The one possible reason for keeping lieberman in the Democratic caucus

[onenote]

Let me start by saying that I want Joe stripped of his chairmanship. Period.

But,there is an argument that keeping him the caucus is a good thing. That argument grows out of the fact that the allocation of seats on Senate committees is based on the percentage of seats that a party controls in the Senate as a whole. Thus, every additional senator caucusing with the Democrats arguably can result in a increase in the number of Democrats on each and every committee (and a reduction in the number of repubs on those committees). Its not an exact science and there is horse trading between the leadership of the two parties, with some committees getting an extra member and some not, or with some committees getting the overall membership increased or decreased.

Having one more Democrat (and one fewer repub) on a number of committees would be a good thing, and on that basis, I actually hope lieberman continues to caucus with the Democrats. I wouldn't give him his HS chairmanship to get that result, however. I might, on the other hand, not bitch if they gave him some inconsequential post.

[Ian David]

1. Provided he actually VOTES as a Democrat. n/t

[onenote]

3. other Democrats, not joe, would be occupying a lot of those 'extra' committee seats

If he caucuses with the repubs and votes repub, we have fewer Committee seats. If he caucuses with us and votes repub, we have more committee seats. So, if you assume that he's going to vote repub, you still want him caucusing with the Democrats.

[Muttocracy]

2. true - on some committees that might mean +/- one member if the math works just so. nt