Dem status even though he's running as an independent?

[cwydro]

1. oh wow

not a good thing IMHO.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. There is no such official thing as "Dem status" in the Senate.

At least not in the way you mention. Lieberman, and anyone else, can vote to caucus with whomever they so desire. It does not matter which party he ran as part of during his election process. That is not binding in any way.

[Brotherjohn]

9. So, as far as who gets majority control of the Senate, they hash that out...

... after the election (when new members are sworn in)?

Is that right?

But even so, if it doesn't matter what party you're formally in (or ran as), isn't it still much more likely that Joe could go either way after being snubbed by Democratic voters and winning as an independent? I mean, it's true that anyone theoretically holds that power in a close Senate. But really, how many sitting Dems or Repubs who ran as such are going to switch?

But with Joe in the position he's in, doesn't he present a real possibility of tipping control either way?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. That is correct on all counts.

He definitely holds that power, and as an Independent, he is pretty much free to do whatever he wants (with respect not pissing off the people that voted for him because he changed party affiliation). This was the nightmare scenario pragmatists were told to shut the fuck up over when we warned people during the primary.

[Brotherjohn]

24. So you're saying some said (like you) that Dems should have elected...

... Lieberman to allow them to gain Senate control? (and while I'm sure this has been hashed out here ad infinitum, and with some hostility, I will not do that)

I can understand that as a pragmatic point of view, looking at that race in and of itself. However, I'd say the Dems of Connecticut wanted to make an anti-war statement. And I'd argue it was a pretty effective one, with national implications.

Whether Lamont wins or loses, Lieberman losing the Dem primary was probably one of the key things, politically, that gave Dems (and voters) confidence to become more vocal about being anti-war. Lamont's win in the primary, in a way, shares a lot of credit for Dems pulling ahead in other races around the country (Senate and House). It gave them the guts to buck the status quo.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

28. I don't think it was very influential at all.

I don't agree with the assertion that it gave anyone confidence. All politics are local - no one would have harbored such confidence unless the circumstances locally would support it.

Furthermore, does it not also danger the anti-war movement? If Lieberman wins the general election now, isn't that more of a referendum than the primary, since ALL CT voters will have spoken, and not just what amounts to a handful of Democrats?

[BuyingThyme]

3. It would be up to him.

[blm]

4. If GOPs aren't enthused about voting for their own this year, why do we assume they'll

show up for Joe?

I agree with what you say about IF he wins, but I'm not so sure that the GOP enthusiasm is there in Connecticut when it isn't showing up much even in southern GOP states.

[OKNancy]

5. he's a sniveling little creep, but he wouldn't do that

I'm pretty confident he will caucus with the Democrats

[Brotherjohn]

11. I'd think so, but he'd sure have them by the balls. nt

[jobycom]

21. I wonder... You think the Republicans campaigned for him for free?

I would suspect they got promises from him before choosing him over one of theirs. How far those promises go... ?

[NewJeffCT]

26. I'm hoping Lieberman loses, but

he went out of his way yesterday to say that he feels he does not owe the Republics anything for their support & financing. Of course, who knows what will happen after election day, especially with Lieberman's tendency to play both sides of every issue.

But, I'm guessing his internal polling is showing he is losing Democratic support and that statement was intended for those moderate Dems who are on the fence.

[Alexander]

6. I think he'll lose the race today.

Something tells me the huge number of (R)s who said they'd vote Lieberman won't fully materialize.

Sure, I think a lot of them will hold their noses and vote (CFL), but I think many will stay home, vote for Schlesinger, or not vote on the Senate race at all.

It would only take about 5% of these people to cause a massive swing in the election. Most (credible) polls have this race a dead heat anyway.

[tpsbmam]

7. Thanks......

I was about to go off my "diet" (anxiety eating, doncha know -- and I'm a low anxiety type!). You just totally killed my appetite. LOL :puke: :puke:

[ThomWV]

8. What Makes You Think Lamont Isn't Going To Win?

[Brotherjohn]

16. Well, I'd LOVE Lamont to win. I think it would pretty much make the entire election...

... a slam dunk.

But what makes me think he'll lose is the same polls I'm trusting that show Dems picking up the House and several seats in the Senate. Those polls may underestimate his support, and overestimate Republican support for Lieberman, but they're still present a daunting hill for Lamont to climb.

[Brotherjohn]

17. Well, I'd LOVE Lamont to win. I think it would pretty much make the entire election...

... a slam dunk.

But what makes me think he'll lose is the same polls I'm trusting that show Dems picking up the House and several seats in the Senate. Those polls may underestimate his support, and overestimate Republican support for Lieberman, but they're still present a daunting hill for Lamont to climb.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. Every poll that states to the contrary in a big way. (nt)

[The Gunslinger]

31. cause too many Dems are voting for the Republic supported candidate

instead of the Democrat.

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. I have a question about his committee Chairman status

If Leiberman is officially an Independent and not a Democrat, can he hold a Chairman seat?

[Rose Siding]

18. Dashcle let Jeffords chair and he was an indy, so I'd suppose so.

That's what also worries me about the possibility of Joe switching parties -the repubs could give him whatever he demands.

[Norquist Nemesis]

22. Yes, worried about that too.

I suppose in the end, it's up to the majority leader. Frankly, I'd love to see Harry take a stand and not give him one.

As to Jeffords, though, didn't he switch while serving vs. running and being elected as an Indy? :shrug:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

29. I'd rather keep the majority than be petty.

But that's just me.

[jobycom]

20. That's the bargaining both parties will have over him

If he can be the swing factor, then both parties could offer him a chairmanship to caucus with them. So, yeah, if he turns out to be the critical vote, I'd bet someone will give him a chairmanship.

[Norquist Nemesis]

23. And there's no doubt the Cons would give him pick of the pack

I wonder whether he'd want Homeland Security or Armed Services.

[jobycom]

25. The Dems will offer him what he wants, too. As the OP said, he'd be powerful.

I'm worried about any promises he made to the Republicans to get them to support him.

[Jacobin]

12. He's a RW warmonger

So it matters not whether there is an "I", or a "D" or an "R" behind his pathetic little name.

He's no king maker or deal maker. He's a fucking flea bitten neo con enabler

[Beelzebud]

13. Powerful enough...

FOR ME TO POOP ON!

[Cha]

14. Nah..I don't care if he wins from the repuke

votes. lieman is all about being Wrong..ain't nothing good gonna come from that. "Power" like a giant house of cards.

[Nikki Stone1]

27. This has been worrying me for quite some time.

It's too damned close to have LIEberman a loose cannon.

[The Gunslinger]

30. He should just be considered a Republican

Hes not a Democrat, and he'll vote with the republicans.

The Democratic voters who vote for him are to blame. Lieberman was really the republican in the race.