Conason: * could hand GOP senate by replacing Bolton with Joe Lieberman

[kskiska]

The Lieberman maneuver
Regardless of Sen. Tim Johnson's health, Bush could easily hand the Senate back to the GOP -- by appointing the Connecticut senator to fill Bolton's slot at the U.N.

By Joe Conason

Dec. 15, 2006 | The sudden illness of Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., shook Democrats from their post-election bliss by reminding them that their Senate majority is as narrow as it could possibly be -- and that an unexpected misfortune could instantly deprive them of power in Congress' upper chamber.

Although Johnson now appears to be recovering from a brain hemorrhage that required emergency surgery on Wednesday, the potential shift that could result from his incapacitation certainly awakened Republicans to the possibility of regaining lost power. Nowhere are such chances eyed more keenly than in the White House, where George W. Bush and his aides face spending his final years as president under investigation by the Senate as well as the House of Representatives.

But regardless of Sen. Johnson's health, the president may yet be able to tip the balance. With a single stroke, he could restore control of the Senate to the Republicans, fill an embarrassing vacancy in his administration and score bipartisan points -- by appointing Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Should Lieberman be nominated and accept that position, Connecticut's Republican Gov. Jodi Rell has the constitutional authority to name a new senator.

In many ways, Lieberman provides a perfect choice for Bush to replace John Bolton, the departing ambassador who resigned recently because the Senate wouldn't confirm him. Nominating a longtime Democrat who has endorsed many of the Bush administration's foreign policy positions, especially on the war in Iraq, would give the appearance of bipartisanship without requiring any real compromise with the opposition.

more…
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/12/15/lieberman/

[Kagemusha]

1. Except for the little fact Lieb would see it as a demotion.

And he's Senate King er... Chairman of the Homeland Security committee as he is now.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Actually, I expected Holy Joe to get Defense.

But I guess Gates knows where the bodies are buried, so he got the job.

[kikiek]

3. I dunno. Would she risk the ire of a state where she has to work with

a large dem majority? Also the voters seems to favor the dems despite her election. Might be a career killer if she did. (Rell appoint a repug if that were to happen).

[Journeyman]

4. Why would Lieberman risk the loss of everything in two years. . .

to serve someone other than himself? As Senator, he'll have power and perks until at least 2010, and if all continues as its been, he'll escape any responsibility for his failures. As UN Rep, he'd be unemployed in 2006.

And even if the allure of the position entices him, he has his wife to consider. As a lobbyist flack for big pharma, Hadassah Lieberman wields inordinate influence, what with her husband's influence and connections to grease the way. If the Senator gave that up to sit at the horseshoe dais, they'd both lose more than they seem to give indication they'd want to gamble.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

5. What About The Vote?

Would Joe not be able to vote? If not, there would be 50 Democrats & 49 Repubs voting.

Would the Dems willingly vote for him, if they knew it meant they would LOSE control of the Senate because of their vote? Basically, the 1st person to vote along with the repubs, who would stand EVERYTHING to gain from such a move, would basically turn the Senate back over to the repubs.

Interesting to think about, but I think unlikely.

[Journeyman]

6. LOL. That certainly cuts to the quick. . .

Here I sought to explain this away as being against Lieberman's self-interest (post #4), and you point out the obvious: Who's gonna favor political suicide to further Lieberman's "career"?

[kstewart33]

7. I thought Conason was smarter than that.

Who in the Senate would give up their post for that job? Especially Lieberman who now holds more power than he ever did.

[Tellurian]

9. Conason like to tickle your cerebellum..

and simultaneously create tumult..

That is his forte and he's damn good at it..

Happy Holidays to you and yours, Mr. Conason.

signed,

a loyal admirer..

[Stuckinthebush]

8. Joe is not an idiot

Yes, he is a self-serving fuck, but he is not an idiot.

He would NEVER give up his power seat in the Senate to take a seat on the Titanic.

Make no mistake about it, Joe doesn't give a rat's ass about Bush, the GOP or the Democratic Party. Joe cares about Joe, and what's best for Joe is to stay in his Senate seat.

[depakid]

10. Those are pretty much my thoughts as well

The Liebermans care about the liebermans- and no one else. We've sen evidence of that throughout his career, and it's not going to change now.

[yurbud]

11. yeah, he is in the catbird seat as long as it's a slim majority either way