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Jeffords in Reverse: If Lieberman Wins, Will He Join the Republican Caucus?

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Fri, 08/18/2006 - 8:16am.

August 18, 2006

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

Given that the White House is de facto supporting Lieberman in Connecticut, wouldn't it be a strong likelihood, were Lieberman to win in Connecticut, that he would declare himself an independent aligned with the Republicans?

Just think about it a moment.

Lieberman is pretty much a Bushevik Republican already (even though he supports some Democratic social programs) -- both in foreign policy outlook and pomposity.

Why wouldn't he jump ship? He's halfway there already.

And if the Republicans maintain control of the Senate, don’t you think Bush would reward Lieberman's loyalty by making sure that he gets a choice appointment as a majority party committee chair?

Of course, the way to prevent such a scenario is to make sure that Ned Lamont wins the fall election -- and, better yet, that the Democrats beat the odds and take back the Senate. Under this scenario, Lieberman could fade into retirement as a fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

But if the Democratic club in the senate who are either backing Lieberman or giving Lemont only token support think that that "Joementum" will stay a "loyal" member of the chummy Senate Dems, they should think again.

Lieberman is running as an Independent. He's just a puddle jump from the GOP as it stands.

If the GOP holds onto the Senate and Lieberman wins, watch for Lieberman to say "Bye-Bye" to Harry Reid and wave to him from the other side of the aisle.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS




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There is no room for Lieberman in the democratic party

Submitted by bigdavefromqueens on Fri, 08/18/2006 - 11:02am.
This is not about 1 issue. To be a democrat then I believe you must meet the following criteria: 1) Ethical and honest. (Which is why we should boot William Jefferson from Louisiana no matter how he votes.) 2. Pro middle class 90% plus of time. 3. Reality based foreign policy. 4. Protector of our Constitution 5. On side of individual social freedoms at least 90% of time. Yes there are 5 litmus tests. I believe the majority of Americans meet them. So for those who don't, get lost. And by the way, Joe Lieberman is 0 for 5.
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Lieberman vs The Democratic Party

Submitted by Hugh on Fri, 08/18/2006 - 10:47am.
In Canada,when a member of a party "crosses the floor"(joins the opposition), the party the he/she represented during the election campaign, revokes his party membership. . If Lieberman will not be representing his party, in the next election, and if he doesn't voluntarily give up his party membership, the party should revoke it and remove him from any/all party committees and boards. . Problem solved. Kranky Canuck
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Follow the money

Submitted by stevehigh on Fri, 08/18/2006 - 9:36am.

Token cash from the GOP means they're just making mischief, using Holy Joe to push their "DefeatofCrats" message. Real, substantial help means they expect to steal a Democratic seat.

Also, watch the eyes of the Democratic members. Say what you will, these guys aren't as stupid as many in the netroots imagine. They want those committee chairmanships worse than a hog wants slop. If they calculate that they hold CT with either Lieb or Lamont, it makes sense to put Democratic cash elsewhere.

Finally, although I ardently supported the Lamont challenge, I feel a little sick in the guts about it. I have to ask myself, if Bill Clinton feels one way about something and I feel the other, who's the REAL a--hole here? Looking back, might have been better to put a close-pin on our nose and hold the seat the easy way. It's gonna take all kinda Democrats to win a majority and Holy Joe is no worse--maybe better--than some.

To your point though, yeah, I think there's damn good chance he might flip--esp. if the GOP holds on or if it happens to land 50-50.

Here's what I also think. It's time--past time--for that big-mouthed Kos and MoveOn and me and everybody else that got us into this to start pouring in money. And it's WAY past time for Lamont to loan his campaign a modest amount--say $20 million.

That's how rich guys get to be senators these days, and he's never gonna be any closer than he is right now. In all honesty, Lamont, a selectman, doesn't have a helluva claim on the job. Ideology aside for the minute, who would you hire? Honestly. Doesn't Lieberman have a slightly better resume?

If it's your business, your career, your state, whom would you hire? The unqualified nice guy? Or the qualified, experienced prick?

The only way for Lamont to win is to say that HE'S the independent Democrat, a businessman reluctantly drawn into politics because of the corruption and lies of a has-been phony, a George Bush rubberstamp, a two-faced disloyal hack rejected by his own party twice who now is masquerading as an independent to con the voters of CT out of their votes.

With $20 million in TV, I say he could make this fly.

Lamont should also use the mail as a stiletto to tell Democrats that Lieberman is playing kissy-face with Bush and Rove and not that he might flip but that he will flip, has already signed a secret back-room deal to do it, and that we have photocopies of it; to tell Republicans that Lieberman has voted with every Democrat from Ted Kennedy to Hillary Clinton to Cynthia McKinney umpteen times; to tell independents that Lieberman is a pawn of the Democratic Party and has been since the days of Boss Daley in Chicago.

The DC Democrats had a point when they said primary fights are nasty things, but we didn't listen. So now, let's double down and win. It also wouldn't hurt to apologize for being wrong about Paul Hackett; getting him out of OH-Senate and letting Sherrod run unopposed so he could beat Dewine like a tired mule turned out to be one of Schumer's better ideas.

If the netroots (and Lamont) can get some EARLY money into that race, start moving the needle in the polls, that will do far more than thousands of whiny letters to Senators Pryor and Lincoln.

Lamont is getting beat right now for only one reason--name ID. Money and TV can cure that in a week or two. But if he doesn't turn the polls quickly, Holy Joe will have his sanctimonious, smirking pick of which party to caucus with.

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Numbers matter

Submitted by robgo2 on Sat, 08/19/2006 - 8:43am.
It is entirely possible that control of the Senate will come down to a single senator, and that senator could be Joe Lieberman. No one is more aware of this fact than the Republican strategists, who, above all else, fear loss of control. It is inconceivable to me that they would throw their support to Lieberman as an independent without some assurance that he would move to their side of the aisle in a time of need. Lieberman has shown that he is a self-serving pig, who thinks and acts like a Republican, so such a move would be natural for him.
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