Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who was a vocal backer of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and was even considered a possible vice presidential candidate for the Republican ticket, will remain in the Democratic caucus and keep his committee chair in the U.S. Senate.
Lieberman's colleagues in the Democratic caucus voted 42-13 Tuesday on a resolution condemning statements made by Lieberman during the campaign but allowing him to keep the Homeland Security Committee gavel. He loses an Environment and Public Works panel subcommittee chairmanship, however.
In the short-term, there are a lot of bloggers who will be angered by this. I am too, but it's not like this is the end of the line for Lieberman. In 2012, he faces re-election and I can't see a repeat of 2006. With the right challenger, Lieberman will lose. Who knows? Maybe he will retire to avoid an embarrassment in a primary.
But the developments today shouldn't be surprising. When the leader of our party says we should let bygones be bygones, I think the Senate Democrats took that and ran with it. Letting Lieberman into the caucus is one thing. Letting him off without punishment is another. They should have stripped him of his Homeland Security chair and let him keep his subcommittee. That Homeland Security assignment is key and having Lieberman head that is not good for pushing a progressive agenda. |
