Even if Lieberman Flips, There's No Reason to Give Up Our Senate Majority

The organizing resolution passed in January designates Harry Reid as majority leader and puts the Democrats in control of committee chairmanships.

Joe Lieberman made a promise to his constituents and his colleagues that he would never flip to the GOP, and if he does, Mr. Reid should simply ignore him.

Now you might wonder how this situation is any different than the 2001 case of Jeffords. In the Jeffords case Daschle, sensing that someone in the proceeding two years might flip parties inserted language in the organizing resolution that would allow for leadership changes in the event the composition of the Senate changed.

No such language exists in the organizing resolution of the 110th Congress.

If Lieberman announces his intentions to switch parties and McConnell files a new organizing resolution, Democrats should simply refuse to invoke cloture on the resolution and move on.

I don't think we would suffer very badly in the eyes of voters for doing this as nobody seems too keen on letting the Republicans govern anymore, and we can lambaste Republicans for holding up the business of the nation if they try to grind Senate business to a halt after this happens.

As I said, there is no reason to give up the majority, just filibuster and move on.

if he was your garden variety GOPer.

I hadn't thought of that, but it's so true. Right now, he has power. As a Republican, he'd have nothing.

it all goes out the window if he flips. Reid et al should call his bluff and stop with the kid gloves treatment.

Good move on Daschle's part to put that into the resolution, and thank God Mitch McConnell wasn't smart enough to.

The way the sentiment in this country is leaning, combined with the number of Republic Senators up for reelection in 2008 ensures that if he does switch, it will be to a very, very, very short and non-productive tour in the majority.

It's not far-fetched to think there could possibly be a fillibuster proof Democratic Majority in 2009. Joe would be stupid to switch to the Republic Party at this time. He knows that they are going to have an even smaller Senate contingent in 2009, and he knows the Dems would never take him back if he switches now.

Someone needs to tell Joe to Switch now. I hope he does, because he'll the rest of his miserable political life in the minority.

Is that possible? Just kicked to get some more responses.

We have way too many Lieberman's in the Senate that would sell us out, and we lost the opportunity to get rid of more than a few of those in 2006.

That said, I hope Congress stands up to that smarmy little whiner's bluff. The way the Senate is currently, nothing much will get done (or signed by Bush anyway. The body's proving to be a far right enabler (again) and it's proving nearly useless for drawing a serious contrast between the parties.

The way the Senate layout looks in 2008 there is almost zero chance we lose control.

Republicans would have to run the table and retain the presidency, doubtful that both will happen.

All we need is 41 guys and gals to decide to not give up their chairmanships and the Senate stays in Democratic hands.

The whining will be worse in the Senate than when the oppressed minority had their whine-a-thon.

I can hear it now. The majority being oppressed by the minority, just like in Iraq before the liberation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=293609&mesg_id=293609

Maybe you can add to the clarity?

Thanks :)