It's being reported that there was no conclusion reached in the meeting between Lieberman and Reid yesterday regarding the weaselly one's future as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The same sources who told about the substance of yesterday's agenda indicated that Reid is not kicking Joe out yet because there are several Senate seats still to be decided. If by some miracle Franken wins the recounts, Chambliss loses the runoff (which would probably only happen if Obama campaigned for him), and the extremely questionable election in Alaska comes down in favor of Begich, that makes Lieberman the 60th vote in the Senate.
Unlikely.
So what are Lieberman's options at this point?
1) Remain in the caucus stripped of his seniority, sulk away and suck it up. Hard to imagine from a guy who has used bitterness over his 2006 primary loss as rocket fuel, and whose sole political ideology seems to be revenge against the party.
2) Switch parties. The Republicans would love to have him, but they have no power, and neither would Joe. Further, he'd be giving up any chance of winning the seat again in 2012 because he's already trailing Ned Lamont by 10 points in the polls, and his chances of winning as a Republican in Connecticut are about zero.
3) Resign. This was essentially what bitterman was threatening the Democratic caucus with in his press conference yesterday, when he said he was "weighing his options." Republican governor Jody Rell then appoints Rob Simmons, and the seat threatens to turn into a solid "R."
4) Fight like a mofo to retain his seniority.
As long as 4) is an option, Lieberman will take it.
Reid doesn't want to bear the sole burden of that decision himself, so he's punting to the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, whose members make recommendations for committee chairs.
Right now Lieberman has his friends in the caucus lobbying Reid to keep him in his committee chair. (Is Boxer showing up for Joe again? Salazar? Dodd?) So even if the Steering and Outreach Committee does the right thing and recommends stripping Lieberman, someone could object. In which case it may head for a full vote in the caucus - which would probably happen in two weeks.
You can sign a letter to the members of the Steering and Outreach Committee letting them know -- Joe Must Go.
Jane Hamsher blogs at firedoglake.com