Alexander Bolton has an interesting column on Senate Democrat reaction to Lieberman's run:
In recent days, Lieberman has rankled Democrats in the upper chamber by suggesting that those who support bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq by a certain date would bolster terrorists' planning attacks against the U.S. and its allies. He also sparked resentment by saying last week on NBC's Today show that the Democratic Party was out of the political mainstream.Democrats are worried that Lieberman may be giving Republicans a golden opportunity to undermine their message.
"I think there's a lot of concern," said a senior Democratic aide who has discussed the subject with colleagues. "I think the first step is if the Lieberman thing turns into a side show and hurts our message and ability to take back the Senate, and the White House and the [National Republican Senatorial Committee] manipulate him, there are going to be a lot of unhappy people in our caucus."
...
The issue of Lieberman's seniority would arise most dramatically if Lieberman wins re-election and Democrats recapture control of the chamber. That would slot Lieberman to take over as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the panel primarily responsible for investigating the executive branch.Democrats think their chances of taking back the Senate are growing more and more likely. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) last week said he was more confident that Democrats would pick up at least five Senate seats.
Allowing Lieberman to retain his seniority could put the senator now running as an independent in charge of the Senate's chief investigative committee. If Democrats took control of either chamber they would likely launch investigations of the White House's handling of the war in Iraq and homeland security.
"Lieberman's tone and message has shocked a lot of people," said a second senior Democratic aide who has discussed the issue with other Senate Democrats. "He's way off message for us and right in line with the White House."
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2006 Senate Race
Comments (3)
Lieberman is a democrat. An... (Below threshold)1. Posted by yetanotherjohn | August 16, 2006 11:13 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Lieberman is a democrat. Any rational view of his voting record says he is a democrat. He was the democratic VP candidate just 6 years ago. He may hold some views that some democrats don't like, but that doesn't stop him from being a democrat.
So imagine the irony of this situation. Democrats pull out 6 turnover wins in the senate and gain the majority. Lieberman wins. Sanders happily joins the democratic caucus. Lieberman dutifully joins the democratic caucus. Democratic caucus turns around and dumps on Lieberman as described by removing his senority (they would have a fig leaf to hide behind because Lieberman Independant candidate) would be serving his first term. Lieberman wants to be a democrat. His heart is with the democrat. But like anyone else, he has a limit to how many loads of horseapples he likes to see poured over his head.
So Lieberman "pulls a Jeffords" and decides to caucus with the Republicans. Senate majority leaders Reid's reign ends a week into the new congress. Ironic, but possible (except the part about 6 senate wins).
1. Posted by yetanotherjohn | August 16, 2006 11:13 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 16, 2006 11:13
2. Posted by Charles_in_Texas | August 16, 2006 12:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
As you said, Possible except for 6 Senate wins. At their best, I see the Demons with a 1 seat gain this year.
2. Posted by Charles_in_Texas | August 16, 2006 12:09 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 16, 2006 12:09
3. Posted by Jim Addison | August 16, 2006 1:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I agree we aren't going to lose more than one net seat in the Senate this year, barring unforeseen events between now the election.
The more the Democrats dump on Lieberman, the more likely it is he would switch parties after the election. Republicans might agree to allow him to keep his seniority to sweeten the deal.
He's a liberal Democrat, but hardly more liberal than Chaffee, Collins, and Snowe. If he joined the GOP, he might even revert to the more conservative positions he abandoned to run for VP in 2000, like school choice and opposing federal funding of abortion.
Bottom line: if the Democrats are "expressing concern" already, they probably smell trouble and are setting Lieberman up as the scapegoat for their poor electoral performance. And, as Martha Stewart says, that's a good thing.
;-)
3. Posted by Jim Addison | August 16, 2006 1:31 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 16, 2006 13:31