Lieberman Might Eventually Flip the Senate Back to the GOP

Joe Lieberman was very clear this morning on Meet the Press that he will caucus with the Democrats initially making it Democrats-controlled, but seemed quite open to switching his vote to Republican which would reorganize the Senate putting Republicans back at the helm if the Democrats piss him off again.

It looks like he might be the most powerful senator on the hill now.

I seriously doubt he will do that. Odds are to keep him he will be given some plum assignment. Plus more than anything he knows which side his bread is buttered on and if he flipped it wouldn't surprise me one bit if a grass root recall movement would be started against him. More likely he will play his cards close to his chest and votes just how he wants to regardless of what the party wants.

IMO the way Lieberman votes should reflect his values rather then party lines. Lieberman should be able to define what he stands for without worrying about going against party policy.

Heard him say he's beholding to the people of CT and to his conscience. So we'll see. But a good number of Republicans did put him there, it was something like 60 or 70% R's who voted for him.

So we'll see who he's beholden to.

They're giving him a committee to chair, Homeland Security no less. That'll be a good start for bipartisanship, if they can keep it in everyone's best interest. Not just who has stock in Guiliani/Kerik's tasor gun factories.

This seems to be becoming a more likely (although still unlikely) proposition.

It seems Lieberman is quite unhappy with Democrats' foreign policy moves of late. But they're really still not to the level of coordination that would make him jump ship, as of yet. But it could happen.

wait, isn't the senate 51/49 with lieberman caucused dem? wouldn't thave just balance the senate and keep pelosi as speaker?

Originally posted by madnessinmysoul
wait, isn't the senate 51/49 with lieberman caucused dem? wouldn't thave just balance the senate and keep pelosi as speaker?

Pelosi is the Speaker of the House. This would not affect the House of Representatives.

If Lieberman decided to caucus with the Republicans it would be 50/50 and the tie-breaking vote would be cast by Dick Cheney.