2006: Democrats Control Senate 51-49; Lieberman Appointed Sec of Defense

[tritsofme]

Republican Connecticut governor Jodi Rell could then tip the balance of the Senate back to the GOP by appointing a Republican to replace him.

Do you think Joe would betray his party by accepting the job if such a scenario arose?

[Ian David]

1. Does he have to swallow, or can he spit? n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Wouldn't that have to happen in early 2007?

AFTER the new Congress take their seats?

[tritsofme]

3. I suppose Bush could appoint him any time after November 7, 2006

After Joe was reelected and when it became apparent Democrats would hold a Senate majority in the 110th Congress...

[mikehiggins]

4. In a New York minute

Jomentum would claim it was his way of showing "bi-partisanship".

The man is a disgrace.

[TayTay]

5. I actually don't think so.

It would be a two year appointment in a failing Administration that would do absolutely nothing for Joe Leiberman. I very much doubt he would ever take this job, it offers nothing but grief and would be just a two-year stint at that.

[LynneSin]

6. If you're gonna smoke some bud this early the least you could do....

....is share it some.

Seriously, Rumsfeld isn't going anywhere for awhile and second, bush wouldn't appoint a democrat to such a high position.

Finally the dumbest assumption is that Connecticut will have a Republican governor in 2006

In 2000 when Bush stole the election there were rumors that then LA Senator John Breaux would be nominated to a position. At the time we were 50-50 in the senate and the committees were to be split evenly. But had Breaux taken the position, the then LA Republican governor would have replace Breaux with another Republican. Breaux came out almost immediately and said that not only was no such position offered to him but that he wouldn't take it if it was.

And here's a concept. Zany Zell Miller was the biggest DINO out there and even after Jeffords defected Zell Miller never did.

[tritsofme]

7. Rell is the most popular governor in America right now

Assuming she runs in 2006, I don't think she's going anywhere.

And in the final years of Bush's term he will be desperate in an attempt to build a positive legacy, so I don't think such an appointment would be that far fetched.

I certainly hope you're right about Joe, but I don't put much faith in him.

[LynneSin]

8. You know, you're right and Lieberman is a popular Senator

But then a citizen of Connecticut chimed into one of my posts about the anti-lieberman atmosphere and made the following comment about how since Rell hasn't raped a 9-year-old or gave the pension fund to Enron, Rell's popularity can only go up. In a nutshell - they've had some of the slimiests pols in Connecticut.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. CT voters have thrown out a sitting Senator before

He wasn't under indictment. He wasn't accused of any crime or corruption. The voters just felt that Joe Lieberman would be a better Senator than Sen. Weicker.

[Talismom]

17. And Weicker was one fine person and good, progressive

senator. No resemblance to any current repukes!

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. That was the choice the voters of Connecticut made

They haven't done anything since then to indicate they have changed their minds.

[Talismom]

22. It's true and very sad for them and the rest of us. n/t

[CTyankee]

9. I agree about Rell altho I am supported John DeStefano

at this point. He's been a good mayor for New Haven, IMO as a New Haven resident for the past 20 years. But, unless something really big develops to discredit Rell she pretty much has it wrapped up. But I have seen missteps by "sure things" a lot in politics over the years so let's hope.

[Nimrod2005]

12. right on...

[LynneSin]

14. You were just hoping for a free toke

You can have mine, I actually don't smoke the stuff.

[UnityDem]

10. Don't forget Independent Bernie Sanders

expected to win in Vermont....so, the breakdown will be 99 dems/repugs...plue one indy (although Bernie will caucus with the dems as Jeffords did).

[Nimrod2005]

11. He does not qualify to be the Sec. of Defense?

[LynneSin]

15. Did Michael Brown qualify to be FEMA director

I don't Lieberman would take the position or even be offered. But the Bush administration is notorious for appointing folks with no qualifications

[Todd B]

13. Why would the governor get to appoint someone?

Wouldn't Connecticut just have to have a special election to elect a new Senator? (If anything, the appointment would only last until that election)

1) If Bush hasn't fired Rumsfeld in six years, what makes you think he'll fire him in 2006??

2) Zell Miller, possibly, but I doubt Lieberman would - other then foreign policy and, possibly, the whole video game thing, he still holds positions relatively similar to the Democratic Party rather then the Republican Party.

[LynneSin]

18. rules for replacing a senator

If a Senator steps down/dies/gets thrown in jail/etc

The governor of the state would replace a person who would file in until the next major election term. That senator would then run in a special election to hold on to that seat until the class comes up for re-election next

Example:

When Mel Carnahan died in a plane crash in 2000 a mere week before he was elected as senator for Missouri (as a dead man he still defeated incumbant John Ashcroft). Since his seat was now considered vacant he was replaced by his wife Jean Carnahan who served as acting senator until a special election was held in 2002 to elect the permament replacement for Mel Carnahan. In that election Jean Carnahan was narrowly defeated by republican Jim Talent.

Now, you'd think that means Jim Talent has the seat for the next 6 years but you're wrong. That seat was with the class of 2000, which means that Talent has to run for re-election in 4 years in the class that seat is designated for.

So in the case of a senator yes, the seat is filled by the governor. If the governor happens to not be a part of the party the senator was with then well, guess the seat switches party. When John Heinz was killed in a plane crash back in the late 80s, he was a republican but the democratic governor replaced him with another democrat.

[Mass]

20. Only MA has a special election to replace senators and even there

it is only since last year.

Generally, the governor gets to appoint a new senator if the old one resigns during his term. Corzine will appoint his own successor, for example.

[win_in_06]

19. Then Bush would get credit for "reaching across the aisle"

for spelling

[trogdor]

23. What if his confirmation never gets out of committee?

n/c

[milkyway]

24. Lieberman as Secretary of Defense--of what country?

[truebrit71]

25. His home and primary concern these days. Israel.

.

[rockymountaindem]

26. Links?

I didn't know he'd moved to Israel. Did he get citizenship?

Or is this just another one of those "Jews are only loyal to Israel" things?

[truebrit71]

28. No, it's one of those "Joe'll sell out the Democrats anytime....

....Israel becomes the issue" things.... :eyes:

[JerseygirlCT]

27. I think he'd absolutely do it

And it's not such a far-out scenario, IMO.