Reports: Lieberman Likely To Keep His Chair

The entire Democratic Senate caucus will gather tomorrow to vote on whether Joe Lieberman should keep his position as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. Sources tell MSNBC the vote will go his way:

According to sources familiar with negotiations, Democrats are expected to vote in favor of letting the Connecticut senator keep his chairmanship and seniority, but give up the gavel on a subcommittee he chairs. The vote happens tomorrow morning by secret ballot.

The tide turned in Lieberman's favor, sources say, after two events in recent weeks. First, President-elect Obama told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he wanted Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus. Later, in a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Lieberman told him it would be "unacceptable" for him to give up his gavel. That was considered by some as a veiled threat that Lieberman would jump to caucus with Republicans if he was forced to give up the gavel.

Obama tipped the scales in Lieberman's favor, one source said. The source essentially explained it like this: If the wrath was directed at Obama and got over it, shouldn't the Democratic caucus do the same?

CQ Politics adds:

Despite campaigning for the Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman has "significant support" from the caucus, ally Ken Salazar said Monday.

"I think he will be a force of good in supporting an Obama administration," said Salazar, D-Colo. He is part of a four-member whip team tasked with talking to other members of the caucus to find out what, if any, punishment Lieberman deserves for supporting Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and campaigning against President-elect Barack Obama.

...

Some senators say they will defer to their party leaders.

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"I'll follow the leadership position and President-elect Obama's recommendation," said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md. "Send a message, but don't pick a big fight within the family."

On the other hand, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), a close ally of Lieberman's, says the Senator should pay consequences:

"There need to be consequences, and they cannot be insignificant," Carper said in a Monday interview with The Hill.

...

Carper said he and three other Senate Democrats have been making phone calls to "take the temperature of our caucus." He said the purpose of the calls was not to lobby senators for any particular action for or against Lieberman, but "just to see where people's hearts and their minds are."

Carper said that "many of my colleagues ... are very angry with his criticism of Sen. Obama," but he would not say which sanctions he prefers.

Comments

[mlaiuppa]

Cowards.

A subcommittee? Take it all away. He can work his way back up by voting Dem on every single piece of legislation.

Lieberman's threat is extortion. And rewarding him for his treachery will get nothing. He's a lousy chair and he votes R most of the time anyway.

You've gained NOTHING. You could have gained a backbone.

[Pip1860]

BO is being polite and politically smart by keeping him. But don't you guys agree that no matter how nice the owner is to his pet python that when he is asleep the snake will do what it instinctively does and is naturally inclined to do.......s­trangle its caretaker to death. This happened to a real python owner in NYC by the way. My hope is that BO has other confidants looking out for him in the senate and house of Reps so that shady people will not be able to carry out their shady activities.

[weatherwaxx]

Very few python owners are actually injured by their pets. Comparing Lieberman to a snake is a humongous insult.... to the snake.

[tydicea]

He is more like a moray eel...

[davism97]

Gotta love how the Huff always uses pictures to steer our impressions of the headlines. I'm sure Lieberman was actually laughing and pointing when he realized he might keep his chair. Yeah I'm sure it actually happened like that.

[KindMisica]

I don't get why they make such a deal out of the "fillibuster proof". It's not practical, never gonna happen. First of all, you'd have to have ALL Dem senators show up for the vote. All of them. Possible in theory,yes­...not gonna happen. Besides, some Republican Senators are going to vote along with the DEMS on some issues. It's not carved in stone...it­'s relative and ever-chang­ing....

[eden4barack08]

http://liebermanmustgo.com/

[LetJoeStay]

This is great news! Removing Joseph Lieberman from the Chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would be an act of extreme pettiness, unbefitting the new political environment which President-elect Obama wishes to create. Why should Senator Lieberman be punished for supporting his close friend, John McCain, in the presdiential election? Loyalty and friendship are virtues to be desired, not disparaged. President-elect Obama gets it, the Democratic Senate majority gets it. Maybe it's time some of the "base" starts to get it too.
Letjoestay.blogspot.com

[KindMisica]

Nice piece of work, "Republican in disguise". Dems are stupid to trust the snake. Thing is: Repubicans should fear him as well, he's just a snake who would bite ANY hand, if that works for him.

[LetJoeStay]

Sorry to disapoint, but I'm not a Republican. I'm just a Democrat who hates to see his party sucumb to petty bickering. Luckily it looks like that's not going to happen.
http://letjoestay.blogspot.com/

[BillMelater]

The man blocked Senate investigations and hearings on Katrina. I.e., he isn't doing his job on the homeland committee - at least not how a Democrat would do it, Leiberman protected the Republicans.

That committee needs to be controlled by a true blue Democrat.

http://billmel8er.wordpress.com

[Beninn]

You love corrupt government, admit it. That's what Lieberman remaining in the Democratic caucus as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee means. Where he's able to block investigations into Bush's inept response to Hurricane Katrina, and prevent oversight into no-bid sweetheart contracts with Halliburton and other cronies' deals.

This is a scandal and it's what voters thought they were going to polls to stop two weeks ago.

[Beninn]

This isn't small potatoes, these no-bid sweetheart contracts with Bush and Cheney cronies. Last estimates were over $50 BILLION.

[Helzapoppin]

Never underestimate the rank stupidity, gullibility and spinelessness of congressional Democrats

[Kristin262]

Lieberman cannot be trusted and he obviously doesn't lose very well. Take the Democratic Primary where he lost and then turned into an Independent. He takes a controversial position in the 2008 Election, loses, and doesn't take the loss very well. I don't understand the value add in Lieberman. He damages the party, and where the party wants to go now. Depose Lieberman.

[winnie47]

Why was the bumper sticker scraped off? Was he going to replace it with one that said,
"Giant Bobble-Heads For Change" ?

[HopeGirl]

he needs to be recalled by Conn voters.

why do they put up with the creep?

[Beninn]

US Senators can't be recalled. Only US Senators can oust a US Senator from the US Senate. 2/3rds vote.

[SCG]

No recall law.

[vinny]

At the very least, they should make Lieberwus where the letters DH on his sloped, wrinkled forehead.

[Robinsong]

I see nothing in Barack's stated desire for Leiberman to stay in the caucus that would prevent a demand for a simple apology from that phony for the most egregious violations of party loyalty. I see trouble ahead for the Obama agenda in congress with their gutless ability to stand up for any principle or politic. Excuse me while I go barf.

[SCG]

There has been no word that Sen. Lieberman feels his actions require an apology or not. Only the vague threat if he should lose his chairmanship that it would be "unacceptable".

[winnie47]

"Unacceptable" is a vague threat? Of what? That he'll hold his breath till he turns blue? Let him go caucus with the Repugs- if they'll have him, which I doubt.

[Beninn]

From Booman, CNN reports, and MSNBC concurs, that Joe Lieberman will keep his gavel on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Both outlets report that Lieberman will be stripped of one of his two subcommittee chairs. CNN (on teevee) specifies that it will be his subcommittee chair on the Environment & Public Works Committee. That would be the Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection. Big f*ing deal.
In other words, if this reporting is correct, Lieberman will be stripped of a subcommittee chair that presides over an issue where he votes with the Democrats, and left in charge of a full and subcommittee (Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland) where he votes against the Democrats. That's f*ing brilliant. I certainly hope the reporting is wrong. Fire away!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmgD3EZntu8

Call Obama's Chicago transition offices and tell them this isn't the change that you funded with your donations of money and time and shoe leather.

If you wanted the DLC in power, you would have voted for Hillary. If you wanted an Independent chairing a committee in a Democratically controlled Senate, it would be Bernie Sanders.

Obama's Transition Offices at John C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn Street, Suite 3900 (39th floor)
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: 866-445-2520 (IL only)
Fax: [phone]

[lakeqi]

The real problem is that the dems take away the minor post just to make us think that they really did something. Most of the masses won't care that they've been betrayed, they won't even know it since they are willfully dumb. Ned Lamont remains unavenged by the democratic leadership which is loyal only to itself.

[Harry Scrote]

Ah J ew sus, teethy motha here needs to learn a lesson and LOSE his post, for cryin' out loud!

[lbrillante]

This is pathetic news. I hope it is wrong. I am sick of our wimpy congress. They let everyone walk all over them. I want leaders in congress who have healthy boundaries. I wish the vote was going to be public because I want to know how my senators vote.