TOPICS
TOPICS
If Obama wins presidency, Lieberman might be odd man out
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., lost his regular Tuesday lunch date earlier this year. After the election, even though he isn't on the ballot, he could lose his job as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Lieberman, who won re-election two years ago by running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, angered his Democratic colleagues this year by not only campaigning for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., but by speaking on his behalf and questioning Democratic nominee and Illinois Senator Barack Obama's leadership abilities at the Republican convention.
Lieberman, in an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., decided earlier in the year to stop attending the Democrats' weekly policy lunch for the rest of the election season, and some Republicans have openly rooted for him to cross the aisle and join the GOP.
Current and former Capitol Hill staffers on both sides of the aisle are skeptical Lieberman would abandon the Democrats, but there is a widespread belief that Democrats might abandon their 2000 vice presidential nominee if they pick up enough seats next month.
"Lieberman better hope John McCain wins the White House, because come Nov. 5, if there's a President-Elect Obama, I don't think it's going to be good for him," one former Democratic aide said.
A McCain victory might give Lieberman an easy out -- a job as a Cabinet secretary or a senior adviser.
But with polls showing McCain trailing Obama, Lieberman might just have to face the music. That could include losing his committee chairmanship. "If I were a betting man, I don't think it looks too good" for Lieberman to keep the post, said one former Democratic staffer.
A Lieberman aide said the senator was not available for an interview due to his campaign commitments for McCain. For all their anger, though, there might be an incentive for Democrats to think twice before backhanding Lieberman. Though they are universally expected to increase their majority, every vote is precious when nearly every major bill in the Senate needs 60 votes to pass.
And, as one former senior Democratic staffer noted, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and others have demonstrated the power one determined -- or spurned -- member of the chamber can have. "He's a sitting U.S. senator, and no matter what your colleagues think of you, you can wield a great deal of power," the former staffer said.
COMMENTS
- Are there any conservative Democrats these days? Lieberman isn't one, except on foreign policy, because he is very liberal on social issues. Just Saying Posted November 3, 2008 11:38 AM
- “Too bad Ron Paul dropped out. Ron should have ran for Independent and then we'd finally have someone in the white house that matters.” Well, there may have been a good thought in there, if no real score. Being an independent I looked at both McCain and Paul early this season. Unfortunately, one dropped out and the other sold out. I thought ”Perhaps Libertarian?” Then I researched the Electoral College. While I’ve read and understand the Constitutional principles for the EC, I still have major problems with it. Supposedly for any government to exist with a semblance of democracy, then a strong opposition to the incumbent party MUST exist; and that this is easiest to maintain with a two-party system propped up by a selected AND EDUCATED electorate. I.e. the unwashed masses are too ignorant to make such important decisions. If you wish to speak on elitism, there you have the ultimate. Unfortunately, a multiparty system (i.e. greater than two) is thought to weaken the opposition to the incumbency; and devolve the election process into a popularity race. There may be some truth to that, as Thomas Jefferson prophesied “Every generation needs a new revolution.” …Just as many Americans feel now. I discovered that Ross Perot was the strongest independent third-party candidate; and yet he never received a single electoral vote. As a matter of fact, the only electorate to vote for a third-party candidate had charges brought against him and lost his voting privileges the next cycle. I am now totally convinced that as long as the Electoral College exists, we will never see an independent candidate win the Chief Executive position. At best they can only serve as spoilers, such as Ralph Nader. Regardless of this possibility, I still believe in the righteousness of one person, one vote! And firmly believe that until we achieve that exalted state; we will be held hostage to this system of elitism, demagoguery, and partisanship. Start the motion! Submit the Constitutional Amendment! Eliminate the EC! Give the people the power to choose! But until then, at a minimum, I must make my vote count and, as usual, will cast it for the lesser of the two evils offered to us. And pray the “selected and educated electorate” doesn’t override our collective decision, as happen in 2000. Tip off Posted October 29, 2008 4:06 PM
- There should be NO loyalty to either party. If people were smart they would vote for "Independent" for REAL CHANGE. Too bad Ron Paul dropped out. Ron should have ran for Independent and then we'd finally have someone in the white house that matters. Lieberman made the right choice - to not support BO or the crazy Democrat agenda, but the wrong choice to go to the Republican side and keep this war and bad economy going. Wake Up America before you end up being too far left or right like your candidates. MKH-L Posted October 28, 2008 12:52 PM
