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

[rjallen71]

Why should Lieberman be stripped of anything? Because he supported the GOP's candidate? Because he's had harsh words for the Democratic party? Come on, be realistic.­..if they're talking about bipartisanship, then Lieberman should stay right where he is. He stood for the candidate whom he believes should run this country, there is nothing wrong with that. It has nothing to do with whether he should keep any of his chairmanships or not. I hope President Obama will reach out to Lieberman and get his opinion on some issues, because Lieberman has had good ones, so no one, including the Democratic Party should leave him out of anything. In fact, Obama should have a sit down heart-to-heart talk with Lieberman to ask why he has left the Democratic party...Bi­partisansh­ip right? This is the way it should be done. We should not be afraid to negotiate.

[Kerra52]

HE LIED at the convention during his speech. He used all the Republican talking LIES to make sure Obama did not get into office! It was not jus tthat he spoke at the convention but he told vicious LIES. That is unforgivable.

He stood behind McCain as McCain called Obama's tax policies SOCIALISM!!!! And nodded his head!

[rjallen71]

Unfortunately, lies were the running game of this election, as with any election..­.distortio­n of truth, twisting the facts; whatever you want to call it, and Obama has been guilty of it too by the way. All of these politicians have been guilty of lying...Li­eberman is no different. Obama is willing to listen to people who do not agree with him, as he said in his victory speech, so the Senate should not use Lieberman as a scapegoat for anything.

[SatinPanties]

Naaahhhh, kick the bum out!!

[rjallen71]

LOL.

[anarmyofnone]

Why did Lieberman leave the Democratic party? Are you serious? He lost the primary to Ned Lamont, so he created his own Independent party and was supported and elected by Connecticut Republicans. The Republicans didn't even fund their own candidate! As chairman of the Homeland Security committee, he has blocked investigations that the Repubs didn't want pursued. Besides, Obama already had a talk with Joe on the floor of the Senate, but apparently Joe didn't listen.

It's one thing to support a candidate. It's one thing to vote for a candidate. It's entirely another to travel, campaign, speak at his party's convention and trash the Democratic candidate and then expect to keep his perks. THAT is the audacity of hope! He's lucky if he gets to run the Senate coat room. Buh-bye, Joe.

[who38]

Thank you for stating this so very well.

[cluesearch]

You know, if Lieberman had just supported McCain because he believed he was the best man for the job but did not undermine the democratic candidate I would say he voted with his conscience and should be left alone. Lieberman didn't do that. He was opportunistic, nasty, hateful, and he lied about Obama and Biden. For those reasons he should not be allowed to maintain his chairmanship or receive any other. If he loves the republicans so much I suggest he go and caucus with them.

[who38]

And he also exploited the concerns of Jews in Florida. Thank God for Silverman's Schlep.

[jamrock47]

You are wrong Lieberman can not be trusted , he did the unforgivable when he said the things he said about President elect Obama, I am mad that he supported Mccain against a man who campaigned for and supported him when hios ass was in trouble whilst seeking re election , how did he repay President Elect Obama by stabbing him in the back. how can anyone justify the things he said, when he had a chance to support and defend someone who supported and defended him.dsipic­able.

[margbk]

Ouster. Period. Liberman is a turncoat. He should have no power whatsoever. Why would the Democrats even remotely be stupid enough to award a key Chair to a "colleague" who has done nothing but betray them. Reid needs to impose order and to take charge. Fancy footwork and massaging is a waste of time. Time to move on.

[Viper]

There are things I dont like , like bailing out Wallstreet and GM.. but I undertsand the reasons we must...

But there is no reason to keep that swarmy Joe Lieberman around. Cut th guy loose, give him a boot and forget the gold watch. Thas would be Change we can Believe in.

Regards

[iamamultitasker]

"leaning" ????!!!!!

If I were senate majority leader you'd already see a boot print on Lieberman's butt and probably somewhere else.

I am envisioning a scene similar to that old TV series "Branded."

[guillotine]

LMAO! Wholly agree with you.
Find some stones, Harry Reid. What do you gain from counting Lieberman as a Democrat and giving the sneaky, smarmy guy access to all Democratic strategy sessions? He has largely gone over to the other side, and you may as well face this directly. Tell him that if he's not a Republican, he must be an Independent, because he's sure seemed uninclined to be a Democrat.
That is, unless Lieberman's prepared to admit he's really an at-large, floating member of the knesset.
"Country first," as his old buddy J. McCain liked to say.

[rbenjamin]

"an aide to the Nevada Democrat said Reid was leaning toward removing Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.­"

Lean harder Harry!

[who38]

Harry is leaning over a chair; Joe is unzipping his pants. Old news.

[Joeblue]

Have some guts for once Ried and can the guy.

[ldcbl]

dump Lieberman and Reid. Lieberman is an opportunist traitor and Reid is an ineffective leader. Obama needs a Senate leader who has chutzpah.

[guillotine]

As good a time as any for Harry Reid to mumble off into the sunset. Between him and Pelosi, there is just so much hand-wringing, apologetic body language. Too much of their of their careers has been spent as the "loyal opposition"; little surprise, then, that too much of their attitude expresses a certain hat-in-hand subservience. Time to get a move on, Democrats; find some forcefulness, or most of Obama's campaign proposals will fizzle legislatively, and that lack of follow-through on his "mandate" would be held against all Democrats for a generation, maybe condemn the party outright.
Keeping Lieberman where he is would be a grave first misstep toward "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory."

[NevadaLiberal]

I would strip him of all committee chair positions. Why give him any? I would banish him to Alaska. Maybe Wasilla is looking for a Mayor?!

[vippy]

What is the hold up? Lieberman showed himself on the GOP Side, anyone watching the news
would have figured he is one of them. So why not get rid of him, let him be a GOPER or is there
no place open for him. Does anyone want him?

[LemonMeringue]

Why is Reid even thinking this one over?

GIVE LIBERMAN THE BOOT

He has earned it dozens of times over.

[zendem1]

They held a contest between Lieberman and reid to see who was the bigger d ou che nozzle. It was a tie.

[AlexNYC]

Senator Palpatine has no business being chairman of Senate Homeland Security.

[ebanks84]

This man cannot be trusted and Obama does not need untrustworthy people around him. Kick him to the curb and let him contemplate the error of his ways.

[larry278]

Sen Reid, Talk to Rahm Emanuel, now! Ask Rahm about Sen Lieberman retaining any chairmanship. Follow Rahm's advice. Stop the soap opera drama. DeWitt Gnau

[who38]

Joe may counting on that. Maybe Rahm told him to waffle.

[Teadye]

I think it's hilarious that this writer supposes that McLeeberman might have a chance at lobbying Democrats to keep his position. We Progressives haven't been "anticipating this move for months" we have been demanding this move for years! One of the sore points between Dems and Reid has been the extent to which Leeborwhosits has been petted and indulged by the "leadership" up to this point just for the sake of his one vote.

For all that fanny-kissing we have gotten absolutely nothing but a slap in the face once it came time for him to put up or shut up. IMHO all that the big number 51 did was provide a platform from which Repubs could blame the country's ills on the "Democrat majority."

[shag11]

While I agree with your sentiments, to use a paraphrase, "Cronyism is thicker than water." When Sen. Reid spoke about removing Alaska's newly convicted Sen. Ted Stevens, Dem. Sen. Akaka, of Hawaii, came to Stevens' defense. So we don't know how some of these guys will vote.