Will Lieberman lose if Democrats win?

[babylonsister]

Will Lieberman lose if Democrats win?
Posted April 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

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At this point, Democrats everywhere are pretty familiar with the Senate caucus’ “Lieberman Problem.” Aside from his problematic votes and rhetoric, Joe Lieberman wants, apparently more than just about everything, to be the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. If Harry Reid denied him the gavel, Lieberman would leave the party, and create a 50-50 split in the chamber.

Of course, if Senate Democrats have a good year, and it appears that they will, that won’t be a problem come 2009. Bob Novak reports that Lieberman may lose big if Democrats win big.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s friends are certain that if Democrats expand their one-vote Senate edge in this year’s elections, they will kick him out of the Senate Democratic caucus and, therefore, oust him as Homeland Security Committee chairman.

Lieberman risked the usual punishment of ejection from the party caucus when he endorsed Republican Sen. John McCain for president and actively campaigned for him. But with Democrats in a Senate majority of only 51 to 49, they would lose control if Lieberman defected to the Republicans.

I’ve heard competing stories about this, but I haven’t heard that Dems would kick Lieberman out of the caucus altogether. It seems far more likely that Reid would stop by Lieberman’s office and say, “Joe, I’m afraid this committee is too important; I’ve decided to put a Democrat in the chairman’s seat.” If Lieberman threatens to bolt, and Reid has a comfortable majority, the ultimatums probably won’t carry much weight.

But there’s always been one thing I don’t understand about Lieberman’s motivations: why does he want that chairmanship so much? It’s not like he actually tries to do any work with the committee anyway.

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http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15209.html#more-15209

[Jim__]

1. I certainly hope so! - n/t

[book_worm]

2. right now the senate out look is good for dems with strong possibilitiy of pick ups in

New Mexico, Colorado, Virginia and possible pick ups in Alaka and Minnesota. If we do pick up 3-5 seats we can tell Lieberman to go to hell especially since he is attached to McCain's ass.

[DemKing]

3. Not just him ALL of them are pretty much gone

Bush ruined his party for decades! MOST to all of the republicans will be out in November... The Democrats will hold all 3 branches.

Numbers dont lie, voting turn out is night and day with the republicans vs democrats.

This isnt going to be close.

[tritsofme]

4. It seems that this would require a new organizing resolution

At the beginning of the 111th Congress, it is my understanding that it is customary for the organizing resolution to generally stay put unless there is a hand over of power.

Could Republicans filibuster the new organizing resolution and force Reid to keep Holy Joe in place?

[babylonsister]

5. If Reid took away everything important to him, like the chairmanship,

that would neutralize him to a certain extent. I wish it would happen.

[tritsofme]

7. What I'm trying to say is that he Reid just can't take away his chairmanship on a whim.

It is my understanding that it would require a new organizing resolution that is subject to filibuster.

[MiniMe]

6. I think it depends on how big the dems win in November

Lieberman won't vote with them on anything to do with the war, but he still votes with them on most other things. So if they will need his vote to get to 60 for example, they probably won't kick him completely to the curb. If they get to 60 without him, buh bye.