Speculation on why Joementum has not switched parties.

[Old and In the Way]

First, this is nothing but idle wondering....

Why hasn't Joe switched Parties? He got a clear message from Democrats in the primaries that he's not their choice and there is a debt due Republicans for rescuing him in the GE. If he flipped, I'm sure he'd be able to cut a deal for whatever hi-profile committee chair he wanted, what would Bush and the Republicans have to lose? Joe would still be in the limelight. So why hasn't he done it?

Maybe he knows that 2008 will relegate him to the backench if he did this...but that could happen anyway in the next Congress, particularly if we get a strong increase in Senate Democrats.

I'm betting that there is at least 1 Republican, maybe more, that would neutralize Joe's switch...as soon as Joe anounces, they announce their decision to switch. Such a change would then make Joe's leverage completely moot.

He's got the best deal he can get now.

[rock]

1. Maybe it's his senority

Just wondering.

[flpoljunkie]

8. Could the voters of Connecticut recall "Holy Joe" from Washington?

[Larkspur]

9. No. CT does not have recall legislation

[flpoljunkie]

18. Damn!

[Bucky]

12. I'm certain that if wanted to switch he could easily negotiate a chairmanship

The fact is that Lieberman would be more out of place in the Republican party than he is in ours. I know that's not a popular observation around her. But if you remove the Iraq, Israel, and Patriot Act votes, he probably supports the president less than 10% of the time.

[Phredicles]

2. I think he wants to keep the threat of a switch hanging over everyone's

heads; more leverage that way.

It's hard to put into words just how much I hate that goatfucker...

[Bucky]

13. Sir, that comment is an insult to all goatfuckers

[Nite Owl]

3. That's what I think it is too

If he switches he would be in the minority after '08 and he can see that.

[phantom power]

4. The threat of switching gives him the most power.

If the Democrats were smart, they'd just call his bluff. He's basically holding them hostage as things stand. They shouldn't allow it.

[BOSSHOG]

5. joe knows

the democratic majority is going to be bigger in 08. He's a selfish prick and wants to keep his options open. Having some conservatism in his dna he doesn't mind kissing whichever ass happens to be in power in hopes of a nice committee post. Kissing gop ass has not been very effective lately.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. Because he's getting camera time and kudos from Bush

He's the Cons' Icon for all things "bi-partisan" as far as Bush's Eternal War goes. If and when that stops, he'll switch to bring himself back to being the talk of the town.

[Selatius]

7. Turncoats are hardly trusted anywhere.

If he switched, then Dems lose the Senate. There is no guarantee that the Repubs would treat him any better than the Dems. On the issues, Joe has more in common with middle-of-the-road Democrats than with rightists like Delay and Hastert. Also, Joe would lose whatever chairmanships he has by switching, and if there is any part of Joe that simply is in it for the power, then that part of him would speak to him and tell him not to give up that power.

[SteppingRazor]

10. How about "He wants to be re-elected"?

If he switches to GOP, he gets killed in 2012.

[skipos]

11. He likes the attention he gets

Repubs will always be enticing him to come over, Dems will always be enticing him to stay.

[Virginia Dare]

14. Why not just start his own party?...

because he seems to be a party of one at this point anyway. Any ideas? How about the Joepublican Party? :evilgrin:

[madinmaryland]

17. I think even his "own" party has kicked him out.

Connecticut for Lieberman. Run by John Orman, who wants LIEberman out!

[onenote]

15. stalemate

The committee that he chairs is Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The ranking repub on that Committee is Susan Collins. In order to give joe the chairmanship of that committee the repubs would have to toss Collins overboard. If they did, she just might switch herself, giving the Dems the majority.

So basically, you have a stalemate

[maxrandb]

16. He's seen the writing on the wall

and the 22 Republican Senators that are up for reelection in 2008 and decided if he switches now, he gets a year and a half in the majority, but a generation in the minority.

The Repuke party is going the way of the Whigs. Look at the bloviating about this plane for the 3RD in line to the presidency. If that's all they've got, they know their screwed. They're grasping at straws and bailing the Titanic with a thimble.

Oh and by the way...Just because Repukes don't like her, does not change the fact that Nancy Pelosi is 3RD in line for the Presidency.