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

[bubbuh]

Is Lieberman a golem?

[CBS]

Don't know....bu­t he is a tragic clown

[WRPrintz]

If so, could you grab the sacred scroll from his mouth, so he will turn into a big pile of clay?

[CubFanHere]

Once again the Democrats will show us all they have no spine. Thanks Harry, what a worthless Senate Majority Leader you are. When can we replace Reid as Majority Leader? Come to think of it, how in the heck did this guy ever get into the Leader role anyway? I have more leadership in my pinkie toe - and it's not used for anything.

[bubbuh]

"I have more leadership in my pinkie toe - and it's not used for anything."

Says it all.

[Sabreen60]

Are you a Democratic? If you are such a great leader what or whom are YOU leading?

[CubFanHere]

Yes, I am a Democrat - I'm a PROGRESSIVE Democrat who is not pleased at all in the leadership of Harry Reid. He's all hat and no cattle. He's our version of the Republican's Arlen Spector because he whines and complains all of the time and "threatens" to do things he never ends up doing because he has no spine. And yes, I'm a "leader" of sorts.

I'm what you would call one of those "community organizers" you've heard about in my own community and I worked very hard this year to help deliver Palm Beach County, FL to the Democratic party and to Barack Obama during this year's election. I've helped to organize nearly 50 protesters against the Iraq War every weekend for the last 4 years with groups like MoveOn, Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), and Veterans For Peace and we've never missed a weekend during that period. During the campaign I helped bring out nearly 250 people each weekend in my own community in support of Barack Obama. I've knocked doors, made calls, and organized rallies. So yeah, I guess you could say I'm a leader. Hell, that's more than Harry Reid has done lately ;-)

I'm not knocking Harry Reid because he's a Democrat, I'm knocking Harry Reid because he doesn't act like one when he needs to. Lieberman is a snake in the grass and we should have put a spade through him while we had the chance.

[Beninn]

Lieberman still has a McCain 08 bumper sticker on his car. Read the whole thing.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/11/what_happened_to_joe_lieberman.html

[robeson]

Protect our constitution by voting. Support primary challenges to those backing Lieberman.

[eden4barack08]

Absolutely! However it's a secret vote tomorrow. We won't know with precision who voted, unless it's a large majority, then we vote them all out!

[suemag]

Yes, unfortunately it's a secret ballot, another indication of their "ball-less-ness". Maybe we'll be able to tell how they voted afterward by their individual comments and actions. Otherwise, out they go, for a variety of reasons.

[ShanniC]

Well whoop-dee-doo! Here we have yet another example of Democratic cowardice! Why can't they oust this guy for his reprehensible behavior?! What will it take for them to realize that it is not always wise to keep your enemies closer? Has anyone forgotten the subpoena power that Lieberman wields against an Obama administration? Don't wuss out guys!

[sixx]

A great loss to the country. As Chairman, Lieberman will be promoting his unconstitutional views on torture, aggressive wars, and spying to the committee. A sad day indeed.

[WorkingClass]

I hope y'all Democrats are paying attention. Lieberman keeps his job is not change. Obama is embracing the DLC and the Republicans. I guess thats what he wants you to do. Or maybe he just doesn't need you until the next election.

[eden4barack08]

Not true. He's not a magician who can change old Washington overnight, and before even taking office. Quit laying the Senators' job on him please.

[suemag]

At the very least, they should demand a public apology from Lieberman on every talk show or in a press conference- he should apologize to Obama and his family, the Democrats and the nation.

[eden4barack08]

Still not enough. His credibility is below ZERO.

[suemag]

It would be nice to see him grovel anyway. How dare he set any conditions- oh right, he's dealing with wussies.

[suemag]

Next time the senators are up for re-election, I suggest we remember what happens tomorrow and vote accordingly. As for Lieberman, I hope he enjoys his last term.

[Beninn]

You're suggesting that that's it for the next two, four and six years?

Didn't we say the same thing after the FISA vote? And every other vote where Democrats have betrayed us and the country?

That's what they're counting on. Us taking it, and then getting swept up in the mendacity that campaigns get reduced to. The Sarah Palins and Joe the Plumbers, who we couldn't possible let prevail by our sitting out the election.

Democracy takes daily action and commitment. It takes calling all the time, getting your friends and neighbors involved and phoning, writing letters, raising money, finding candidates, running yourselves.

[eden4barack08]

So, let's hear your suggestions from now until 9:30 am tomorrow, when the vote begins.

[suemag]

I'm sure they've been called and emailed to death about Lieberman, I know I've been doing that, but unfortunately the senators don't really seem to be representing us like they are supposed to, do they?

[eden4barack08]

Unfortunately it's a secret vote. We''ll see by the numbers, but still hard to tell with precision.

[msjimmied]

I voted for change darn it! This is not what I voted for. There is a argument for reason in reaching across the aisle, but this move is a double cross!

NO! There is a boundary that if you breach, you are gone. And Lieberman has gone where no one has gone before. We should not stand for this. If this was a larger canvas, we would have called it treason.

[Dante in Madison]

They need to toss Joe on his ass at the curbside. Seriously. With friends like this, who needs enemies. What has he really done for the party and what kind of "change" will he bring to the country other than changing loyalties in the heat of battle.

[suemag]

Tomorrow we will find out if Democratic senators have a spine or not. I'm betting on not, which won't be anything new,

[GeorgeP922]

Wow, how can we ever hope the MSM catches this story on it's last night, when HuffPo sticks it in the middle of the page, 8 stories below Sara Palin.

[thebatgirl]

That is totally disgusting, I don't care how much you wanna reach out. This goes beyond the pale.
I think he wouldn't vote with the republicans anyway because he promised the people who elected him that he would vote demo.
So if he went against this promise, plus all the nasty things he said about the democrats , what would that make him.

[KansasWrangler]

As they have for the last 2 years, the Democratic congress has proven it has no balls. The nonsense has to stop or they will be voted out in the next election. I didn't put up with all this election crap for this to continue.

[GeorgeP922]

That is exactly the problem, I don't know what to do, I poured my heart and soul into this election, let alone my wallet.

The dems are doing this in an attempt to tell their donors and volunteers "You don't own us, and we will get your money next time too"

I just don't see how I can support the President or the party that is Endangering our country just to appease this failure of a politician.