Guaranteed to piss you off: Reid says Lieberman to keep Chairmanship in '09

[cali]

by ek hornbeck
Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:21:33 AM PDT
h/t David Niewert @ FDL

Independent Lieberman Still Dancing With Democrats
By MARK PAZNIOKAS | Courant Staff Writer
April 3, 2008

Lieberman's constant presence at McCain's side fuels speculation that he would join a McCain administration. Yet he already has talked with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about his future in the caucus.

Would Lieberman, 66, a four-term Connecticut senator, be stripped of his committee chairmanship and seniority if Democrats no longer had to rely on a self-described "Independent Democrat" for their one-vote majority?

"I can tell you Sen. Reid had talked to me a few times and said he knows there will be talk if we get more than 51 Democrats next year," Lieberman said. "As far as he is concerned, I will retain my seniority, etc., no matter how many Democrats there are next year."

Reid's spokesman, Jim Manley, confirmed Lieberman's account.



What?

ek hornbeck's diary :: ::
Unbelievable.

To be fair, this statement was made before Joe's slobbering drooling chickenhawk war porn lover appearance at yesterday's Senate Petraeus/Crocker hearing, but AFTER HIS ENDORSEMENT OF A REPUBLICAN FOR PRESIDENT!

<snip>

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/9/71557/50953/635/492620

[islandmkl]

1. what? is Harry supposed to have some balls or something?..

we could use a little strength and vision from our leadership, but that does not appear to be on the horizon in the Senate OR the House...

[acmavm]

2. You thought that maybe Harry would do the 'right' thing?

Silly.

[lisa58]

3. He's just saying that...

...so Joe doesn't jump ship now - not a big enough majority to play hardball.

[riverdeep]

16. You know, that's what a smart operator would do.

That's also what I thought Pelosi might have been doing with the 'off the table' comment coming when it did before the election. Turns out, she meant it!

[Winterblues]

4. The new Leader of the Senate may not be Reid

Hillary might be the new Leader or someone else entirely. Reid has done us no favors, that is for sure...

[SoCalDem]

5. Reid may not be even the "leader-guy" in '09.. maybe the new leader

will have other plan for Joementum..

[kentuck]

7. Bingo!

Harry may be gone.

[old guy]

6. I wouldn't put much stock in this.

[ORDagnabbit]

8. for the most part its a one party system folks....

[onehandle]

9. swell. nt

[rateyes]

10. Just one more reason to replace Reid. nt

[shaniqua6392]

11. Even if Reid were considering giving Lieberman the boot...

he would not be wise to do it now. We have not won anything yet and it is a long way until November. But I would bet that Reid will let Lieberman stay anyway. He has no backbone. He is way too wishy washy to head the Senate.

[DCKit]

12. LIEberman was criticized roundly and the impression given by...

not giving up his Senate seat resounded with the voters - an impression that he didn't think Kerry had a chance of winning and which may or may not have been a self-fulfilling prophecy.

IF McInsane picks him for VP (doubtful) and he, again, refuses to leave the Senate, it won't bode well for another Republic Residency.

That said, I'd personally like to see him scrubbing toilets in the Capitol, but that would be taking a job away from an honest, working person.

[Dr Fate]

13. Maybe Reid is "keeping his powder dry for the next fight."

Maybe he is "playing chess" with Lieberman-or "giving him enough rope tohang himself with" or "waiting for him to fall on his sword."

Maybe there are some newer, well-crafted sayings & phrases that would explain this as well.

[Individualist]

14. Disgusting but not at all surprising

DLCers take care of their own.

[newmajority]

15. Lieberman AND Reid both need to go.

President Obama needs a Senate Majority leader who will actually get something done. Chris Dodd has my nomination (not that it carries any weight in DC, unfortunately.)

[riverdeep]

17. He made his bed, now he's got to lie in it.

He left the Democratic party, why shouldn't it leave him?

But again, the smart thing to do is to lead him on, then if/when we have enough votes, tell him in no uncertain terms where the next stop for Joementum will be.

[spanone]

18. it's a club - they protect their members at all cost - i'm sure harry and joe are best of friends

politics is their business -

[LiberalFighter]

19. We all need to wait until after the election and see how it all shakes out.

When we have the numbers without Lieberman than we can start hassling Reid if he thinks of having Lieberman retain his chair seat. That would also include his seniority. Since he wasn't a Democrat when he was last elected his seniority would start when that term started.

And just because Reid may have said that Lieberman would retain his seat doesn't mean that it will be that way. The factors that could dictate what happens... having 61 Democrats in the Senate without Lieberman... change in Senate leadership... the President deciding that they don't want Lieberman in a position of power... Lieberman's health failing... scheduling more meetings during the weekend... McCain resigning from the Senate after being defeated... the troops returning from Iraq... other factors.

Don't make a stink until the time is right.