Lieberman could resign?

Guardian.co.uk ^ | today | Michael Tomasky

[winoneforthegipper]

Bayh warned that stripping Lieberman of his chairmanship position on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee could prompt the Democrats' 2000 vice presidential nominee to side with the GOP on close votes next Congress or resign his Senate seat. If he resigns, Connecticut's Republican Gov. Jodi Rell would replace Lieberman with a temporary two-year appointment, likely a GOP senator.

[winoneforthegipper]

Interesting....take.

[LS]

We ought to offer Joe his pick of top minority spots. It would be the ultimate up yours to the Dems.

[ilgipper]

Joe could end up again in a very powerful position for a couple years.

[conservative_guyz]

If we could only get him to take McCain and Grahamnesty with him...

[ilgipper]

The bigger question is how the heck Connecticut has a GOP governor.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

American Politics: like steel cage gladiatorial combat, only for ugly, flabby people. ;)

[Rennes Templar]

He should resign, leave the Dim party, join the GOP, then have the Gov appoint him to his own vacated seat.

[DemonDeac]

“We ought to offer Joe his pick of top minority spots”

So many on here talk about purging RINOs. Joe is worst on most issues than the RINOs.

[Wegotsarah.com]

If Joe did resign, and if Gov. Rell (small r) were allowed to appoint a replacement, I wouldn’t put any money that it would automatically be a Rep-—

[Red Badger]

The Doors - Break on Through (to the Other Side)

You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah

We chased our pleasures here
Dug our treasures there
But can you still recall
The time we cried
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side

Yeah!
C’mon, yeah

Everybody loves my baby
Everybody loves my baby
She get(s high)
She get(s high)
She get(s high)
She get(s high)

I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Arms that chain
Eyes that lie
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, oww!
Oh, yeah!

Made the scene
Week to week
Day to day
Hour to hour
The gate is straight
Deep and wide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Nonstatist]

Better he came over to the Republican side.. would he have to re-run in 2010, or could he wait until 2012?

[ElkGroveDan]

This when the Dems are on the verge of stealing enough races to hit 60? They are both evil and stupid at the same time.

[Red Badger]

Even Massachusetts elected Romney............

[McGruff]

She’s a RINO and would probably appoint one of her offspring. I’d be satisfied with Sen. Lieberman(R). It’s about as much as we can hope for in the northeast.

[mlocher]

This is once again proof that when you vote, you are voting for a party and not a candidate. Should the elected candidate speak his mind and it is not in line with the powers within the party, out he goes.

I respect Lieberman, but differ on him on many, many issues. He is a stand up guy who does what he believes is right (pun not intended). He gets mega-credit from me on his stance on the war on terror. He is getting the shaft by the Obama team.

[rintense]

Brilliant!

[LS]

Yes. But we need to learn blood-sport politics, and one of the first rules is that your enemy’s enemy is your friend. Joe, as a Dem, is more of a Republican than Lincoln Chaffee or Chuck Hagel.

[Sig Sauer P220]

The bigger question is how the heck Connecticut has a GOP governor.

Yeah, NY mayor Bloomberg said he was a Republican too.

[K-oneTexas]

True. He could wipe their face in it too by changing the (D) to an (R) after his name. Then see what the voters think in two years.

[Mr. Blonde]

I understand Republicans being behind Lieberman to a certain extent, but seriously, he is a huge liberal on most issues.

This is also the reason I don’t understand why Democrats treat him the way they do. He isn’t with them on one issue. I’m sure the campaigning for McCain pissed them off, but there is something to be said for a guy who puts country ahead of party. If that is what he was doing. I think there is a very good chance he was putting ego ahead of everything.

[TommyDale]

Liebermann is no quitter, and he won’t resign. The Democrats would love to have that happen, so they could gain another guaranteed vote in the Senate. Joe should just switch over to the GOP to help keep the Dems under control.

[MEGoody]

I very much doubt Lieberman would resign his seat, but he could certainly side with Republicans on close votes. Not that it would help us any, but anything that sticks a thumb in the eye of the libs is great in my book.

[incredulous joe]

Same theory as Maryland; they get taxed to death for 30 years and they bring in a mod to control spending then thow him out after 4 years.

Then get taxed to death for 30 years,...

[HappyinAZ]

I’m confused....how come FR’s are welcoming Lieberman with open arms and call MCCain cow dung for being a RINO?

[CatoRenasci]

It would be a RINO - Chris Shays, would be a good guess.

[NonValueAdded]

No need - Joe is a registered Independent. All he needs to do is file a notice that he’s caucusing with the Republicans. No need for complicated resignations and appointments. The problem is that there are a few RINOs who might return the favor and caucus with the RATs, perhaps the ladies from Maine. Still, the symbolism of Joe changing sides is important.

[I_like_good_things_too]

The people who are doing both are deranged. Or just stupid.

I for one don’t think we should “purge the RINOS”, because clearly it’s idiotic to allow your party to lose veto power, even if you have to keep it by having Senators from parts of the country who, but virtue of their constituency, must be more liberal. So having Liebermann caucus with the republicans would be good.

[Jibaholic]

Speaking as someone who lives in Rhode Island, I can tell you that most people realize deep down that the Democrats will mess things up.

[pepsi_junkie]

He doesnt need to switch parties, he's an "independent". It's about who he chooses to caucus with. To date, even thought they tried to ruin him in 2006 he has chosen to caucus with the democrats because with him they had a solid majority and so they were willing to offer him a lot to stay with them on the 95%+ of issues he agrees with them on anyway.

If the dems hold anything between 52 and 59 votes, they don't need Lieberman and they will get revenge on him by stripping him of all his privileges whether he caucuses with them or not. If they hold 59 votes, though, he gives them the 60 they need for a filibuster proof majority so all of a sudden he becomes the most sought after caucus member once again. He will stay with the dems in that case for sure and reap the rewards of continued chairmanships in return for his obedience.

The dems, if they are smart, should hold their breath and keep their mouths shut about Lieberman until they know for sure how many seats they hold.

[Niuhuru]

Is Lieberman out of his freaking mind? If he resigns Obama will fill it with an appointee and it’ll establish them even firmer into the position of being able to turn the Dept. into his own gestapo.

[ProfoundMan]

I'm with ya there. Save for defense, Lieberman is a huge lib. Just what we need - another RINO.

[pallis]

Joe isn’t going to do us any good as a Republican, Independent or Democrat. He is a liberal’s liberal, except for his position on the war, and now he can’t help us there. Let him resign.

[FrankR]

"I don’t understand why Democrats treat him the way they do. "

When you join the democrats, it's like getting married...you don't just marry the girl, you marry the whole damn family.

Lieberman has been black-balled for his association with McLame. Like the Nazi's, if you stray from party lines, you must go.

A communist by any other name (leftist, democrat, progressive, liberal, MSM, etc.) is still a communist.

[johncocktoasten]

She would probably plug Ned Lament in there since he had the next highest number of votes. That’s only fair and bipartisan you know./sarc

We need bitter, entrenched partisanship in Washington. I wouldn’t mind turning on CSPAN and seeing the senate looking like a UFC match. I want to see every single bill filibustered by senate republicans. Block every judge, block every tax hike, block every civil service stazi bill, block it all!

The Democrats have proven that they don’t respect election results, if buzzy ginsburg and souter decide to retire in Vermont together, block the damn nominations until 2013! Hell, if nothing else, it leaves the court 4-3 conservative for a while (I don’t count Kennedy as a conservative)

Scorched Earth Baby!

[mlocher]

I’m confused....how come FR’s are welcoming Lieberman with open arms and call MCCain cow dung for being a RINO?

There are a few non-conservative politicians who I respect because they stand up for what they believe in. I disagree with them vehemently over their positions, but at least I know what they are. Believe it or not, Lieberman, Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader fall into this category for me, among others. No, I do not want them in the Republican Party -- they are not conservatives. Respect and agreement with policy are two different things.

[sickoflibs]

This would be a great start to our political revolution. The BCC types + leftwing are demanding he is punished, made an example. Lets pray they do this, and we want Moonbats promote this to elected democrats. Our best bet is they dance to the Sheenan type tunes, show true colors.

[pabianice]

Why would he resign?

[TommyDale]

"He doesnt need to switch parties, he's an "independent".

Of course he doesn't need to switch parties, but he may want to sit on a committee where his expertise can be utilized.

"The dems, if they are smart, should hold their breath and keep their mouths shut about Lieberman until they know for sure how many seats they hold."

The Dems have never been accused of being smart, especally since Harry Reid has been in charge in the Senate.

[Gurgeh_won]

I don’t see him ever switching parties. He’s in the mold of “Scoop” Jackson, a hawkish liberal.

[steve-b]

Hell no. Once a backstabber, always a backstabber.

[TruthWillWin]

....likely a GOP senator.

Likely? I'll give anyone 10-1 odds if they want to bet on him picking a dem.

[steve-b]

It’s an empty threat to see if the Rats are wussy enough to cave.

[LS]

Try reading "Rules for Radicals" and get back to me.

Folks, we seriously have to get on the field, or there isn't going to be a field left.

[steve-b]

If they hold 59 votes, though, he gives them the 60 they need for a filibuster proof majority so all of a sudden he becomes the most sought after caucus member once again.

Nope. They could just get a few of the more liberal RINOs to flip, and the bad blood over Lieberman's backstabs runs deep.

[steve-b]

I’m going by basic rules of realpolitik. One of them is to steer clear of people who for whome double-dealing is a recreational activity like solitaire or building boats inside of bottles. Such people can occasionally be useful tools, but must never be taken into your confidence.

[Petronski]

...Lieberman's backstabs runs deep.

I read that as "...Lieberman's backrubs stun deep."

I'll have more coffee now.

[LS]

Take two: read "Rules for Radicals." It is the manual for how we are getting our @ss kicked. Throw out "realpolitik."

Churchill: "If Hitler was invading hell, I'd find something favorable to say about the devil."

[Cedric]

http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/8925/alinsky.htm

[Cicero]

A party switch would be fine, IF Lieberman were willing to abandon his support for abortion, and IF he promised to be the kind of RINO who votes with the party when the leadership demands it, not just another Lincoln Chaffee. He could vote with the Dems the rest of the time to please his liberal CT constituents, just as long as he did his part in the crunch—i.e., on SCOTUS votes and the like.

He is, supposedly, an Orthodox Jew, so being pro-life should not really be that much of a stretch for him. Plenty of politicians have violated their consciences and gone the other way in order to placate the Democrat leadership.

[pepsi_junkie]

Nope. They could just get a few of the more liberal RINOs to flip, and the bad blood over Lieberman's backstabs runs deep.

The most likely guy they can get is the one who was most dependable for them in the past: John McCain. On issues other than Iraq, he will be willing and likely to "reach across the aisle" which is his codeword for capitualate to Democrats. Especially now that his presidential hopes are done he can be free to be what he is: someone who first and foremost loves to spit in the face of conservatives. He hates us far more than anyone on the left.