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Lieberman May Switch Parties

Discussion in '2006 Archive' started by carpro, Nov 12, 2006.

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  1. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    http://www.boston.com/news/local/co...n_refuses_to_close_door_on_switching_parties/

    Lieberman refuses to close door on switching parties

    November 12, 2006

    HARTFORD, Conn. --Sen. Joe Lieberman on Sunday repeated his pledge to caucus with Senate Democrats when the 110th Congress convenes in January, but refused to slam the door on possibly moving to the Republican side of the aisle.

    Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" if he might follow the example of Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont, who left the Republicans in 2001 and became an independent, ending Republican control of the U.S. Senate, Lieberman refused to discount the possibility.

    "I'm not ruling it out but I hope I don't get to that point," he said. "And I must say -- and with all respect to the Republicans who supported me in Connecticut -- nobody ever said, 'We're doing this because we want you to switch over. We want you to do what you think is right and good for our state and country,' and I appreciate that."

    A spokeswoman for Lieberman would not elaborate when contacted by The Associated Press.

    Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont defeated Lieberman in the Democratic primary in August. Lieberman was elected to a fourth term last Tuesday as an independent, and said Sunday his political affiliation will be as an "Independent Democrat."

    The Democrats won control of the Senate with 51 seats. Lieberman and newly elected Bernie Sanders of Vermont are the Senate's only Independents.

    A switch to the Republicans would bring the Senate to a 50-50 division, giving Republican Vice President Dick Cheney opportunities to break tie votes.

    Jeffords' decision to quit the GOP and become an independent tipped the balance of an evenly divided Senate, handing control to the Democrats with a one-vote margin.
     
    #1 carpro, Nov 12, 2006
  2. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    That would be great.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #2 Joseph_Botwinick, Nov 12, 2006
  3. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    Who would have thought that republicans, 6 years removed from 2000's election fiasco, would be rooting for Lieberman to do anything.

    Politics can be so ironic.
     
    #3 rbell, Nov 12, 2006
  4. Bro. James Reed

    Bro. James Reed New Member

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    I don't see it happening.

    This would really upset his base.
     
    #4 Bro. James Reed, Nov 12, 2006
  5. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    It would be political suicide on Liberman's part but it may be good for the country. Remember, I'm neither a Dem or Rep but even this combination would be a change from the past. I don't know if Cheney completely agree's with Bush and he will not run for an office again so he has nothing to loose.
     
    #5 LeBuick, Nov 12, 2006
  6. The Galatian

    The Galatian Active Member

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    Cheney seems to be the problem. The conservatives in the Bush administration haven't done anything particulary stupid, but the neocons have rewritten the book on self-destructive behavior.

    I'm sure Leiberman has been offered a lot to switch, but what would anyone gain from such a deal? Republicans would reinforce the public perception of them as people who will cheat when the votes don't go their way. Leiberman would lose the respect and trust of the many democrats who supported him.

    And Bush can block anything with a veto anyway. He's lost control of the government, and even getting the Senate back wouldn't help.
     
    #6 The Galatian, Nov 12, 2006
  7. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    According to Lieberman, he's been offered exactly nothing.

    Unlike how the democrats pandered to Jeffords.
     
    #7 carpro, Nov 12, 2006
  8. The Galatian

    The Galatian Active Member

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    Pandering among politicians is an art. The art of offering much without saying so. Jeffords, as you might remember, wasn't lured over, he was pushed. Bush and Co. sought to "discipline" him for following the wishes of his constituents over the wishes of Karl Rove.

    And so they lost him.
     
    #8 The Galatian, Nov 12, 2006
  9. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    So we are to believe everything a politician says? He said he wasn't republican when he ran as a Independant-Democrat.
     
    #9 LeBuick, Nov 12, 2006
  10. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    I believe Lieberman should switch parties.

    He'd make a pretty liberal republican, but the DNC worked very hard to make sure he lost his party nomination.

    A little payback may be in order.

    Of course, Reid knows the risks and he's already cozying up to Lieberman. Reid's fellow liberals in the Senate best not stick their nose in until Reid locks him down.;)
     
    #10 carpro, Nov 12, 2006
  11. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    What is he now, an Independent like Jeffords?
     
    #11 Daisy, Nov 12, 2006
  12. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    He has made it clear that he considers himself a democrat and intends to caucus with them. If party leaders try to take his seniority away, he may switch.
     
    #12 carpro, Nov 12, 2006
  13. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    1. Democrats who supported him?:laugh: There was a reason he switched to Independent. They didn't come groveling back to him until they realized their nutcase of a liberal wacko wasn't going to win.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #13 Joseph_Botwinick, Nov 12, 2006
  14. The Galatian

    The Galatian Active Member

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    That would be as dumb as the republicans trying to publicly humiliate one of their own.

    Democrats are certainly not strangers to dumb moves, but I doubt if they are that dumb.
     
    #14 The Galatian, Nov 12, 2006
  15. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    If you remember, Lieberman wasn't lured into being an independent candidate. He was pushed into it by Dean and Co. who sought to "discipline" him for having the audacity to have a mind of his own on the issue of Iraq.

    And so they are going to lose him.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #15 Joseph_Botwinick, Nov 12, 2006
  16. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Mr. Churchill crossed the floor 3 or 4 times (I can't quite remember how many times) on principle; his principle. Is this what these chaps are also doing?

    Does this also mean that party doesn't really matter, Republican or Democrat? They both have great benefits and pay cheques.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #16 Jim1999, Nov 12, 2006
  17. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    I sure wish I had those pay cheques . . .

    :saint:

     
    #17 El_Guero, Nov 12, 2006
  18. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    Um, he lost the Democratic Primary. The party has to support the official candidate.

    Maybe, maybe not. He just might want to be with the majority (however slim).
     
    #18 Daisy, Nov 13, 2006
  19. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    On one hand, I think you're right. Connecticut is one of the bluest states around. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, who went against Bush a great deal of the time and was probably the most liberal republican in Congress, got sent home.

    But on the other...Lieberman is there for six years. At his age (mid 60's?), I wouldn't be surprised if this is his last term anyway. I think the determinate could be his future plans.

    Then again, what do I know...this involves politics. :tongue3:
     
    #19 rbell, Nov 13, 2006
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