What if LIEberman becomes a Republican?

[ikojo]

I don't trust him when he says he will caucus with the Democrats. He didn't honor the Democratic voters of Connecticut, so why would he keep his word now?

[joemurphy]

1. How could you tell? n/t

[Wilms]

2. Hell. The Dems in CT didn't honor him.

He scares me even more right now.

[Spider Jerusalem]

37. That's an asinine thing to say.

An elected representative serves the voters, not the other way around; if Connecticut Democrats decided to nominate someone OTHER than Joe, that was their prerogative.

[Wilms]

39. I agree with everything you said.

You've misunderstood what I wrote. But it may not be your fault.

Here in CA, I honored Debra Bowen with a vote. I'd do it for Conyers were I in MI. Etc.

[bowens43]

3. He won't become a republican.

He's a liberal despite his view on the war.

[aquart]

4. Is his seniority based on party position, or years in Congress?

And then, there are the committees.

[deacon]

14. right, he wants a top post- he will play ball or be relagated to

to the basement.

[mduffy31]

34. Party position

He stated if he were to caucus with the Republicans he would lose his seniority, so he is not going to go over there.

[aquart]

35. Right. He'll just vote with them instead.

Because they didn't put him back in the Senate for free.

[ChoralScholar]

5. BECOMES? n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I think he'll stick with the Dems, only because they have the power now.

Joe is in it for Joe. The Republicans are as popular as a hemorrhoid these days, and they are now officially the minority party. Joe can't get much out of going to their side any more.

[smalll]

30. Exactly. Joe is in it for Joe.

He'll stick with the Dems, keep his seniority, and maybe will even be able to wangle a few extra little perks and baubles out of Reid and company. I can at least see him forcing the few Democratic Senators who REALLY supported Lamont to apologize to him, if only privately.

The one sticky thing that came out of this election, even assuming Allen does finally lose, is that Joe is the man in the middle with the power to move the world (that's the Senate to a Senator) in his hands. Ol' Joe is about to become one well-pampered diva of operatic proportions.

[niallmac]

7. Joe is singularly Joe. He's a Leibertarian. I've no use for him.

Unless he repents and chooses his once chosen party over
his personal agenda.

[Connie_Corleone]

8. He wants to be with the majority. He'll stay a Democrat.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. This Thread Is A Waste Of Bandwith.

He has said ad infintum and ad nauseum he will caucus with the Dems...

[yojon]

10. There will probably be a democratic president in 2008

if Joementum defects, he will be totally isolated. Count on Joementum doing what is best for Joementum.

[MzNov]

11. Because the Democrats can now give him things in return

he'd be more of a freakin' fool than he already is if he doesn't go with the Majority.

:dem:

[VeggieTart]

32. Well, as Nixon (I think) said about J. Edgar Hoover...

...better to have him in the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. Then he's stupid

The power structure just shifted away from the Republicans. Look to Lieberman to come crying back to us to let him back in.

[Change has come]

13. Lieberman confirms he'll caucus with Dems

snip

...Lieberman reiterated his pledge to remain with the Democrats, saying a prime consideration was maintaining his 18 years of seniority on Capitol Hill in order to help Connecticut...

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-08172445.apds.m0321.bc-ct-eln--nov08,0,5680837.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

[librechik]

17. ack! And I suppose the Dems will let him

what we have to put up with in our big stinking tent is really a little much sometimes. But the Dems are the party of "when you have to go there, they have to take you in."

sigh

cosy place called home

(heheWEWONhehe)

[NewJeffCT]

19. Heard on the radio today

Lieberman said that Reid called him this morning to congratulate him & to say that he did not have to worry about losing his seniority.

[librechik]

26. sigh--we need every D

even if they are SOBs

[Zhade]

20. Uh, he's a liar. Anyone trust b*s*, who is also a liar?

Believe it when I see it - and then I'll STILL be watching him.

If people think we're done trying to hold lieberman accountable - think again.

[libodem]

15. What do you mean if?

70% Republics voted for him.

[noahmijo]

16. because now he risks being in the minority before he thought he was in the majority

He will come through remember Joe represents Joe and today Joe sees who he is better off with.

[MethuenProgressive]

18. If he had honored the voters, he's be Sec Def right now

He always has been Bush's favorite Democrat.

[TygrBright]

21. He won't. Rats never jump ON to a sinking ship, y'know. n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

22. Then we've got a problem

I'm glad I'm not a Senate Democrat. They have play nice to Lieberman. I don't.

[Blue State Blues]

23. He has more power if he doesn't become a R

The Dems have more to offer him at the moment. He can also be the center of R attention with the possibility of being a swing vote on some issues and it can't be lost on him that he was elected with R money and R votes. As long as he doesn't change sides, he will be courted by both.

[Strelnikov_]

24. And With The Reich Defending 21 Seats In 08 vs 12 Dem Seats

the Democrats will more than likely add to their margin in the Senate in 08.

Joe switches now, he will probably just find himself in the minority party in 08.

[LSdemocrat]

25. At this point we should let the baby have his bottle

It's the chair of one Senate committee. If that keeps him quiet for a few months and gets him to vote Reid for Majority Leader, then so be it.

[Hubert Flottz]

27. "becomes a Republican"

Hell, he's been a Freeper all along!

[SpiralHawk]

28. Lieberman's a freaking freeper, Flottz

don't skimp on the alliterative adjectives

[Hubert Flottz]

38. He'd hug one the Clydesdales couldn't pull!

If it was attatched to a neocon!

[MGD]

29. Then lots of Democrats will be kicking themselves for many years to come. nt

[PATRICK]

31. One basic reason

besides the power thing and the tempting "bi-partisan caucus" dream he and some others have been desiring fruitlessly since 2000. Yes, my loyal GOP voter, he IS a liberal on many issues, not a Zell Miller deep south conservative nor one who gave lip service to the GOP party planks. This what the GOP woke up to in Connecticut. A non-party that ITSELF has floated into independence limbo for nothing at all. That is one way for the Ct. GOP to die like clowns whether you like the method or the man or not. Bush owned the GOP and partly owns Lieberman and will have little for all his pains either. The GOP has been had by a will o wisp as twisty as the most devious GOP poser.

Now we put with Zell during the first Senate majority and got much less for our pains. This time it is very much stranger and different and not as unpleasant policy-wise once Bush is removed from ass-kissing prominence.

[Jacobin]

33. He's the last remaining high profile neo con

Bush is an empty head just doing what Cheney and Rumsfeld told him to.

While Lieberman is not a signatory to PNAC he utterly embraces all its principles and is the last high profile PNACer standing. I do not count Cheney as he is now utterly irrelevant. He hasn't even appeared in the last two days. Poof. He's a non person

[Raine]

36. He won't

I'm no fan of his but look at his voting record he's very liberal cept for a few things. Also in the primary he was supported by the likes of Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer etc. he'll remain with the D after his name.

[stepnw1f]

40. He's Not Already?! (nt)