I read "I'm going to consider my options" as, "Reid stripped me of my chairmanship..."

[Barack_America]

"...and now I have to wait and see how close they get to 60 to determine how much leverage I have".

I think Reid booted Lieberman off the Homeland Security chairmanship but left his ability to caucus with the Democrats up to him.

What's your take?

:shrug:

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

1. That was my read of his statement, as well

What other choice is there?

If everything was the same as it was, he would have said so.

[LiberalFighter]

3. And that Reid hosed Lieberman? :)

[Barack_America]

12. I don't really see another choice.

I guess Reid could have just told Lieberman to prepare for it, but the Dems were going to wait and see with the remaining Senate races. But if that were the case, why the face-to-face meeting?

I'm going with the assumption that Lierberman got a spanking, mostly because it makes sense, but partly because the thought pleases me.

:evilgrin:

[tekisui]

2. That sounds about right.

[Richard Steele]

4. I certainly hope you're correct. nm

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. His voice was breaking a little after I had watched it thrice... so Yes

At first I thought he didn't say anything but now I agree with your assessment.

[wtbymark]

6. Out! Out! Out!

Never count on this man to provide a vote, out of caucus, on your own Joe. Chairmanship? Large steel toed boot. Let the man not be able to sit down for a year, take his desk and his office and tell him to go find McCain if he needs a place to sit down. No reindeer games whatsoever. Rant over. :argh:

[ellacott]

7. Wouldn't he have the option to switch parties?

That's what I thought about. I thought he was hinting at switching parties.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. I honestly think Lieberman thought he could use leverage indefinitely, that he'd never

lose his chairmanship.

[Bucky]

14. Wow, it's getting so bad a guy can't even stab his friends in the back anymore.

At least Zell waited until he was on the way out and fresh out of marbles before jumping ship. Bay-bay's got another 4 years on his contract and he seriously thought he could get off scott free?

[Barack_America]

21. This was the absolute worst scenario for Lieberman...

McCain failed and the Democrats aren't close enough to 60 for Lieberman to be kingmaker.

Oops.

:rofl:

[Ioo]

9. They should vote his sorry ass out of the Senate

[Bucky]

18. Huh? Why? I assumed people in the party of Gore can appreciate what a majority means.

[LynneSin]

10. I doubt we'll get 60 so it doesn't really matter anymore

but I'm glad he is gone

[Barack_America]

19. There has to be some Republican Senators up in 2012 who see the writing on the wall...

And will informally caucus with the Democrats on many issues (i.e. Obama's economic policies that the public is demanding action on).

How many of those are out there, I don't know, but I'm sure that's what Reid and Lieberman are trying to figure out. The amount of power Lieberman has in the Senate is directly proportional to how many Republicans are even willing to go along with filibusters on Obama's agenda.

[Nite Owl]

20. It would be worse if we

had the 60 and then all of them didn't vote together so if he leaves so much the better.

[LynneSin]

30. That's the thing - having 60 doesn't mean shit if we aren't all on the same page

We have the Nelson Twins (Bob & Ben) who routinely vote with the other side.

I'd rather we not have 60 and work our asses off to get a few republicans to switchover then to have 60 and watch folks like the Nelsons and/or Lieberman to defect time and again.

[nomaco-10]

11. That was my take. Now he'll slither over to ...

the pub side and see what they've got to offer. I certainly can't think of anything they've got to offer unless he promises to vote down social programs. What will he do? Sell out the people of ct or the dems. Oh, wait he already sold out the dems.

[Barack_America]

22. He'd better think twice about caucusing with the Republicans...

He's already got a 51% disapproval rating in CT.

Oh dear, it seems that our dear Joe Joe is truly and completely fucked.

:rofl:

[Tom Rinaldo]

24. Most Republicans don't like him either

They liked using him sure, but when McCain wanted to run with him there was a firestorm that led to Palin. Republicans won't be rude to Joe but there is little real love shared.

[yardwork]

25. The Repukes have nothing to offer these days. They're busy moving hard to the right.

Lieberman made A Really Big Mistake and he will not recover from it.

[SurfingAtWork]

13. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out McLoserman

[blondeatlast]

15. I think so too. It's kind of the DCese for "I'm a bigwig who was let go

but they're letting me have a modicum of dignity whether I deserve it or not."

[Tom Rinaldo]

27. Yup. Because he still delievers all of One vote from time to time

But he's left sitting behind the back benches from here on out.

[tpi10d]

16. lieberman misreads political winds

Successful Lamont primary challenge. Campaigns for McCain in '08. Threatens to go GOP from a solid blue state.

I've given up trying to think of a logical path for him to take..because he doesn't seem to have any political instinct. If he bends hard right at this point, he's a lame duck without power.

My suggestion is Democrats play hardball with him.

[Left Is Write]

17. That's how I took it too.

[Bobbie Jo]

23. Another Option: Resign.

[yardwork]

26. No, he'll use his remaining years sucking up to corporations and land a big fat job later.

Joe will just turn to feathering his nest with what he's got left.

[MoonRiver]

28. What a pathetic worm.

He will do anything to hold on to his tenuous grasp on whomever or whatever he associates with power. He cast his fate with the loser and now he's going to grovel and beg to retain his Democratic bonafides. Message to LIEberman, you gave those up when you stood by * and his illegal war. :puke:

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. after seeing him standing on stage with McCain in event after event after event

After watching him applaud wildly every time McCain attacked the Democrats for being socialist who cannot keep America safe - After hearing him heap mounds of praise on Sarah Palin - he is getting off easy. But it is probably the best one can do.