Politico: McConnell reaches out to Lieberman

[OmahaBlueDog]

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

<<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.

“They’ve been talking,” McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said.

A Lieberman aide cautioned that “Sen. Lieberman’s preference is to stay in the caucus, but he’s going to keep all his options open. 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. >>


Here's my counterproposal. Let us reach out to Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. If they'll rebrand as independents, we'll allow them to caucus with us, and give them some nice subcommittee and committee positions -- including anything held by Lieberman. We'll then tell Joe that he's welcome to hang out, but he gets nothing from us, and that we intend to bury him in the next Connecticut election.