[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

Harry Lavo wrote:
"Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!" wrote in message
oups.com...

Harry Lavo wrote:
"Walt" wrote in message
...
Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason! wrote:
John Atkinson wrote:
ScottW wrote:

And in a really ironic twist of fate for the
Koster anti-Lieberman crowd, old Joe ends
up being the most sought after independent/dem
in recent memory.

He won because of heavy support from Republican
voters, who see him as a means of interfering with
a Democratic majority in the Senate.

Agreed. But don't forget the heavy support from Republican donors.
THis
is America. Money doesn't talk, it screams.

However, he
only retains his committee seniority (and the
coveted chairmanship of the Homeland Security
committee) if he caucuses with the Democrats.

Or if he swings a deal with the GOP to switch parties and keep his
seniority. Everything's negotiable.


Which both Independent Senators have pledged to do.

And if you believe everything politicians promise to do, you'll get
exactly what you deserve.

Sanders will caucus with the Democrats; I can't see him doing
otherwise.
Joe is in a position to sell himself to the highest bidder. He's
already
beholden to the GOP money machine, when and how is he going to repay
them?

Actually, Walt, I've thought of this for the last few days, as the
prospect
of a Senate take-over became reality. It is my worst nightmare.....Joe
could wreak vengance and Cheney would tie-break. At least we would have
the
house, but it takes two to tango (or at least make legislation).

I find it doubtful that he would do so. Lieberman knows the game better
than that. Do you think that a guy who won as an Independent would
suddenly switch to the GOP, or start voting with them more, given the
'thumpin' that the GOP got? It ain't gonna happen, not in the near-term
anyway. Any republican money was to keep out a 'worse' choice in
Lamont. They knew their guy didn't have a prayer.

Well, I agree with you up to the point that the outcome was decided. But
now it has been. And there are many in the Democratic ranks who think
Lieberman was not a "good Democrat" in his decision to go independent (and
they are probably right as Lamont certainly would have won in CT without him
in the race). There are those who think there has to be some kind of
disciplining by witholding favors, particularly since he will probably not
be with the party on the war. It is certainly to the Repubs advantage to
woo him away if they can and neutralize Dem control of the Senate, so if any
of that kind of thing goes on either Lieberman or the Repubs could decide it
made more sense to "switch".

We'll see. I think that would be political suicide. I also don't think
that Lieberman wouldn't see that. He obviously wants to be in the game
for more than one term.

The smart move in my book would be for the Dems and Senator Lieberman
to kiss and make up.