Joe fixin' to come out of the Republican closet?

[kskiska]

(February 12, 2007 -- 01:46 PM EST // link)

Joe fixin' to come out of the Republican closet? TPM Reader GD points out this Joe Klein prediction from this weekend's Chris Matthews show ...

This is just a guess, but it's an educated and a reported guess. The Democrats in the Senate are getting really, really angry at Joe Lieberman, especially because he's been accusing them of undermining the troops' morale. And Joe Lieberman isn't too happy with the Democrats, either. I think there's going to be an explosion and perhaps a party switch pretty soon.

Not hard to imagine after what we heard in the recent New Yorker profile. But is he willing to bet on a Republican comeback in 2008?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/012405.php

-- Josh Marshall

[iconoclastic cat]

1. That would be so dumb. He'd lose his leverage. nt

[kskiska]

4. But he'd get a nice new committee chairmanship.

Besides, if the Repugs were in the majority, what would he need leverage for?

[wicket]

6. Is he unhappy with his current committee chairmanship?

[onenote]

8. what chairmanship would he get?

He's currently got Homeland Security. If he keeps that, he jumps ahead of Susan Collins. She's up for re-election in 2008 and is considered vulnerable. Wonder if she'd consider making a deal to switch to the Democrats in return for support for her re-election bid.

I seriously doubt Lieberman is going to switch parties, but I suppose it can't be ruled out as a possibility.

[BurtWorm]

9. If the Senate goes more strongly Dem in 2008, Lieberman can kiss power goodbye.

He may jump, but there are a lot of long-term risks that may outweigh the short-term ones: He'll make a lot of people angry back "home" in CT. He'll make Democrats everywhere angry. He will need the Republicans to lose their reputation for being corrupt and incompetent war mongers if he has any hope of lasting beyond two years.

[MoonRiver]

10. They would only have the majority until January 2009.

That gives NoMentum 2 years of power, and 4 of total obscurity when we get a big majority in the Senate. He'll be reduced to dog food at that time: hated by his deceived "constituents" in Connecticut, irrelevant and out of place to the Republics, and thoroughly despised and marginalized by the Democrats.

I doubt he's THAT stupid.

[Bucky]

7. No, he'd give the leverage to the Republicans.

If Joe flips, were back to minoritly statue in the Senate

[iconoclastic cat]

11. But my argument is that It's All About Joe.

And he won't be happy if suddenly it isn't All About Joe anymore.

[Pawel K]

2. I hope he does

excuse my french but fuck him. If he comes out as a republican he will not be elected again. I know, its 6 years before the next election which is pretty long, but I just want him out of there.

[Mojambo]

3. The only reason he hasn't done it is because he knows the Republicans are getting dusted in 08. n/t

[napi21]

5. I heard him make that comment! My heart fell on the damn floor!

The only reason I think Joe might be wrong is that Joe would give up all that POWER is he switched! My guess is that Joe isn't willing to do that! He's got the Senate by the short hairs and he knows it! Why would he give up that spot???

[drbtg1]

12. If he flips, can he be recalled a la Gov. Davis?

How does CT law read on this? There's probably enough support for it in CT (they did get rid of Johnson and Simmons in the House, and the Repubs didn't bother with a serious candidate in '06, the only reason Lieberman won)?

[blm]

13. Thankyou to all Democrats who sided with Joe over Lamont. I doubt you were EVER

really in it for the Democratic party or in it to respect the citizenry. If you were FOR Joe you were FOR the protection of BushInc.

[Tatiana]

14. I am so sick of him and his emotional blackmail. LET HIM GO!

Yes, it will suck for another two years or so having the Republics in control of the Senate, but we've got a comfortable majority in the House and we'll have the Senate back in '08.

We're not going to get any thorough and in-depth investigations of this administration until Bush & co. are out of office anyway. Let the wolves have Lieberman. We'll be better off as a party in the long run.

[catmandu57]

15. It would cause stalemate for a spell

With the democratic party in control of the house and the republics the senate, I think we could get the vunerable republics to seriously consider a party switch, they know they're going down big in 08.
I'd almost say go ahead just to get rid of that lying stinking sack of shit.