Why are the 2 independents being counted as Democrats?

[Plaid Adder]

Supposing that Webb does win, by my count that's 49 Republicans, 48 Democrats and 2 independents. How does that work in terms of who runs committees and whatnot? Could Lieberman still fuck this up for us?

TIA for the answers,

The Plaid Adder

[Mythsaje]

1. One of them's Bernie Sanders.

That says something.

And Lieberman will go along with the crowd, I think.

[lapfog_1]

11. Jolting Joe said today on Imus that he will vote with the

Dems on procedural matters... so, with VA, that's 51-49 for all the committee assignments and everything.
He said that he had to do that to maintain his seniority.

He then said that he would be much more independent on all other votes.

[kiahzero]

2. It's all about voting for Majority Leader.

Lieberman would have to break his promise to caucaus with the Democrats in order for us not to get the committees and such (assuming that Webb wins, which looks like a good assumption at this point).

[wryter2000]

9. Assuming Webb wins

Lieberman has no say about who's the majority. 50 gives us the majority. As far as voting on individual items, that's another story, though.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. Lieberman Makes It 51. If It's 50 Cheney Casts The Deciding Vote

eom

[Mass]

19. No - 50-50 will give Cheney the deciding vote.

Which is what would happen if Webb won, but Lieberman caucused with the GOP. So, we need him.

[wryter2000]

21. Ooops

Just figured out my dum misteak. I didn't realize one of the D's in the Senate was a hold and not a turn-over for us. Clearly, we're talking 49, 49, 2.

Hmmmm. I trust Bernie Sanders. :)

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. They have both said they will caucus with the Democrats.

Lieberman could change his mind and caucus with the repubs. Yes. He could fuck this up for us.

[emulatorloo]

10. Lieberman only agrees w the Repubicans on Iraq

At this point, who cares about what Republicans say about Iraq.

On social issues he votes with Democrats.

[BattyDem]

4. Both have said they will caucus with the Dems

so for all practical purposes, they are counted as Dems.

[emulatorloo]

12. Just repeating BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WILL CAUCUS WITH THE DEMS

cuz no-one is paying attention to your post. . .

:patriot:

[AZBlue]

5. Good question about committees - I was wondering the same thing

Folks here on DU keep saying we won the Senate, but I don't agree - I think we tied. I don't trust that Lieberman will always go with the Dems after everything that's happened and after the R's helped him win. I'm not being a naysayer - I think we did great and should be proud. I'm just being a realist.

[Swede]

6. Both have said they would caucus with the Democrats.

Heard that on the tube.

[AlCzervik]

7. this is what i think, Lieberman will get to chair the homeland security comm.

and he will caucus with the democrats. This is why some senate democrats supported him.

[wryter2000]

8. Math

Isn't that 50 D, 48 R, 2 I?

I see your overall point, though. They aren't D's. However, that does give us the majority (as when it was 50 D, 49 R, and 1 I).

Bernie Sanders will vote with us. Lieberman's another case, though. I wouldn't call him a Dem.

[Matariki]

13. I think your math is wrong(?)

Isn't it 49 D, 49 R, and 2 I ?

With the 2 I's caucusing w/ the Democrats it's 51 to 49

[wryter2000]

22. Okay, I'm clearly confused.

Thanks. In any case, 49 + 48 + 2 does not equal 100.

[tsuki]

14. Sanders has always caucused with the Democrats and can be

counted on to support progressive ideas. Can you see Bernie with the Republicans? They'd be looking for their talimans to ward off the evil eye of a real, capital L, Lib'rul.

Lieberman, who knows? I don't trust him.

[Critters2]

15. They say they're going to caucus with the Dems

So, we have to make nice with that bastard Lieberman. Dammit.

[leftofthedial]

17. both said they'd caucus with the Democrats

[Zynx]

18. One's a proud Socialist. The other - Joementum - has said he will.

[longship]

20. They will caucus with the Democrats.

In the Senate, what gives the majority party the majority is not actual numbers of party members, it's who votes for whom. Since Sanders and Lieberman will caucus with the Dems, that gives the Dems the leadership. It's the votes that counts.

[Vadem]

23. Are you sure they are? How can they be counted as Dems when...

they are Independents?

[newsguyatl]

24. they've both pledged to caucus with dems

so that in effect equals BEING a dem in terms of power