Lieberman Meets With Reid, Tries To Cling To Senate Chairmanship

UPDATE at 8:19 PM EST:

The Associated Press is reporting that Reid is looking to remove Lieberman from his post as chairman of a powerful Senate committee:

Reid, in a sternly worded statement after the 45-minute meeting, said no official decisions have been made. But an aide to the Nevada Democrat said Reid was leaning toward removing Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential.

Bolstered by a newly expanded majority, Harry Reid met with Joe Lieberman on Thursday to sketch out the conditions by which the Connecticut independent could continue to caucus with Senate Democrats. But Lieberman did not accept Reid's initial offers, leaving his future in the caucus uncertain, and potentially setting off a campaign to pressure the Democratic steering committee to decide Lieberman's fate.

Reid offered Lieberman a deal to step down as chairman of the homeland security committee but take over the reins of another subcommittee, likely overseeing economic or small business issues, officials said.

Immediately after his meeting with Reid, Lieberman told reporters that he had not made a decision about his future in the caucus, and appeared to launch his first public appeal to members of the Democratic steering committee, whose members decide committee chair assignments.

"I completely agree with President-elect Obama that we must now unite to get our economy going again and to keep the American people safe. that is exactly what I intend to do with my colleagues here in the Senate in support of our new president, and those are the standards I will use in considering the options that I have before me," Lieberman told reporters.

Likewise, Reid said in a written statement that negotiations will continue.

"Today Senator Lieberman and I had the first of what I expect to be several conversations. No decisions have been made," he said. "While I understand that Senator Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our Caucus. I expect there to be additional discussions in the days to come, and Senator Lieberman and I will speak to our Caucus in two weeks to discuss further steps."

At this point, Lieberman's only shot at retaining his committee chairmanship appears to be lobbying members of the Senate Democratic Leadership besides Reid. One key target would be the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, a group of nearly two dozen Democratic Senators who play a role in deciding committee seats.

Unfortunately for the Connecticut Senator, it is highly unlikely that Democrats would act against the wishes of Majority Leader Reid, who wants Lieberman to give up his chairmanship. Moreover, progressive activists have been anticipating this move for months, and have organized efforts to pressure steering committee members to strip Lieberman of his perks.

Comments

[jimpwhite]

Joe created doubt, therefore when there's doubt, there's NO doubt. Joe is not loyal therefore he won't perserve the Chair at HS or Vets!. Daniel Akaka has both beed loyal and theres no doubt to his duty in the "Chair". There must be consquences for Joe. Sen Read, the party needs leadership on this. Joe must be sofetly -slapped across the face with a white glove that is your job! Remove him from the "Chair". thank you

[gsaint]

Before press-talking, the senators should consult with Obama. What decision would best fit with the vision he, along with the rest of us, created. Working towards consensus, listening to outside viewpoints, selecting the best path to follow is truly bipartisanship. If our leaders believe he is able to bring ideas and practices to the table, consistent with our mandate, then who are we to say? Why get mixed up in this?example to follow~~~
I got an email asking to call my Senators to shut him down. Fine. Maybe they know more. But when I went to follow through with given research, the negative was given out of context, even to cut off sentences.
we aren't aware of all facts. I've my own personal feelings for the man (not necessarily good) but I haven't followed this 24/7 and don't have access to full versions and excerpts of any length. So I hand this to our elected Senators to solve; I trust them viewing the final decision through the vision created by Obama and this last campaign and election.
I do sometimes contact them and give my opinion, but rather than demanding, we need to first get the 'global perspective', if you will. If we agree on the vision, which it certainly is true we have, and act on the best practices that will help us achieve that vision, our goals and dreams for our wonderful America will once more be realized. But hey, that's just my opinion...­.

[linaya]

This demonization of Lieberman is childish. He supported who he wanted to support. Democrats say they want less partisanship in Washington yet they scorn and ridicule anyone who doesn't agree with them. What a bunch of partisan hypocrites. Either you want bipartisanship or you don't. Lieberman is being rejected because he preferred someone not the God-like Obama? What a sin. Well, cast him out then, and you'll have even less Democrats in the Senate. It seems counterproductive to me, but I must not be getting the point here. Is it pure hatred, revenge, or just silliness that makes Democrats behave like children? Republicans don't behave much better, but most of them have congratulated Obama. They aren't throwing the Republicans out of their party if they didn't support McCain. If Obama wants bipartisanship then what difference does it matter what Lieberman thought of Obama vs. McCain?

[shadow322]

Harry - do you even know what your job is? Lieberman must go. It's a matter of principal - do you still know what that is?

[RighteousAnger]

I'm logging out for the last time. This blog is not progressiv­e...it's reactionary!

[RighteousAnger]

Traitor and idiot!

[barbwire507]

Joe Lieberman simply cannot retain his position as chair of the Homeland Security Committee. By
his disgraceful actions against the Democratic Party, he should be relegated to a member of the
committee. Do not appoint him head of any committee. I think WE have the leverage here - does
anyone think he would want to jump over to the Republican Party who is in a mess - with no power
whatsoever? Reid can ell him if he stays a "good boy" maybe he can get to be head of some
committee. Then he will lose his next election and we will be done with him. He does vote with
the Dems so his votes might be of benefit. Then, if he doesn't behave himself, out he goes.

[learnsomething]

He is not a Democrat. Let him go, send him to his party, the Repubs.

[linaya]

and then the Democrats will have even less of a majority in the Senate. And the point of that would be . . . . ?

[w&cheneysuck]

He reminds me of Fredo in The Godfather.­....

[redlinemetro]

Lieberman is like Hermey, the misfit elf. He's indie-pendent. May I recommend a career in dentistry.

[Twinkie]

Isn't his voting record the only thing that matters? There are other dems with worse voting records than Joe's

[tomjones44]

actively campaigning for the republicans and keeping the chairmanship that the Democrats earned by campaigning (and winning)?

he shouldn't be allowed to take part in the spoils.

[Phillyska]

Joe the Senator MUST go....he is NOT a Democrat and can't be on any committee as one of us. Strip him of all committee memberships. If the GOP wants him to be on those committees, let him join up with them. Enough already...­.let him go even if it costs us 60 votes. There are other more honorable and progressive senators in the GOP who will vote appropriately.

[KLB1998]

As long as the Democrats still hold out some fading hope for a filibuster-proof majority, Lieberman holds a bargaining chip. But even if Joe finally comes out of the Republican closet, I think the Democrats would be better off courting some of the moderate Republicans who might be willing to follow in Jeffords's footsteps.

[marijam]

He's got to go. Let him join the grand old party of old white men where his friends are.

[LouisvilleLiberal]

I'm not sure I see the effect of removing Joe Lieberman as the chairman of the Homeland Security committee and giving him the chairmanship of another committee. How about letting him caucus with the Dems with no committee chairmanships for a couple of years? Let him sit on the committees like a jr. Senator while he decides which side he wants to be on.

Truth is, Lieberman should be voting the way his constituents want him to - not the way either party tells him to. As far as I'm concerned, his betrayal of the Democratic Party that he has been a member of for so many years is the last major act of a fading politician. Like McCain, Leiberman will serve out this term and lose the next election. They are both irrelevant and they can decide how they want to be remembered.