If Lieberma wins re-election, does that count towards Democratic Majority?

[Armstead]

Just a question.

Joe Lieberman is running as an "independent Democrat."

If he wins re-election, does that mean his seat will be counted as a Democratic one or an Indepencent one? If he runs as an Independent, but declares himself as a Democrat, does that add to the number of Democrats in the Senate, in terms of determining which party has the majority?

I hope he loses. But I'm wondering whether a victory for Joe will affect that larger issue of who officially controls the Senate next year.

[sallyseven]

1. No. The guy from Vermont does not count as a

democrat in awarding chairmanships etc. He will lose his stuff now that he is an indy.

[liberalpragmatist]

2. He has said he will vote for Harry Reid

And he reiterated that yesterday according to a diary on Daily Kos.

Now, as to how he'll be styled, I'm not totally sure. My guess is he'll continue to be styled as "D-Conn." He DOES remain a registered Democrat, even though he's running as the nominee of his own egotistical party called "Connecticut for Lieberman" (in Conn., like in several states, you don't have to be a registered member of the party you are nominated by).

Who knows - he may flip-flop on voting for Harry Reid if he becomes even more estranged from the party over the next couple of months. But barring anything unforeseen, he will caucus with the Democrats.

[Armstead]

5. Would that add to the possibility of Democratiuc control?

I mean even if he still keeps up his Pseudo Democratic ways in the Senate, would his mere presence as a registered Democrat add to the total required for things like which party holds committee chairmanships and the other nuts-and-bolts matters that are based on which party has the majority?

[liberalpragmatist]

8. All that counts for organization is someone's vote for majority leader

So IF Joe votes for Harry Reid for Majority Leader (even if he styles himself henceforth as an "independent"), Democrats will control the chamber and the leadership (Reid, Durbin) will organize committee chairmanships (although those typically go by seniority).

Interestingly, the Hill notes that Lieberman's own probably committee chairmanship of Governmental Affairs is seriously in jeopardy right now because much of the Senate Democratic caucus is apparently furious at him right now, both for disobeying the results of the primary and for his vicious attacks on the Democratic Party. (see: http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/081606/news1.html)

So the possibility exists of an open rift that may mean Lieberman doesn't vote for Reid. As for now, however, he has said he will vote for Reid.

[Bake]

3. No, because (I predict) he'll switch parties.

After all, the Pukes are financially supporting his campaign.

Bake

[LA lady]

4. NO

It's like Bernie Sanders.(who has actually filed as a Democrat but will change upon winning)

[liberalpragmatist]

9. I thought Bernie is still styling himself an independent

His name has been entered into the Democratic primary, but my understanding is he remains a registered independent and will continue to call himself that. I could be wrong though.

[LA lady]

10. Here is the article I read:

He is trying to prevent having to run against another Democrat.

Sanders a Democrat, at least until primary

July 18, 2006

By Darren M. Allen Vermont Press Bureau

MONTPELIER — The hats are all in the political ring.

Vermont's filing deadline passed Monday for major party primaries this fall, and topping the list is the unusual jockeying in the U.S. Senate race. U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders, an Independent, is running in the Democratic primary this fall in his bid to be the state's next senator, where, according to filings due Monday in the Secretary of State's Office, he will face four other lesser-known members of the party.

But Sanders has vowed not to accept the Democratic nomination if, as expected, he wins it. That move will cut short the senatorial aspirations of Democrats Peter Moss, Louis Thabault, Larry Drown and Craig Hill, who will find themselves unable to run as the party standard bearer.

more at link;
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060718/NEWS/607180326/1003/NEWS02

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. Only if it makes sense for Joe personally.

[rinsd]

7. No. Remember Jeffords

When Jeffords bolted, he eliminated the GOP's slim majority. There was a power sharing agreement that had to be hammered out.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. By definition, he is not a Democrat

End of story.

[WI_DEM]

12. Only if he caucuses with the Democrats like Jeffords does

but with the GOP all but endorsing him, I wonder if he will.

[KingFlorez]

13. Yes

Anyone who will vote for a Democrat as majority leader will give us control of the Senate.

[WI_DEM]

14. that is if he actually will

I'm not so sure he will. If that were the case why are the Republicans falling all over themselves endorsing him over their own candidate? and how can we trust someone who won't accept the decision of Democratic primary voters that he will actually caucus with the Democrats?

[KingFlorez]

17. He will vote for Reid

The Republicans only like him based on one issue, the war. He's not about to vote for a Republican majority leader.

[liberalpragmatist]

15. Technically he is still a registered Democrat

In Connecticut (like some other states, including New York) you don't have to be a member of a party to get their nomination. He planned to run as an independent but chose to create a party called "Connecticut for Lieberman" so that he can have a higher ballot line (4th or or 5th versus 9th or 10th as an unaffiliated).

Just clarifying. It doesn't indicate approval by any stretch - we ought to defeat him because he's become increasingly unpredictable and I don't know if he'll keep his word or, even if he stays a nominal Democrat and votes for Reid, if he'll, say, endorse McCain in the next election, for example.

[ourbluenation]

16. sort of...he votes with the dems usually.

[LostinVA]

18. There is no such thing as an "Independent Democrat"

He can run as an Independent, that's it.

[Justice Is Comin]

19. If Who is on first

and What is on second, a rolling stone doesn't gather anything from a bird in the bush and whoever thought you can put a stitch in time is stupid.

[Nye Bevan]

20. It will be his choice

If Lieberman wins, there is a chance that he may control the balance of power in the senate. Say that after the election there are 50 Democrats, 49 Repukes, plus Lieberman. If he joins the Democrats then they control the senate.

My opinion of Lieberman is the same as most people here, but this scenatio is certainly possible and I am sure that Harry Reid is bearing it in mind amidst the calls to strip Lieberman of his committee chairmanships and seniority.