[Sunsong]

The point I was trying to make is that not resigning but not voting still gives control to the Democrats.

Yes it does - but they can not have one defection (including Lieberman) or one guy like Kerry out campaigning in order to succeed on any given vote.

[Political Junkie Too]

And we have to have our Party under control, too. That has been been more of a challenge, I think.

-PJ

[Reagan80]

You know, technically, the Senate is 49D, 49R and 2Independent; Lieberman (I-CT), and Sanders (I-VT) - yes, I know they would 'caucus' with the Democrats). However, if Johnson was absent for some extended period, it would result in the rather odd situation where the Democrats controlled the Chamber, but would be outnumbered on the Floor of the Senate in absolute terms, 49R to 48D.

Probably not relevant, just an historical oddity. It just goes to show how tenuous and unworkable the D's hold on their "majority" is...Dingy Harry may have celebrated too soon...

Reagan80

[scannell]

or one guy like Kerry out campaigning in order to succeed on any given vote.

Remember, they would control the voting calendar.