The Final Word On Why Lieberman Won't Switch.

[cali]

Well, not really. I'm sure there will be many more threads on this topic, but here's my take. In 2008 there are 33 Senate races and 22 of those, I believe are seats the repubs have to defend. Some of those seats are quite vulnerable- Colorado, NH, Minnesota and Oregon, to name a few. We stand a very good chance of picking up several more Senate seats that year. Lieberman is NOT going to take the chance that the repubs are going to hold power. He knows he's better off sticking with the dems.
(And my mother told me he won't switch- she's known him for years).

[Blue Belle]

1. Yep.. and Oregon is getting bluer with every election.

If this trend holds, Gordon Smith will have to find a new job.

[cali]

2. Excellent.

Any idea what dems would run for his seat?

[Blue Belle]

5. If I had my druthers...

I'd choose either Former Governor John Kitzhaber, or current Congressman Defazio. John Kitzhaber was a very popular Governor and made great gains withthe Oregon Health Plan. Defazio consistanly wins an overwhelming majority for re-election in a very red district of the state. I do not, however, know who they will run.

[TygrBright]

3. Lieberman won't switch because...

...rats never jump ON to sinking ships.

patiently,
Bright

[LeftishBrit]

4. Great one, Bright!!!!

That could apply to quite a few situations!

[cali]

6. kick in response to all

the Lieberman will switch posts based on loathing not logic.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Excellent Point...

All I care is Liebermann votes for Harry Reid and then he can go pound sand. With control of the Senate agenda, what comes to the floor and how it is played is a lot different. Repugnicans, as you state, will be vulnerable and Reid has shown in the past he's a master of playing the Senate game...far better than Frist or that dolt McConnell. Folks like Specter, Collins, Snowe and Smith are the lone "moderates" in a party now dominated by the right wing...and facing a purge that could all but expell the remaining moderates.

No matter his view on the war, Lieberman is going to vote with Democrats on more issues than not. He will favor a raise in the minimum wage and fixes in healthcare.

The problem of keeping the party in line is going to fall on the Repugnicans as they have less numbers than we do now...Liebermann or no Liebermann...Chenney or no Chenney.

[cali]

8. I'm with you

At this point, all I care about is that Lieberman votes to make Harry Reid majority leader. I'm just frustrated by all the threads stating unequivocally that Lieberman will switch.

[cmkramer]

9. No

He never had any intention of joining the GOP.

[zyguh]

10. More republicans are going to be leaving the senate anyway

Now that we control both houses, the ethics rules will be back in and a LOT of republican senators are going to be under investigation for the questionable and quite possibly illegal things they did under Delay. I bet at least 3 Repubs will resign once the ethics investigations get under way, or if they dont they will be forced to. If nothing else the house page scandal has to have some carry over into the Senate because there is no way that Hastert didnt let his counterparts in the Senate know what was up, if for no other reason than to say "find out what your guys are doing, and keep it under wraps so we dont have a scandal".

Chances are very good that at least one Repub senator from a state with a dem governor is gone within 6 months, at which point we dont need Joe for the majority, and at which point he SHOULD be stripped of all seniority and committee assignments. He ISNT the senior Democratic senator from CT, He is the FRESHMAN independent senator from CT.

Thing is.....he KNOWS that he is a freshman independent and the only chance he has to keep any power he has built up and not have to start over from scratch is to tow the party line and not piss Harry off. By not stripping him of assignments and seniority, Harry now OWNS Joe, and they both know it.