Why it won't matter even if Sen. Domenici (R-NM) resigns

[DFW]

Senator Pete Domenici is being touted as candidate for resignation due
to improper behavior in the "Attorney-gate" scandal. He has raised (for NM)
a respectable amount for his re-election campaign next year, but if this
gains any more momentum, he could have Ross Perot bequeath his net worth
to the re-election campaign and it wouldn't get him re-elected.

But--if Domenici resigns this year, then what? Gov. Bill Richardson, not
only a Democrat, but a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president
next year, will surely appoint a Democrat to serve out Domenici's term, and
be in a good position to fight for that seat to remain in Democratic hands
after the 2008 election.

Great! Our majority gets enhanced by one, right?

I wish.

"Say-it-ain't-so Joe" Lieberman would finally find the justification (he'd no
doubt rationalize it by calling it a maintaining of the balance of power) to
either caucus with the Republicans, or join their party altogether. As he was
elected as a pseudo-Republican in 2004 anyway, it's not like he has a lot to lose.

Yes, he votes Democratic on many social issues, but he can still vote that way
with an "R" in front of his Senate designation. As a Republican, his status in
the Senate wouldn't change much. Now, even while he supports many Democratic
social issues, he keeps pissing the party off by kissing Bush's ass on Iraq. As
a Republican, he would please them by continuing to kiss Bush's ass on Iraq and
piss THEM off by voting with us on social issues. SO why bother?

Here's why: just as we considered Jim Jeffords a hero for leaving the GOP after
Bush Lite was elected, Lieberman would be considered a hero by them for joining
them. Like Rodney Dangerfield, he hasn't been getting a lot of respect of late,
and I suspect he'd enjoy getting some again. He wouldn't get it from us, but it's
been a while since he got it from us anyway.

"Just a little bit, hey baby, just a little bit.........."

[MaineDem]

1. I disagree

I will be very surprised if Lieberman ever turns his back completely on the Democratic Party. He likes the position he's in now but the labor unions and Democratic supporters will abandon him if he becomes a Republican. He really isn't a Republican. I don't like what he's done but I can't see him switching tot he Dark Side for good.

Now, I could be very wrong on this.

[Justice]

2. It matters alot actually

Domenici resigning means a Senator resigned for attempting to influence a USA. HUGE development in the USA purge scandal.

Richardson appoints a Democrat to fill his term.

Lieberman is gonna do what Lieberman is gonna do - I am not going to angst about that.

[JNelson6563]

3. Ok,, aren't we up by one already?

If we had another Dem we'd be up by two, right? So if Lieberman left we'd still be up by one. That would put him in the minority party. That would mean no chairing of anything.

Sorry but I don't see Joe it's-all-about-me Lieberman taking that step down, not even for his Rethug pals.

Julie

[seasat]

4. He is chair of Homeland security and gov affairs commitee

He'd lose those chairs, if he caucused with the Repugs. What it would mean is that if Domenici resigned, Lieberman wouldn't have as much influence on the vote regarding the Iraq war.
If Domenici doesn't resign, he's up for reelection in 2008. He'll probably retire instead of running again. We've got a great chance to pick up this seat. It'd especially help if Richardson gets the nomination or is VP on the 2008 ticket. Heather Wilson would possibly be another pickup in NM due to here involvement in the attorney firing scandal increasing our margin in the house.

[DFW]

5. MaineDem, I get your point, but:

It's not so much a question of him turning his back on the Democratic
Party as his feelings that the Democratic Party turned its back on him.
Like so many in Washington for a long time, I sense that he has fallen
victim to the common Washington syndrome of thinking the world revolves
around him, and is not pleased when told otherwise.

The reason I don't see Lieberman feeling a loyalty to the labor and other
Democratic constituencies that were the bedrock of his base is that I think
he feels he has been freed from his obligation to them by the support some
of them showed for Lamont. Now, he's just looking for a little love, and I
think it has progressed to the point where his desire for recognition has
gone beyond his desire to do what he was originally elected to the Senate for.

You said you could be wrong. I HOPE I'm wrong. I just fear I'm not.