Suppose Joe Lieberman wins and Democrats control Senate 51-49?

[kentuck]

And Dick Cheney would be the deciding vote in case of ties? Would Lieberman be more likely to vote with the Republicans or the Democrats? What do you think?

This is a very real possibility. However, it would be no win for our Party if Joe Lieberman was the 51st Democrat. Because, his ego would make him the kingmaker. His vote would be the deciding vote on every important issue. Would you want to trust him with that vote? I would not.

[jsamuel]

1. he will hold us ransom on every vote

every time he votes with us he will demand we pay him back with power

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Exactly. nt.

[ShaneGR]

40. We won't be able to get legislation made into law anyways....

Bush will veto everything. Fortunately, we will be able to call investigation after investigation into everything the Republicans have done for the last six years.That's what this comes down to.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Better To Have Joe In The Tent Pissing Out

Then Outside The Tent Pissing In.


He already said he'll vote with the Dems on procedural issues.

[kentuck]

4. But how will he vote on Social Security "priviatization"..?

for example?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. I Think Social Security Privatization Is Off The Table...

He did vote with the Dems 90% of the time.

A bad Dem is still better than the best Pug.

[kentuck]

17. Not for Bush.

And Lieberman has expressed interest in the idea...

[never_get_over_it]

37. Social Security Privatization

is not off the table - destroying Social Security is one of these neo-con freaks primary goals. The devil in chief was quoted talking about privatizing social security a couple of weeks ago I think in the Wall Street Journal.... and just yesterday "Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that the burden from retiring baby boomers will strain the nation's budget and economy, unless Social Security and Medicare are revamped."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/287560_bernanke05.html

I don't trust these rat bastards and I don't care if Lieberman has said he will caucus with the Dems I bet if it were tied the SOB would pick the repunks and then blame the fact that most of the Dem Senators didn't support him....

[DaveinMD]

29. it wouldn't matter

because we could keep the issue from being brought up for a vote.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. He made that conditional on seniority.

And he will keep his options open. See the above posts. He is a creep of the worst order.

[Pirate Smile]

18. True but I don't trust him AT ALL. If we need his vote for control of the

Senate, then we need to get it. Control is the key.

He is pissed at Dems and we can't stand him. I just don't think it would take much for the Republicans to get him to switch.

Joe gives me a headache and frequently - elevated blood pressure. :)

[VeggieTart]

38. He's already outside the tent

When Connecticut Dems chose Lamont as their man, that sort of ousted Lieberman.

[Burried News]

5. Do over Joe always votes for do over Joe.

[ThomCat]

7. If Lieberman wins, I expect him to change parties.

I think he will officially become a republican to punish the party that "betrayed" him. Especially if republicans keep the majority somehow, or if his conversion gives the majority back to the republicans, I think he'll jump at the chance to switch parties.

[qazplm]

10. nah

if we go up 51-49 and he switches sides, he then has to worry about a Dem president in two years or otherwise a further change in the numbers for the Dems.

He'd be stupid to switch sides if we are up 51-49 because he can only guarantee being in power for two years.

Whereas, if he sticks with the Dems for 2 years, he still has all of his options open for the following four years. If a Pub President is elected and it is still 51-49 THEN he might switch because that would take him all the way to the end of his term and he would have four years as a republican to soothe CT voters.

[kentuck]

11. At least you know how Joe thinks...

whatever is best for Joe...

[longship]

8. It matters, however we will be the majority.

That means that we get all the committee chairmanships and all the rest of the majority power benefits.

But just maybe we ought to get AZ-Sen as well so that we have an extra seat to nullify LIEbermann.

[madfloridian]

9. Well, well, someone is very happy now. Looky.

The DLC official blogger is gloating again. I guess it never occurred to him that his favorite mooseketeer is in effect hurting the Demcratic party and refusing to accept the CT Dems decision.

http://bullmooseblogger.blogspot.com/2006/10/happy-moose.html

[zbdent]

13. Couldn't the Dems in power strip him of all his power

if he decides to keep fellating the Repukes?

[Sgent]

41. Yes

but there is a limit.

If we have 51-49 majority, then he could switch to voting R -- and the repubs win a tie vote (Cheney). This could include things like who is majority leader -- and the pugs will offer him a committee chairmanship if it keeps them the Senate.

[w4rma]

14. I know for a fact that if he keeps seniority he'll impede investigations

of the Republicans. He wants to remain ranking Democrat on the committee that is responsible for investigating them, so if he keeps his seniority he'll become chair of that committee.

[Pirate Smile]

20. I worry about that too but at least all the other Committees could

do investigations.

It is more then we have as the minority, although it would be irritating as hell.

[sui generis]

15. exactly why our candidates can't be "from all over the spectrum"

on big issues.

It's a waste of party affiliation. Pro and Anti everything cancel out each others votes, leaving the republicans calling the shots yet again, and from the minority side of the aisle.

Figure it out. Democrats need to be together on the big issues or else they're not democrats.

That and, no matter what if we don't win by supermajority in both houses, nothing will change.

[leftofthedial]

16. he'll be an asshole

and then pull a reverse Jeffords

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. Lucky for us Lieberman decided to support Hastert, now this is less likely

I read where it's hurting him, which is fitting considering.

Here's a link to the LBN story and the main link to the article:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2549007

http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17293224&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6

[KharmaTrain]

21. Let's Make A Deal

First...if Liebermann wins, Harry Reid needs to buck him down to a rookie...remove all his seniority and if he wants to caucus with Democrats he starts like a Freshman...and others in the party must demand it. He wasn't re-elected as a Democrat, he's not a Democrat and doesn't deserve to retain any seniority. IRC, when Jim Jeffords came over, he lost all his seniority, but did it because he believed in 2001 in how dangerous this regime was. That leads to how this game can change.

If the Democrats win the House and are it's only Liebermann's seat that makes the difference in the Senate, wanna bet there's a "Let's Make A Deal" game all set in play. Reid and Durbin probably have a list...or maybe even have contacted a Reugnican like a Chuck Hagel or Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe...people who will be very much on the outs with their party and do what the GOOP did with Shelby and Nighthorse-Campbell following the '94 election...offer them the ability to retain their seniority if they jump over to our side.

If the Repugnicans lose the House, expect the knives to come out long and deep. And it'll be the far right factions that go purging. The remaining moderates will be marginalized even further. Also a strong Democratic wave in November could scare the shit out of some not to want to face a challenge in 2008.

[kentuck]

24. One Senators vote is equal to any other Senator's vote...

regardless of seniority.

[KharmaTrain]

25. Not In The Cloakroom

I'm sure you know the horsetrading that goes on...and a nearly deadlocked Senate will require Monty Hall to be President.

By getting one or two Repugnicans to jump over, it then changes the agenda...making Reid speaker and then Joe's vote is less than what is was/is if Frist remains in charge.

[porphyrian]

22. It depends on the vote.

Lieberman might be a right-wing Democrat, but he does have a couple of Democratic leanings. I can't think of what they are right now, but I'm pretty sure he has one or two.

[WilliamPitt]

23. WE WILL CONTROL ALL THE COMMITTEES

[geek tragedy]

26. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. eom

[Cosmocat]

27. The Dems will have him by the butt ...

As noted, they will have control of committees, they will be able to set chairmanship ... Also, they will hold his seniority over him ... He acts a fool, they can bump him down the food chain, that is where his ego will help to keep him in line ...

FINALLY, he goes to repug, his constituency will absolutely turn on him ... IF he comes clean here, it will have been by the the last hair on his receding hairline ... He has to take a hard turn back to the right, or he WILL get run out next time he comes up ...

[Time for change]

28. I believe that Lieberman would become a Republican

Why not? Democrats hate him and Republicans love him. It's the Republicans, not the Democrats, who are supporting his current candidacy. Why would he stay a Democrat?

But I do feel it would be much better if he switched over. Kingmaker or not, the Democrats need to have control of the Senate. Lieberman would vote with the Republicans on WOT issues anyhow, but he wouldn't be the deciding vote on every important issue.

[cali]

30. Why not?

He'd guarantee the wrath of the voters in his state. That's why. And if dems take back the senate in 2008 he'd be royally screwed. He's not that stupid.

[Time for change]

44. But the good preponderance of his votes are coming from Republicans

and the next largest numbers from independents. I don't think that he's going to incur their wrath for voting with the Republicans,

[me b zola]

31. A scene from the movie "The Green Mile" comes to mind...

...the scene where they are going to take Joe Coffee (spelled like the drink) out of the prison, but they need to do it without the power hungry trouble-maker finding out. So they empty out the storage room, pistol whip the trouble-maker, put him in a straight jacket tape his mouth and lock him in the storage room.

Surely the Capitol has storage rooms. :evilgrin:

[Nutmegger]

32. LIEber/LOSERman will demand power

and he will be much more smug and anal. Much worse than he is now.

[mdmc]

33. he is a Dem

for real

[kentuck]

34. I guess he could be recalled if...

he screws up too badly...

[mdmc]

36. he will behave

the DLC needs the white house in 2008. He might play a supportive part.

[Swamp Rat]

35. Lieberman is a Trojan Horse

[Imagevision]

39. Sorros should "quietly" contribute to Lamont's team...

[David Zephyr]

42. Kentuck, this has crossed my mind and I try to push it out...

That microphone grabbing, egomaniac would love the spotlight of being Mr. Swing Vote. Heavens to Betsy, I hope Lamont wins.

Have a great weekend!

[Telly Savalas]

43. Lieberman's an asshole, but he wouldn't be the deciding vote.

There are a number of right-leaning Democratic Senators who would be just as quick, if not quicker, to abandon the party on certain votes than Joementum.

[NNN0LHI]

45. Lieberman is not going to win

The Republicans say they will vote for him in polls but they won't go out and vote this year.

Don

[kentuck]

46. I think you are right, Don...

Republicans are not going to rush to the polls to vote for Joe Lieberman - not this year.