McConnell reaches out to Lieberman

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Politico

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has reached out to Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) about the prospect of joining the Republican Conference, but Lieberman is still bargaining with Democratic leaders to keep his chairmanship, according to Senate aides in both parties.

“Sen. Lieberman’s preference is to stay in the caucus, but he’s going to keep all his options open,” a Lieberman aide said. “McConnell has reached out to him, and at this stage, his position is he wants to remain in the caucus but losing the chairmanship is unacceptable.”

A Republican Senate aide said Friday morning that there was little McConnell could offer in terms of high-ranking committee slots, which is why Lieberman is resisting overtures from the Republican side.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Lieberman met Thursday, yet Reid is waffling over whether to revoke Lieberman’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee and may instead hold a secret vote among Democratic members on whether to kick Lieberman out of the caucus.

Senate aides from both parties caution that Lieberman’s state is still truly up in the air and Reid could still craft a scenario where Lieberman keeps his chairmanship.




Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15401.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Who loves ya, baby?

[brentspeak]

2. One of the few disappointments of the election was that McConnell didn't get the boot

[Wapsie B]

3. Both Reid and Holy Joe need to be stripped of their respective positions.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

4. Lieberman = Washed-up Little Weasel. nt

[wtbymark]

5. what's this?

"his position is he wants to remain in the caucus but losing the chairmanship is unacceptable.”

I'd say he'd better learn to accept it, go fuck yourself joe.

[skooooo]

6. If Mitch reached out to me, I'd slap his hand. nt

[BunkerHill24]

17. LOL

[tblue37]

19. Or bite it--the way Barney bit the Reuters reporter. nt

[Maine-ah]

7. so for LIEberman it's all about the power he can have.

if the republicans offered him a fat chairmanship, he'd leave in a heartbeat.

[sutz12]

8. How does he deserve this level of ass kissing?

Boot him to the curb. He in no way deserves a chair position on any committee higher than the House Decorating Subcommittee for Non-Christian Religious Holidays.

[HomerRamone]

9. Can someone please explain to me

what difference this makes if it doen't affect who's in the majority or whether they have a filibuster-proof majority? I don't understand the other implications of who's in what caucus. Thank you.

[Demit]

15. There are 3 Senate races still undecided.

How they shake out might determine if Reid needs Lieberman's votes with the Dem caucus to achieve a filibuster-proof majority. Reid might be able to get some good promises out of Loserman, if he sucks it up on letting him keep his chairmanships. It's all chess now.

[tclambert]

24. Any Senate vote might not exactly follow party lines.

If you're close to the filibuster-proof supermajority, that makes all the potential swing voters very important (like Snowe, Specter, and Lieberman). President Obama needs Senate approval for a lot of appointments. There may be times he has to reach across the aisle to get those appointments brought to a vote. If Democrats throw Leiberman overboard, they may lose his vote permanently. Sometime or other, they will find they need one more vote.

Then there's the chairmanship question. Committee chairmen have some bureaucratic power. I'm not sure what the rules are for keeping such a position or having it taken from him.

The best outcome is redemption. If the Democrats can persuade Lieberman to renounce the dark side, it would be better for them and him. But he has to wrestle with his conscience, and they have to wrestle with the trust issue. I think President Obama might want to get personally involved in this one. (I kinda like any excuse to write "President Obama.")

[yellowcanine]

10. Since Mitch can't offer him anything, Lieberman is stuck with what Reid will give him.

Make no mistake. Reid and the Senate Democrats are in the driver's seat. Lieberman's threat to join the Repub. caucus is just that - a threat. He may indeed carry through with it but his power will be much diminished. Poor old Joe. He thought he was going on the ticket with McCain and got stiffed. Then he rolled the dice that McCain would win and maybe offer him a cabinet post. Then on Tuesday night when Ohio fell for Obama, Joe said to himself, "Oh shit." Keep looking Joe! There might be a pony in that pile of shit somewhere!

[ps1074]

11. For fuck's sake

Kick his ass out of the caucus ASAP.

He was on stage grinning and nodding in agreement when McCain spewing his BS about Pelosi, Reid and Obama meeting to raise your taxes. He was a better republican than Lindsey Graham on the trail.

Kick him out NOW. We won't get 60 votes anyway... And then when president Obama campaigns in 2012, I'd like him to go to CT and campaign for the democratic nominee against Joementum.

[BearSquirrel2]

23. Let him quit ...

Nope, just quietly give his committee chair to the ranking Democrat and let him quit if he likes. He will not caucaus with Republicans as that will not help him win re-election. The Republicans will never give him everything as they don't respect him.

Lieberman is now Fredo. He'll have to live with that.

[musette_sf]

12. Joe could use a good reach around from Mitch n/t

[pattmarty]

13. Cut him a deal to keep his chairmanship, IF he votes with the.......

..........Dems on IMPORTANT issues and ALWAYS on the cloture issue. The fuckhead will be gone in 4 yrs anyway, the voters in Connecticut will oust him, and that's even if he can get on the ballot.

[Left Brain]

14. Somebody should reach out

and smack 'em both.


and I'm a pacifist!

[Old Codger]

16. Of course

sorta depends on harry keeping his job too doesn't it?

[w4rma]

18. Strip LIEberman of all committee *seats*. Force the Republicans to use their seats on him.

Make him useless to his state for any pork he might want. He'll be crawling and begging to come back in a few months.

[Vidar]

20. Let him go. He's already proved more trouble than he's worth.

[mitchum]

21. "Reaching out" is what got McConnell kicked out of the Army

[Kalifornia.Kid]

22. Please pour salt on this slime ball and be done with him.

[Anywho6]

25. Those two weenies deserve each other

Best of luck with their new "romance."

[Blaze Diem]

26. Joe should be with his own kind.

bye joe.

[Joe Bacon]

27. They deserve each other.

I don't know which one is sleazier!

[SoCalDemGrrl]

28. Hey Lieberman, don't let the screen door hit you in the Ass!!Bye Bye