Connecticut ping!
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Posted on 11/13/2006 8:27:49 AM PST by Checkers
It hasn’t been the best week, and with the Iraq Study Group apparently poised to release its eagerly awaited plan for surrender later today, things are unlikely to get better anytime soon. So, before we get to the serious stuff, let’s cling to one piece of positive news.
Yesterday, Joe Lieberman refused to rule out the idea of caucusing with the Republicans in the Senate. As I typed that sentence and prepared to hit the “publish” button, I could sense veins popping across the progressive blogosphere. The AP reports:
"Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut said yesterday that he will caucus with Senate Democrats in the new Congress, but he would not rule out switching to the Republican caucus if he starts to feel uncomfortable among Democrats."
One can only wonder what kind of things would make Lieberman uncomfortable serving the Democratic Party. Perhaps something like a Majority Leader Murtha might do the trick.
I eagerly await the reaction of Markos Moulitsas to this news. Were it not for Markos’ ministrations, Lieberman’s ongoing loyalty to the Democratic Party would be much less of a question mark. Nonetheless, I expect Markos’ commentary to be colorfully indignant while betraying no sense of the potential damage he has wrought.
Pure b.s.wishful thinking.
wondering if liberman will remember who left him to twist in the wind?
Very simple. This is Lieberman's way of making sure that he gets all of the committee assignments that he wants. Why should he make a commitment to the Dems before they make a commitment to him?
He remembers, but he is simply raising his price in the negotiations. He will not go against his constituents.
I think Joe is enjoying being "courted", at least in the media, by both parties.
Why would he commit...and lose all that "love"?
The only way Joe would consider this is if he plans on retiring after next term. I doubt he could get re-elected if he did this and the media would destroy him.
Don't count Lieberman out. Afterall, he is more Conservative then Chaffee and Collins.
Sorry, but someone's chain is being yanked.
Yep. But I guarantee that 100% of WOT votes will have Joe in the R column. I think there was a time when, out of loyalty, Joe could be counted on to go with the Dem flow on less significant votes. Not so now.
And I think this is just Joe's shot across the bow: Don't mess with Joe, let him do his thing.
Which were Republicans, too.
I saw him on one of the talk shows yesterday. He was pressed on this by Wallace or Russert (I forgot whom since they are eminently forgettable shows). There's no way he's going to leave the Democrats.
Joe is keeping the option open to extract more from the Dems. That's all it is.
Leiberman should have jumped ship as soon as he won and not looked back. The Dems all but pushed him overboard, so as far as I am concerned he owes them nothing.
We need to say it over and over. Lamont, lost big time -- in a Northeast liberal state.
Why doesn't Lieberman run for Senate majority leader? He could get the votes. Why is he letting Reid dictate the leadership positions?
Ughhh...
If you do the math, Lieberman Jumps, senate becomes 50-50, Republicans have control...If the GOP promises Lieberman the chairmanship of the Homeland Security Cmmte, i cant see why he wouldnt jump.
Indeed :D....He could "pull a Jim Jeffords" and really learn "tolerance first hand/brick" from the Kings (& "Queens") of tolerance.
This is nothing more than a politician that knows that for a very short period of time he is holding a pair of aces and two more aces came up on the flop. He has a winner and now he will milk it for all he can. He also knows, there will be another hand. If he pushes too hard, the demonRATs will throw him overboard and recruit collins or snowe or sphincter. There is no honor with any of these dirtbags.
If he would jump, by God they better offer it to him.
He's probably more conservative in that respect than a lot of people up there.
Joe isn't going anywhere unless the dems really goes nuts, even then I doubt it. Joe is just having some fun driving the kossacks nuts. And, I can't blame him.
Joe is a legend in New England. People respect him for his tenure and his ability to stand up for what he believe's in which is rare these days. He will always get the votes he needs because like Ted Kennedy...he is a staple up there.
Everyone I know or have met whether they be a Dem or Rep voted for him this year. He can pull the knife out of his back that the Dems and Howard Dean stuck in there and put the Senate back at 50 with Mr.Cheney back in the tie-breaker position...hold off on that office remodeling Mr.Rangle.
If he jumps from the "51" ship to the "49" ship, then it's a "50-50" ship and the original "51" ship (D) just turned into a "49" ship and the original "49" (R) ship just turned into a "51" ship with the Veep's tie braking vote!
Any move Lieberman made would be countered by Hagel officially going to the dark side.
Murtha is in the House. So august is the Senate that a Senator would hardly deign to notice who might be the majority leader of the lower chamber.
He's only blackmailing the dems, not that there's anything wrong with that.
Lieb's way of getting the Dims to kiss his butt on everything.
Lieb's way of getting the Dims to kiss his butt on everything. It'll work too.
I believe that none other than William F. Buckley and the National Review group helped Lieberman get elected the first time; seeing him as a more conservative Democrat than the incumbant at that time.... (was it Lowell Weicker?, anyone?).
Stranger things have happened in politics but I doubt Lieberman would switch.However, he did say several months ago in an interview he wouldn't forget what the DNC did to him.
Wishful thinking. In the 2008 elections, the Republicans are defending 21 seats and the Democrats are defending 12 -- ergo, the 2009 Congress will almost certainly have a Dem majority without Lieberman (i.e. if he overplays his hand now the Dems will pay him back later).
Still, it's a bucket of worms - the House is on the other side of him, and it seems there are more spineless Rs than Ds, so in partisan battles, the Ds would win anyway.
I wonder if anyone has considered that if the RATS go truly nuts that Casey or Webb could jump?
Lieberman is President Bush's best anti-impeachment card.
The only way Lieberman would switch parties is if the House tries to impeach Bush. I just don't believe Lieberman would let that happen and has let that threat be known behind closed doors.
Notice that the House dims say that impeachment is not on the table. Impeach or lose the Senate - interesting dilemma.
So true.....LOL!
Off topic but Jim Webb probably could be Senator for life in Virginia if he, now elected, were to "return to his Republican roots" in the wake of the inevidible lurch to the far left the RATS will pull after being seated in January.
One way or another Webb is going to be a "problem child" Harry Reid and the moonbats may be sorry they adopted.
And Joe is now able to say to the Dems: I don't need you anymore.
You know, it was a political masterstroke when Al put Joe on the ticket. I think it was a big reason that they almost won. (That and the Maine "November surprise".)
Joe learned what loyalty was when Al didn't endorse him for the Dem nomination.
I made a mistake.
Dean Barnett is the author above, not Hugh Hewitt.
Sorry about that!
you mean destroy him again? As I recall they did that in the primary.
we need to start better dealing this guy right away.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.....WHOOOO-WHOOOOO.....HAH-HUH-HUH-HAHAHAHA
What an oxymoron,
The only person demoncrats have been loyal to is......well....ummmm......Marx?....Lenin?.....Castro?.....hmmmmm......Comrade Clinton and Hildebeast?......sheesh.
Certainly not loyal American citizens!
Hagel's running for President, he won't go anywhere.
Lieberman is doing this to remind the Democrat leadership he is holding the cards - and to not treat him like dirt again like they did before. He has them right where he wants them - and they'll give him whatever he wants, probably.
Besides he showed that he really has no principles with his changes to get aligned with MBP (Algore) for their campaign.
It would be a great, ironic development, but I don't see it happening. At most, Lieberman will be more likely to break with his party on a few issues.
Connecticut ping!
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
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