Posted: 11/10/2006 11:37:16 AM EDT
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How come he isn't being touted as a king-maker in the Senate? Jeffords, in the same position when he defected was the talk of the town. What would keep Joe from being truly independent, after all the Party booted him. Republicans (and real Independents) elected him. I'm curious to see what happens, he was always a bigger force in the Senate than Jeffords. |
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When someone leaves the Republican Party, they are a hero. When someone leaves the Democratic party, they are on page 14. That's the media for you. Also, Jeffords leaving the Republicans was critical because he started voting with the Dems and it caused a shift in the balance of power in the Senate to the Democrats. That was big news. Lieberman isn't even changing how he votes, and his "loss" from the Democratic party doesn't really affect anything as dramatically as Jeffords did. |
I thought his stance on Israel and the ME was more in line with Repubs...and that is why they hung him out to dry. If he doesn't change that vote there may be some effect. Maybe he will bargain for a Chairmanship for his vote, afterall he's a fairly senior guy in the Senate. Like I say, I'm just curious to see how it all plays out. Hardly anyone's talking about it which makes me think it's more important that they're willing to admit to in public. As you say the media is pretty complicit. |
Well, I was mainly referring to how he will vote on chairmanships and such. But I don't see him significantly changing his stance on Iraq either. He stuck to his guns, and he got re-elected despite the Democrats. It would be silly for him to change now that he has proven that his position is the one the people want. Lieberman in on a short list of liberals I can respect. He stands by his beliefs. He doesn't generally shift around according to the polls. |
Lieberman isn't all that liberal, in the grand scheme of democrats. What sucks about Lieberman is that he won't have any leadership position by virtue of no longer being a democrat. He is one of the few that I could respect in a leadership capacity, most of the democrats are worthless in that regard. Re: Webb; I don't think the GOP will court him much, he is a loose cannon. I also don't see him sticking around for more than 1 term (not of his own choosing). I am not sure how loyal he will be to the democrats (this time). He is tempermental and every time he gets mad he changes party. shooter |
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I guess this is his answer. Lieberman: Call Me a Democrat Nov 10 11:13 AM US/Eastern Sen. Joe Lieberman, who won re-election as an independent, has a message for his Senate colleagues in the next Congress: Call me a Democrat. The three-term Connecticut lawmaker defied party leaders when he launched his independent bid after losing to Democrat Ned Lamont in the August primary. During the campaign, he vowed to be an "independent-minded Democrat" if he were re-elected. In Tuesday's election, Lieberman won strong GOP support and given the closely divided Senate, Republicans are expected to court him. So will he count as a Democrat or an independent who caucuses with the majority Democrats? In an e-mail message late Thursday, Lieberman spokesman Dan Gerstein said the senator will begin his new term as a Democrat. With the Democratic takeover of the Senate, Lieberman is in line to become chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In a post-election news conference, Lieberman said he was reassured by Senate Democratic Leade |
And he won on an unapologetic platform favoring the war and the reasons we went to war. He will caucus and vote for the Dems, because that is what he believes. People like Jeffords seek only power and disregard integrity to get it. Leiberman will also get his "seniority" preserved by his fellow D's if he stays on the reservation. He'll not be switching sides anytime soon. |
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If Lieberman were either solidly pro-gun or stated "I have no anti-gun agenda" and made me believe it then I'd support him for a run for President starting NOW. He shows a rare combination of honesty, integrity, manners, humor, and a moderate viewpoint that makes most democrats think he's too far to the right. Truth is, he's about as centrist as anybody in congress. I think he could win the Presidency regardless of what ticket he ran on. Is he the ideal candidate for gun owners? Probably not. But who's better who looks like a likely prospect? CJ |