the [alternate] patriot

Monday, November 10, 2008

Lieberman's hubris

President-elect Barack Obama has informed party officials that he wants Joe Lieberman to continue caucusing with the Democrats in the 111th Congress, Senate aides tell the Huffington Post.

Obama's decision could tie the hands of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has been negotiating to remove Lieberman as chair of the Homeland Security and Government Reform committee while keeping him within the caucus. Lieberman has insisted that he will split from the Democrats if his homeland security position is stripped.

It's really laughable that Lieberman is dictating to the Senate Majority Leader. Sure he's been in office quite a while. But he has withdrawn himself from the party.
In my experience you argue as hard as you like within the party for the candidate of your choice; but once the party decides, you either work for that candidate, work for some other candidate of your party, or -- if you really can't stomach the nominee -- you sit on your hands during the campaign.

If you are so principled as to oppose the candidate of your party, you should be principled enough to depart.

I agree with President-elect Obama, however, that he should be invited to remain in the Democratic caucus; but probably should not be rewarded with a chairmanship. The committee chairs are supposed to promote party goals, and it's not clear Lieberman can do that. (They could give him the chairmanship of a committee in charge of issues where he is not at odds with the party.)

And if he were to grumblingly leave and presumably join the Republicans (if they will have him) will he then begin to vote 90% of the time with them? Actually, it's hard to imagine. I think he's bluffing. And mad... I expect he anticipated a McCain win followed by, perhaps, an ambassadorship to Israel.

Come to think of it, that might not be a bad thing for him in any case.

Palema 6:20 PM

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