Will Lieberman join the Republican party if he wins in CT?

[npincus]

OK, I know the premise of Lieberman winning is hated around here, and I include myself in that sentiment. However, IF that dreadful outcome does occur, how many here think that Joe will flip like a pancake before the voting machines cool down?

I think he will make it official, and reward the GOP for electing him. The nightmare scenario would be if we get the Senate back by one Seat, and then the SOB flips and throws it back to the GOP.

[MrModerate]

1. I think he'll try to make nice with Dems in general . . .

And slip back into the fold with a grandfatherly "I told you so . . ." re: Lamont.

There are key "moral" issues where he's absolutely bugfuck crazy, but on balance he's a northeastern liberal. He couldn't get along with moderate 'Licans, let alone the spittle-spraying godsmacked wackos who define the "center" of the 'Lican party these days.

And the Dems will let him back in, because they'll need every vote they can get.

Joe has pulled a fast one, and he's going to get everything he wants.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. No, the Dems will let him back in because...

Too many party leaders don't give a rat's tail about what their platform says or the values the platform represents.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. What does the platform say about giving control of the Senate...

...to the Republicans?

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. If the platform can be thrown away to make quota....

Why bother having one in the first place? Why go to the effort of crafing a statement of values, when those values are ignored when it allows for numeric superiority?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

13. A platform is worthless without the power to implement it.

And power is debased when it isn't supported by a platform. You need both in order to function. It's a balancing act, like every other goddamn thing in politics.

[TechBear_Seattle]

15. A platform is worthless if the party will not enforce it

What does it matter if a party has the numbers to be a majority, but enough of that majority refuses to implement the platform and so it is never implemented?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

17. What "Enough of that majority"?

Lieberman is one man and, quite frankly, he votes with the democrats in the majority of cases. You would seriously give up control of the Senate, just to be rid if Lieberman, if it came down to that?

[MrModerate]

7. Well, there's that, too . . .

Sadly, that also comes under the heading of "needing every vote they can get."

And to be fair to Joe, many Dems still support the war in Iraq (or say they do); many were made queasy by the Schaivo case because of the close brush with euthanasia (not surprising that gives Lieberman the creeps); and many hold onto old-fashioned beliefs in favor of bipartisanship and respect for the office of the president (not wanting to admit to themselves that bipartisanship has been beaten to death and buried in a shallow grave by the 'Licans and that respect for the office of president is not possible with the current occupant.)

[liberal N proud]

2. What do you mean will he join?

He has sided with the Republican party for far too long now.
But I suspect that should the Democrats gain control in the Senate in November, he will proclaim his new rebirth of liberal views and that he is truly a Democrat.
He plays what ever side has the power, too week to stand for himself or his constituents who he is supposed to represent.

[Vidar]

14. Good analysis.

[cboy4]

4. I think his delusional state of mind will keep him from registering

as a Repuke.

I think deep down inside, he believes he is a Democrat and not a Republican.

And therefore, he couldn't go through with it. (Signing up with the enemy.)

[sharp_stick]

6. He won't flip to the pukes

He may side with them on too many issues for my liking but he knows that he's in one of the bluest States in the country. I don't think even he would have the balls to join the repukes because there would be a new recall veto-proof recall law in place within weeks.

[buff2]

8. I think Joe LIEberman and Zell Miller should have an

old fashioned DOOOOOO-AL. :evilgrin:

[Eugene]

9. Lieberman probably won't join the GOP formally.

He will be a Bush Democrat like Zell Miller.
He probably sees himself as an example of how
Democrats should unite behind our Emperor
President in this time of war.

[hedda_foil]

10. Depends

If Dems win but Joe could flip the Senate by switching parties, he'll go to whoever promises him more power and prestige. If Dems win by more than one seat, he'll stay in the D column to hold onto his committee assignments with the majority. If R's win and they offer him a plum committee assignment, he'll go with them.

[C_U_L8R]

11. Lieberman is not going to win.

[Ediacara]

16. it depends

If we win +7 seats (which is actually very likely), he'll have no incentive to switch. If we win +6 seats, then he could be heavily incentivized to switch to the GOP and give them control, citing nonsense about partisan bickering in his best Zoidberg voice. I don't think he'd necisarily switch, but the possibility is only there if his ego can be inflated.