Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Lieberman

LIEBERMAN

As the election season sadly draws to an end, a number of critical issues are going to be decided today and a number of interesting situations are going to play out. One of the most interesting post-election issues is the role Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I) shall play in the senate.

It is a forgone conclusion that Mr. Lieberman shall win today’s election and shall have an (I) for independent next to his name. Depending on how the Senate math works out, Lieberman is likely to be in a very powerful position.

Right now the senate is 55 (R), 44 (D), 1 (I). Jim Jeffords of Vermont being the Independent. If Democrats win 5 of the seats they need (and Lieberman wins), then it shall be 50 (R), 48 (D), 2 (I). Bernie Sanders VT (I) who is going to caucus with Democrats, so in essence it shall be 50 (R), 49 (D), 1 (I). If Democrats win 6 seats: 49 (R), 50 (D), 1 (I)

It is not known where the chips shall fall, but if the pundits are correct and Democrats win 5-6 seats, then Lieberman shall be in a very interesting situation. Much like Jeffords was when he switched from (R) to (I), he could be the powerbroker in the senate, wooed by both sides to caucus with them and guarantee a majority or parity. He shall be in a pretty powerful position to extract concessions from both sides and ensure his power.

What he shall do is yet to be known, he has said he would caucus with the Democrats, (though some Democrats have disappointed him, and campaigned against him). But he has also said that this campaign has convinced him that he needs to be more independent. And he has received a lot of help from Republicans (Bloomberg campaigned for him)

Lieberman must be licking his chops, he can stick it to the Democrats, and be in a much more powerful position than he was and could have imagined.

1 Comments:

Blogger Githush said...

Lieberman is indeed likely to caucus with the Democrats, and probably vote with Dems on 90% of the issues, but when it comes to the most important issues (supreme court judges, IRAQ etc. ) he is likely to be a very reliable republican vote. Nonetheless, he shall be a pretty powerful senator form henceforth (till 2008 at least)

12:04 AM  

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