Originally Posted By mrichmondj <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061109/ts_nm/usa_politics_lieberman_dc_1" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200 61109/ts_nm/usa_politics_lieberman_dc_1</a> Seem that it's already speculated that Lieberman will be chairman of the committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs under the Dems.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder A local radio commentator here had an interesting theory. Instead of nominating Gates to replace Rumsfeld, Bush could have chosen Lieberman. Apparently the governor of Connecticut is a Republican and so presumably a Republican would be chosen to replace Lieberman, thereby restoring the Senate to the Republicans. It was thought Bush wouldn't do something so provocative in light of the calls for bipartisanship. However, this was before Bush's ill-advised oush to ram Bolton through the lame duck Congress. So now, if Gates looks to be in any trouble, Bush could withdraw his name and nominate Lieberman in what would be another ill-advised move couched as a compromise choice, but nonetheless putting the Senate in a difficult position. Lieberman, of course, would have to play along, which would be highly doubtful. He's not that ticked off at the Dems, I wouldn't think.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Bush has no intention of opening up his administration to anyone other than his right wing cronies from the Reagan and Bush I administrations. Anyone who believes that the administration is open to new ideas at this point needs to have their head examined and hasn't been paying attention for the past 6 years.
Originally Posted By Shooba <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/10/ct.senate.ap/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITI CS/11/10/ct.senate.ap/index.html</a> WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Joe Lieberman, who won re-election as an independent, has a message for his Senate colleagues in the next Congress: Call me a Democrat. The three-term Connecticut lawmaker defied party leaders when he launched his independent bid after losing to Democrat Ned Lamont in the August primary. During the campaign, he vowed to be an "independent-minded Democrat" if he were re-elected. In Tuesday's election, Lieberman won strong GOP support and given the closely divided Senate, Republicans are expected to court him. So will he count as a Democrat or an independent who caucuses with the majority Democrats? In an e-mail message late Thursday, Lieberman spokesman Dan Gerstein said the senator will begin his new term as a Democrat. With the Democratic takeover of the Senate, Lieberman is in line to become chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In a post-election news conference, Lieberman said he was reassured by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid that he would retain his seniority when the new Senate convenes.
