McConnell reaches out to Lieberman

[Ichingcarpenter]

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has reached out to Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) about the prospect of joining the Republican Conference, but Lieberman is still bargaining with Democratic leaders to keep his chairmanship, according to Senate aides in both parties.

“Sen. Lieberman’s preference is to stay in the caucus, but he’s going to keep all his options open,” a Lieberman aide said. “McConnell has reached out to him, and at this stage, his position is he wants to remain in the caucus but losing the chairmanship is unacceptable.”

A Republican Senate aide said Friday morning that there was little McConnell could offer in terms of high-ranking committee slots, which is why Lieberman is resisting overtures from the Republican side.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Lieberman met Thursday, yet Reid is waffling over whether to revoke Lieberman’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee and may instead hold a secret vote among Democratic members on whether to kick Lieberman out of the caucus.

Senate aides from both parties caution that Lieberman’s state is still truly up in the air and Reid could still craft a scenario where Lieberman keeps his chairmanship.

Lieberman’s aide told Politico on Friday morning that “essentially what transpired is that Sen. Reid talked about taking away his position perhaps for another position, and Sen. Lieberman indicated that was unacceptable.”


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15401.html

[DainBramaged]

1. I got something for Mitch to reach out for

the shit end of the stick, because for the next 8 years, that's all he sees.

[TornadoTN]

2. Reid is going to keep him in the chairmanship - as a "show of bipartisan spirit!"

Get ready for it, it's coming.

This political wrangling over this is pathetic. It's like a petulant little child who didn't get his way, Lieberman is effectively holding our party hostage again.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. I'm getting that feeling too after reading this

It was reiterated twice in the article about his chairmanship

[WI_DEM]

4. Let him go to the repukes! it will be easier to defeat him in 2012 if we do.

[ericgtr]

5. We are just better off without him and he is definitely "losing his chairmanship"

We have enough to where we don't need to pander to this fucker. Let the republicans have him.

[enki23]

6. and if lieberman switches, he's fucked in 2012. he knows that as well as anyone.

your presidential aspirations are done, holy joe. and your power in the senate is in very dire straits.

[LoKnLoD]

7. If the Dems keep him around...

If the Dems keep him around he will just stick the shiv in their backs again at a later point whether it be an appointment or Supreme Court nominee. Cut the fucker loose.

[Historic NY]

8. Unacceptable, OH REALLY......your unacceptable Joe...take him out Harry.

:argh::nuke:

[cooolandrew]

9. I think we are wise to keep him for now sadly, he loves power that's about the size of it.>

I know folks don't like him but that is why I was pushing for Noriega and all that we needed the magic or 61 even to overide his vote didn't happen so we still have to play nice at least till 2010.

[nomaco-10]

10. If they don't strip that smarmy little weasel of his committee...

chairs, I'm gonna be pissed. And I mean pissed. reid better grow a spine on this one. That traitorous little creep needs to be dealt with asap.

[cooolandrew]

11. I don't think he's great but being practical has to come before emotion. He'll stay cos there is >

work to do. If we get the 60 seats 2010 then we can rule the roost. They are only reaching out to Joe to disable our power as they are planning to make this hard till 2010, till then we have to co-operate with Joe.

[nomaco-10]

17. He'll still vote with the dems on most social issues...

or he'll have hell to pay from his constituency in ct. We don't need him that bad. We will get a few moderate Rs on our side on a lot votes.

[AtomicKitten]

12. They found an extra 100 votes for Franken (it was a "typo").

I'm inclined to wait and see how close we are to the magic 60 when the dust settles. Revenge is best served cold. Lieberman will be dealt with in due time.

[scheming daemons]

13. Frankly...... McConnell can HAVE him.....

[nomaco-10]

15. We can get hagel, collins, snowe and probably a few others...

to help us out occasionally. I don't even care at this point. I want his ass out.

[StreetKnowledge]

14. Harry, Come on....

....Lieberman stabbed the party in the back, it's really that simple. You should toss him out. We have room for lots of people of course, but turncoats like Lieberman are not wanted. You hold the cards. Let Lieberman go to the Republicans. He'll lose - badly - in 2012, and his political career will be mercifully over.

[mtnester]

16. I am reminded of the story/parable of the scorpion and the turtle

and also the fool me once scenario

Get rid of this trash already. Do it now...it will take ONE news cycle for it to become a non story, if it ever is one at all.


If it walks like a Repub, and talks like a Repub...well...