Posted on 05/15/2008 9:41:20 AM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
Senator Joseph Lieberman, a stalwart backer of John McCain who calls himself an "independent Democrat", could face punishment from the Democratic party if he is asked to speak at this summer's Republican convention.
Lieberman has said he would appear at McCain's nominating convention if invited by the Republican, fuelling frustration among US liberals already angered by his support for the Iraq war. Democrats revoked his superdelegate status earlier this year.
The onetime vice presidential nominee of Al Gore has played a pivotal role in maintaining Democrats' narrow control of the Senate. But party leader Harry Reid today left the door open to sanctioning Lieberman if he speaks in favour of McCain's nomination.
"I'll consider anything," Reid said at a breakfast with reporters today, adding that the Democratic presidential nominee, likely Barack Obama, would want to weigh in on Lieberman's future role.
Reid noted that Lieberman's reliable alignment with Democrats on domestic issues such as education and taxes - he has proposed a "war on terrorism" tax to fund the US presence in Iraq - makes the case for his continued value in the party.
The Connecticut senator sides with Democrats "90 to 95%" of the time outside of war-related issues, Reid said.
But Iraq has permanently discoloured Lieberman's standing with some US Democrats who believe his praise for George Bush has undercut the party's efforts to end the war. The strong bond between Lieberman and McCain has only exacerbated those doubts.
Democrats nearly faced a similar conundrum in 2004 when their senator from Georgia, Zell Miller, publicly denounced presidential nominee John Kerry at the Republican convention. Miller's previously announced retirement from politics that year spared him sanctions within the party.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
The GOP HAD BETTER ask Lieberman to speak at the convention. His speech will be ON FIRE. I can't believe they haven't asked him already.
Since he ran and was elected as an Independent,, let’em squawk.
The real screech will be coming from the right.
I wish Lieberman would switch sides now. All he has to do is caucus with GOP.
They demmies are going to “punish” Joe? How are they going to do that? By running someone against him? What a great idea! Surprised they haven’t tried it already! /s/
Not only will he speak at the convention, I expect him to announce during the speech that he’s changing his status to (R), and proud of it. VP candidate? Wouldn’t doubt it.
How can the dems punish him? He is an independent, right?
I hope he speaks as well. I wouldn’t mind him as SOS in a McCain admin.
It will be up to McCain. We'll discover whether he's more interested in winning or in "bi-partisan comity".
By that, I mean, if he's interested in winning, he'll invite Liebermann to speak.
Let's face it, McCain will have to have the (more-or-less) conservative Democrats -- because he's not going to get much enthusiastic conservative support.
The dems can punish him by removing him from Committees. They need him right now to maintain power in the Senate. But if polls are correct the dems should pick at least 2-3 seats in the senate come Nov. and make Lieberman expendble.
The GOP HAD BETTER ask Lieberman to speak at the convention. His speech will be ON FIRE. I can't believe they haven't asked him already.
Still, it makes me wonder why Lieberman chose to caucus with those backstabbers rather than Republicans. And I cannot see how Lieberman can ever be ON FIRE during a speech. He speaks in a monotone that puts people to sleep. the only way he is ON FIRE during his speech is if he makes a Zell Miller-type speech and announces at the convention that he is leaving the Rat party for the GOP. Otherwise, it will be no different than his "scathing" denunciation of Slick Willie before he voted to acquit him of all charges.
They already took away his superdelegate status and I think they could take away his committee chair, couldn’t they?
Senator Lieberman is shocked, shocked I tell you!
The dems have the majority. More power in caucusing with them.
Actually they did, he had to run last time as an independent, remember?
Fine, I'll resign, Get a job doing commentary on Fox or wherever pulling down more than the $170k you are paying me,
And....
Write a tell all book.
He would have better retirement than that girlie-mann Reed ever would.....
Could be another Zell Miller moment. He was just great at the last GOP convention, and afterwards, when he regretted he couldn’t challenge that Sissy Chrissy Matthews to a duel.
If Lieberman would change sides, the GOP would have the majority (since Cheney would be the tie-breaker).
Believe it or not Lieberman is more powerful as an Independent caucussing with the dems, he can constantly hang his support over their heads. Can you imagine how powerful it will be to have a former dem vice presidential nominee and former candidate for president endorsing McCain during a keynote address to the Republican National Convention (plus you know he’ll make TV ads for Mac)? This will make Zell Miller’s speech pale in comparison, no offense to him.
“Democrats may punish Lieberman for Republican convention appearance”
So?
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