This shows why Lieberman is still dangerous...

[SaveElmer]

From exit polls conducted Tuesday


q20 If Joe Lieberman runs as an Independent in November, and these are the candidates, will you vote for:

Ned Lamont (DEM) 49
Joe Lieberman (IND) 36
Alan Schlesinger (REP) 0
Someone else 1
Not Sure 12
Won't vote 1

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/10/15223/0333

Lieberman loses only 12% of those who voted for him Tuesday.

If he runs an effctive campaign, he could convince enough Independents and disaffected Republicans to take the seat back.

It seems foolhardy with this fight ahead of us to keep it in Democratic hands to give Lieberman any weapons he could use against Lamont, such as stripping him of his committee assignments.

[Lerkfish]

you're arguing against stripping Lieberman of his committees?

sorry dude, your guy lost, ok?

[SaveElmer]

3. You obviously do not know me...

As I have been supporting Lamont since Lieberman's Indie announcement...

If I were intent on keeping Lieberman there I would be all for stripping him of his assignments. It just gives Lieberman a weapon to hammer the Democratic establishment with...wouldn't that be ironic.

I want Lamont in...I want the seat kept in Democratic hands...which is why I think this is a stupid maneuver

[Lerkfish]

5. mea culpa. however, I see that keeping in the committees can ALSO be

very dangerous. He's now officially a loose cannon.

[SaveElmer]

10. But how?

If he loses to Lamont he is a Senator for 5 more months...of which half that time the Senate is in recess...

He is a minority member of those committees with virtually no power anyway...

It just doesn't seem worth the risk!

[3dman]

1. It would be a BIG mistake

to sit back and think that Lamont is just going to walk away with a win in the general election. I think it is going to be close right up until the end again.

[PaDem]

2. I don't..........

I think Lieberman will win rather easily. Our best hope is that he receives so much pressure from congressional Dems that he drops out.

[3dman]

9. You may very

well be right.

[madfloridian]

4. So you are saying Lieberman can hold us hostage, sort of?

I hope you are not really saying that. If he is not running as a Democrat, should he really have those committees as a Democrat?

I think most of us suspect he will go Republican, anyway. Things happen that way.

[Lerkfish]

6. yes, I agree. Just like the gang of 14, he can bollix up the works

fairly effectively

[SaveElmer]

8. Not in 5 months...

The Senate is in recess half that time...

And his "gang of 14" thing had nothing to do with his committee assignments...it had to do with him having a vote on the floor, something which cannot be taken away!

Use your head not your heart...this could harm Lamont in the general!

[madfloridian]

11. His loyalties already lie elsewhere. He has in effect left the party.

And Al From and Tom Carper and Salazar are going along with him by endorsing his Indy run.

They lectured us in 04 about party loyalty, and now look what they are doing.

Lieberman loses a primary to another Democrat, and he is going elsewhere.

[SaveElmer]

12. You are losing your focus...

There is absolutely nothing you can do about Tom Carper and Ken Salazar...except make sure Ned Lamont wins that seat...

Handing Lieberman a political weapon for the general election is foolhardy and dangerous...

[SaveElmer]

7. No...

If Lamont wins Lieberman is Senator for 5 more months...2 of those as a lame duck. The Senate is on recess half that time. Lieberman can't do anything with his committee assignments....he barely could before being a member of the minority

If he goes Republican it won't matter he will get his committee assignments back anyway

They could become important if Lieberman is able to use his being stripped of them as a weapon against Lamont...

Wouldn't it be ironic if Lieberman could campaign against the Democratic establishment?

It is a useless gesture that does no good and only could do harm