GOP Senate Leader Reaches Out To Lieberman

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is talking to Connecticut independent Sen. Joe Lieberman about the possibility of Lieberman caucusing with the GOP.

Lieberman's affiliation with Democrats is up in the air. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, angered by Lieberman's support of Republican John McCain for president, is considering yanking Lieberman's chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as punishment.

Lieberman and Reid met Thursday to discuss Lieberman's options, including possible committee and subcommittee posts for him. Those talks are ongoing.

A Lieberman aide, who requested anonymity because the talks are confidential, said Friday that Lieberman and McConnell, R-Ky., have spoken in recent days about the possibility of Lieberman joining the GOP conference. McConnell spokesman Don Stewart would only confirm that the two men have had recent discussions.

Lieberman was Democrat Al Gore's vice presidential running mate eight years ago. He became an independent after he failed to win the Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut in 2006. Lieberman won the general election as an independent but is still registered as a Democrat.

Although he caucuses with Senate Democrats, Lieberman angered Democrats by criticizing Barack Obama during the presidential race.

Since 2006, Democrats had tolerated Lieberman's political straddling because he gave them a 51-49 majority by being part of their caucus. With Democrats tightening their hold on the Senate to at least 55 seats in Tuesday's election, Lieberman no longer plays that role.

Lieberman aligned himself with McCain and President Bush on the war in Iraq but tended to vote with Democrats on most domestic issues.

Comments

[geovergo]

Senator Reid should strip Senator Lieberman of his Chairmanship of The Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee not a an act of political retribution but as the consequence of his decision to actively participate in the defeat of the Democratic candidate for the presidency of the USA. If Senator McCain had won that office, Sen.LIeberman would have been highly rewarded for his support.. Now that Senator McCain has lost the election, Senator Lieberman should accept the consequence of that loss. It would be manifestaly unfair to deprive a loyal Democrat of that important or any other chaimanship position. Has he no shame?.

[geovergo]

Now that the Democrats have gained a clear majority in the US Senate ,It is imperative that Majority leader Reid strips Senator Lieberman of his Chairmanship of The Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee,not as a

[AllenD]

Please don't let the door hit you on your way out Joe. Good riddance!

[v6scotter]

He wanted to be the GOP VP? As far as I am concerned Lieberman is a Republican. Let him caucus with the GOP. I want him under 2 buses.

[Obama4change]

The people of Connecticut are not going to return slimeball Lieberman to the senate. Let him pall around with the GOP. He is as sleazy and nasty as they are. GO, GO, GO to the GOP. No Democrat will ever vote for you Lieberliar!

[Whinger]

Are you still here Joe, hurry up, there's a big Greyhound bus waiting for you outside!

[THE JEDI 69]

By Joe...Ned Lamount will take ya place

[jeanrenoir]

Time to tell the slimeball Lieberman precisely where to go, in no uncertain terms. Who cares WHAT he and the Republicans do? Let them cabal in their corner from here to eternity.

[onalimb]

Let him go!

[SeriousBlack]

BUH

BYE

[CarmenCameron]

McConnell and Lieberman have one major thing in common that joins them at the hip: neither of them saw ANYTHING to question about how Bush/Cheney ran our government. No lying us into war. No constitutional plundering. No DOJ manipulations. Nothing. Nada. Zip. So they're already joined at the political hip! So make it official, Joe, and join the Grand Old Loser's Party!!!

[PHM]

Lieberman switched parties when he began lobbying for the VP slot on the McCain ticket. Let him go and good riddance to bad rubbish. He's a loser.

[westcoastsc]

The only reason that Liar man could have had for doing what he did is because he knows that Obama is going to clean house and find the corrupt and the colluders of both parties. Buh Bye.

[gi]

Judas please go do us all the favor.

[kid5rivers2]

Judas was so overcome with remorse that he took his own life. Leebs, on the other hand, has shown no remorse, but wishes to continue as if he did nothing. Therefore, one might be forgiven for saying that Leebs is worse than Judas.

[Ninox]

The only question that remains here is whether their will be enough backbone by the parties involved to remove Mr. Lieberman from his post. Loyalty has its rewards disloyalty has its costs.