Would CT have re-elected Lieberman if he had become an Obama Obstructionist?

[Dr Fate]

Did Joe even have the option to switch sides and shoot down Obama's mandate-right in front of Blue CT?

Was defection-AND re-election really an option for Joe?

Seems to me like his constituents (who just elected Obama and more DEMS than ever) would not have liked that.

I'm not 100% convinced that this was some trump card held by Lieberman, and I'm wondering if Senate DEMS should have called that bluff...

Remember-all Obama ever said was that he wanted Joe to remain in the caucus- I think most DEMS agreed with that.

Could Senate DEMS have kept Obama happy without appointing an incompetent, dishonest person to a top position?

[LynneSin]

1. Why are you still worried about this

Geez do we need to have a zillion posts hashing this out?

I can't stand Lieberman but hell I'm not about to lose any more sleep or grief over this asshole. Obama wants partisan politics to end in DC - what better way than to give Lieberman his reprieve.

Lieberman may be Chair but he has little wiggle room to screw up. There will be more democrats in that committee than republicans + lieberman combined. And its not like these committees have to be run by the chair. Republicans used Gregg as their committee chair when Jeffords was showing signs of discontent in the party.

You may not see this now but we might have more to gain than lose by this turn of events and the first time that may happen is when the first Justice resigns from the Supreme Court

[Dr Fate]

2. Why are you still worried about people who are worried about it?

There are just as many posts about why this is such a gosh durned good idea, isn't there?

I for one think Joe has done and will do a shitty job.

Does anyone who is not "worried" think he will do a good job? Based on what?

I think it is plausible that Senate DEMS should have called his bluff- maybe he did not have the option to go GOP in front of his constituents...

Why should we discuss DEM mistakes? In the hopes that they don't happen again, I guess...

[Octafish]

3. Hey, Doc!

Did Bartcop get a hold of ya?

http://www.bartcop.com/2246.htm

[Dr Fate]

5. He did- if we are lucky, there will be a very interesting story to tell...

...I hate to do this to you, but I'm sworn to secrecy!!!

[ben_meyers]

4. Would Al Gore have chosen Lieberman

if he had known he would become an Obama Obstructionist?

[Dr Fate]

7. Problem is, this isnt "all in the past"- we have to live with Joe in the now.

I hope the Lieberman issue all turns out to be as great as they say it has- b/c I think he will do a shitty job.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. That's what I was wondering too.

How could Joe the Traitor vote with the Republicans and still keep his seat in CT? I really think the Dems weren't thinking strategically here. They could've cut Joe loose and let him float on the sea of uncertainty.

[Dr Fate]

8. A point that has been totally absent from this debate, no?

At least I never heard too many Senators or other DEMS bringing it up.

I'm sure there was a good reason for not discussing that aspect of it- but I can't think of it...

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. I guess they're too concerned with getting to that Magic 60 number.

It's clouded their common sense. :shrug:

[Dr Fate]

12. But if I'm correct, they could still have gotten it, chair or no chair.

Maybe they just WANTED to give it to him- a good old boy thing?

Then again, I could be wrong- maybe Blue New England would have gone along with Lieberman's conservative rebellion...

[Larkspur]

9. In 2006 Lieberman lied to CT voters when he said that he would help elect a Democrat to the White

House.

[Dr Fate]

11. I don't think Joe had this card to play- maybe- just maybe- the Senate DEMS caved again...

...