by Damozel | Earlier Teh Nutroots wrote about Reid's summoning of Lieberman to the woodshed. According to HuffPost's Nico Pitney, Reid wants Leiberman out and Leiberman's only shot at keeping his committee chair "appears to be lobbying members of the Senate Democratic Leadership
besides Reid. One key target would be the Senate Democratic Steering
and Outreach Committee, a group of nearly two dozen Democratic Senators who play a role in deciding committee seats."
Pitney suggests that this isn't likely to work. "[I]t is highly unlikely that Democrats would act against the wishes of Majority Leader Reid." Not to mention their own. In fact, many of us among the rank-and-file have speculated that Reid really isn't that set on seeing the back of Joe Lieberman. There are political reasons for Reid to want to keep him around.
Reid said:
[T]oday Senator Lieberman and I had the first of what I expect to be several conversations. No decisions have been made.... While I understand that Senator Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our Caucus. I expect there to be additional discussions in the days to come, and Senator Lieberman and I will speak to our Caucus in two weeks to discuss further steps. (HuffPost)
The Hill thinks that political considerations might override Reid's determination to punish Lieberman.
Some think Reid may treat Lieberman lightly because Senate Democrats will likely fall short of winning 60 seats in the next Congress. The party has a 57-40 advantage, with three races outstanding. If Republicans win just one of those races, Reid will need to reach across the aisle to move legislation.
Lieberman has also been courted by Republicans, who are eager to pad their reduced ranks. (The Hill)
I don't think Reid is going to treat Lieberman "lightly" at this juncture---at least as regards his committee chairmanship. In Reid's place, I might have hesitated till now. (I'm trying to be objective here, you see.) But ultimately....come on.
Earlier this year, Lieberman infuriated Democrats by coming out publicly for Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.). He further strained relations with his former party by speaking at the Republican National Convention and questioning Barack Obama’s capacity to be president in his prime-time speech there.
Lieberman, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, officially left the party in 2006 after losing in his primary election. But he won reelection to the Senate that year as an Independent candidate and has continued to caucus with Democrats. While Lieberman is a strong advocate for the war in Iraq, he is still a reliable Democratic vote on most domestic issues. (The Hill; emphasis added)
And....? If he's a reliable vote on most domestic issues, why would that change if he crosses the aisle? Answer: it won't. If he wants to be independent, let him be independent. Cut him loose. Set him free. Let him join his good friend John McCain in the GOP. They can put their hair in curlers, spin a few LPs on the record player, and reminisce about the good old days.
Though he might have been given the choice to continue caucusing with the Dems sans his prestigious committee chairmanship, according to Jane Hamsher. Jane Hamsher says:
My guess? Reid told him he can stay in the caucus if he steps down from his committee chairmanship (a campaign we started shortly after the 2006 election, thanks to everyone who participated with pitchforks and torches). I imagine Reid told him they'll wait to do anything until the other Senate races are decided, but that's the way it's going to go down. Those are the rather well-sourced rumors circulating, anyway.
Joe now goes to see if he can get a better deal from the GOP, knowing his chances of winning in Connecticut as a Republican in 2012 are about "zero."
As an aside, I do wish Hamsher would reconsider the title of her piece called "Strip Joe." No, please, we've all endured enough.
Josh Orton says the speculation about Reid's intentions is groundless.
Reid is obviously implying that Lieberman will be punished; just because the details weren't announced today doesn't mean nothing will happen. Rather, Reid is likely working through the Senate mechanisms behind-the-scenes: walking through the complex process of Chairmanship 'musical chairs' that Ari describes here, estimating how many Dems we'll actually have in our caucus, and speaking with all of Lieberman's allies in the Dem caucus so no one goes off the reservation when a decision is announced.
So don't misread the reality - Lieberman has very little leverage in this situation and nowhere to go. He angered Obama and Reid during the campaign, and his presidential candidate lost. So Reid is taking his time, but that shouldn't be misread as indecisiveness or inaction. It just proves how little power Lieberman now has....
Look, Lieberman is flopping around like a fish out of water. In the end, he has nowhere to go. (My DD)
If you want him booted out, there's a petition you can sign. So long as he loses the chairmanship, I don't actually think I care. It seems to me that there's more humiliation for him in being allowed to continue caucusing with all the Dems who regard him as a traitor. Though on the other side, there's the satisfaction to be had in putting him in a better position to lose his next Senate race. I kind of see it as win-win at this point.
Whatever. The GOP can have him.
Memeorandum has more.
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