Lieberman to go Republican? Update: Maybe — if Dems defund the war; Update: Would it matter?
posted at 3:07 pm on February 22, 2007 by Ian
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E&P:
The next issue of Time magazine, due on Friday, features several takes on the Iraq war and domestic politics.
“Independent” Sen. Joe Liebeman receives a mini-profile titled “What Joe Wants,” a key question since he is “the Senate’s one-man tipping point.” Republicans, the magazine says, are “courting him” and Lieberman “has been indulging in some fairly immodest political footsie.”
Lieberman calls jumping to the Republican side, and tilting the Senate, “a remote possibility,” which means there’s at least a chance of that. Time seems to push Lieberman in this direction, as the article concludes: “Lieberman’s GOP flirtation has its risks–and a time limit….The longer he waits to capitalize on his moment, the greater the danger that he’ll be tagged as one of those politicians for whom having power is more important than using it.”
Update (AP): There’s more to this than the E&P excerpt would suggest. Quoth Politico:
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut told the Politico Thursday that he has no immediate plans to switch parties, but suggested Democratic opposition to funding the war in Iraq might change his mind…
He suggested, however, that the forthcoming showdown over new funding could be a deciding factor that would lure him to the Republican Party.
“I hope we don’t get to that point,” Lieberman said. “That’s about all I will say on it today. That would hurt.”
He’s been making noise about this since literally a week after the election. Exit question: Is Liebs going to stop the slow bleed? Bonus exit question: If he switches, will newly anti-war moderate Republican Gordon Smith switch the other way? He’s up for reelection in 2008 and comes from the bluish state of Oregon. Why not?
Update (AP): Keep an eye on Memeorandum as some pretty vicious rants and important action alerts inevitably pile up.
Update (AP): The Influence Peddler e-mails to say that Hagel’s quotes in the E&P piece are even more ominous than Liebs’s, and if there’s anyone in the GOP likely to switch, it’s him. Good point.
Update (AP): Er, does Liebs know that his switching parties wouldn’t affect control of the Senate?
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I fear Lieberman going to the Republicans is the equivalent of McCain jumping to the Dems in 04
Political fantasizing but nothing of substance
As much as Lieberman hates what the party’s doing to him, he’s been a Dem for too long, much like zell miller, to truly abandon
Defector01 on February 22, 2007 at 3:15 PM
Yea and with that other dem in the hospital (I wish him a full recovery take all the time he needs to get better) that makes the VP the tie breaker
Gwillie on February 22, 2007 at 3:15 PM
Feel that Joementum coming on again.
Rick on February 22, 2007 at 3:17 PM
Just because he’s not anti-war doesn’t make him conservative. Or for that matter, a Republican.
Laura on February 22, 2007 at 3:18 PM
I for one would love to see it just to watch the frothing of the Kos.
bbz123 on February 22, 2007 at 3:20 PM
He’s we be a RINO type Repulbican. For the nonce a bit of an improvement but not much else.
Mojave Mark on February 22, 2007 at 3:21 PM
It befuddles me that a man who was the Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States has been so alienated by his own party.
Matticus Finch on February 22, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Read that “He would be…”
Mojave Mark on February 22, 2007 at 3:21 PM
“Absolutely, we could take him out.” Said Kos at a Lamont fund raising lucheon. “We have just decided not to.”
Not feeling it today Kos?
right2bright on February 22, 2007 at 3:23 PM
Joe has his family to consider. If he jumps, it will be because they are just as tough as he is. It’s pretty cynical to insinuate that any timing issue would have political advantages - the Democrat party left Joe, not the other way around.
{{{Joe}}}
RushBaby on February 22, 2007 at 3:24 PM
I predicted last November that McCain and Lieberman would team up to run for the White House… since either one of them could switch parties and nobody would notice.
TexasRainmaker on February 22, 2007 at 3:24 PM
Only if we could keep some of thos wimpy Republicans to stay with us.
I could go for a Lieberman/Miller joint announcement. What a day that would be.
right2bright on February 22, 2007 at 3:25 PM
The fits it would cause would be priceless. Immediately Joe would be attacked by every corner of the Dem-Machine. There would be no turning back.
dallas94 on February 22, 2007 at 3:36 PM
The recent New Yorker profile of Lieberman had strong hints that he’d consider jumping ship as well.
Ed Driscoll on February 22, 2007 at 3:39 PM
As much as I’d like to see this, I’m sure the Dems have a RINO on deck to jump ship to counter this.
Darksean on February 22, 2007 at 3:39 PM
McCain?
BacaDog on February 22, 2007 at 3:44 PM
I’d rather have Joe as a pro-war Dem (or independent) than a big spending GOPer.
Number 2 on February 22, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Liebs as a RINO? I’d take that in a heartbeat, because we’d still agree on the one issue that matters. Everything else is a luxury. Somebody offer him a substantial chairmanship and be done with it!
Kid from Brooklyn on February 22, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Maybe I’m being too simple, but perhaps the more on our side, the better?
I gave up trying to decide what’s better domestically for us; I’m more focused on foreign policy and national security issues. Without those, things ranging from abortion to Gay marriage to school pledging to how big our government is, etc. etc. Those issues won’t matter if we’re dead or being forced to praise Allah for our own very allies.
That said, again, maybe I’m being too simple on the issue by believing the more on the side for winning the War on Terror (and the conflict in Iraq as well), the better, and therefore welcoming Lieberman with open arms. Of course, I haven’t really bothered trying to figure out if I’m Liberal, Centrist, or Conservative (aside from Foreign Policy/National Security issues).
Cutty S. on February 22, 2007 at 3:54 PM
(I used the wrong word… Replace “allies” with “lives” where it says “…or being forced to praise Allah for our own very allies.”)
Cutty S. on February 22, 2007 at 3:56 PM
I think they are floating this idea to scare the Dems from going to far with Iraq.
jp on February 22, 2007 at 3:58 PM
What are you talkin’ about? Lieberman would be a RINO if he changed parties. He’s a hawk, so what? He’s liberal on everything else.
lorien1973 on February 22, 2007 at 4:05 PM
He won’t jump. No way.
robblefarian on February 22, 2007 at 4:08 PM
bluish state?
is that supposed to be funny? Don’t you mean BRIGHT BOLD HARD PHREAKING CORE blue?
yeah.
One Angry Christian on February 22, 2007 at 4:14 PM
As much as Joe gets credit for hawkishness, and for being consistent to his positions, and for integrity…
He is a solid liberal. He remains in far closer agreement to the left’s agenda for non-defense issues, which ARE important.
I’m glad he’s in office, he does his job. I’m glad he’s a Democrat, it’s where he belongs.
Freelancer on February 22, 2007 at 4:20 PM
Are y’all saying I can finally EXHALE ?????
seejanemom on February 22, 2007 at 4:28 PM
What’s so bad about having a pro-war Dem? He should remind the people of his party that, when it comes to matters of nat’l security, they don’t have to be the yin to the Republican yang. Sometimes, there are things that everyone agrees on.
JasonG on February 22, 2007 at 4:30 PM
Can it be true, a liberal with common sense?
Kini on February 22, 2007 at 4:34 PM
This is one RINO we could live with.
Valiant on February 22, 2007 at 4:46 PM
Nothing, except that these days one could die of loneliness.
Entelechy on February 22, 2007 at 4:48 PM
Seriously. If Sen Johnson is recovering as well as they say, why do we keep getting the same mug shot they’ve shown since it was announced that he went to the hospital? Something very macabre about this deal. Do they have him in a Dem safe house on life support??
Oooops! I think the black helicopters spotted me! Gotta go.
TugboatPhil on February 22, 2007 at 5:05 PM
I would also love it just to watch the Kos Krazies go nuts! It would be priceless. In retrospect, would he be any worse than Olympia Snowe?
Catie96706 on February 22, 2007 at 5:11 PM
I doubt he’ll switch. He has a lot of influence on both parties as an “Independent Democrat” (the Republican’s won’t see him as a die-hard Democrat and the Democrats won’t see him as a Republican turn-coat) and joining the Republican Party would completely alienate him from the Democrats.
RedinBlueCounty on February 22, 2007 at 5:22 PM
he was just on hannity, he’s a breath of fresh air.
jp on February 22, 2007 at 5:25 PM
I’d rather him be a Dem, but vote with Reps. As soon as he has an R next to his name it changes everything as far as debating the war, then he’s just another Republican in favor of the war and another RINO on everything else.
Although if him flipping would influence alot of the blue collar dems that love him to start voting Republican then it would be worth it.
jp on February 22, 2007 at 5:28 PM
“pretty vicious rants and important action alerts”. God, I’ll never get tired of that joke :)
BJ* on February 22, 2007 at 5:41 PM
Do you think that fellow Dem and prez hopeful Edwards’ announcement that Israel is the source of all evil the other day had anything do with this?
No matter how you cut it, the Dhimmicrat welcome mat hasn’t been out for Joe since the Vermont Dhimm primary.
I would have left long ago, but then I have my dignity (which sadly Joe lost when he became the Gorebot’s running mate).
Maybe he can get it back this way…
And we won’t miss Hagel or Coleman if should they go the other way as payback.
There’s still the matter of (very sick) Sen. Johnson and there’s VP “Big Time” Cheney for the tie-breaker!
Lieberman is truly the conscience of, if not the Senate, the Democrat Party–he knows it and the American people know it!
Go into the light, Joe, go into the light. Welcome, children…
Jen the Neocon on February 22, 2007 at 5:48 PM
People say an apostate Muslim President could create problems but imagine a Jewish VP. The islamofascists would go even more nuts than they are now.
aengus on February 22, 2007 at 6:05 PM
The Dems don’t want him and he has a lot of supporters - it may be a good thing.
Rick on February 22, 2007 at 6:26 PM
I’m not too concerned about what the islamists think.
Rick on February 22, 2007 at 6:27 PM
I just like the fact that the far left is bouncing off the walls with this news. Keeps them busy.
right2bright on February 22, 2007 at 6:40 PM
Gumballs……Joe has them in spades. I don’t give a rat’s patudy for his social issues but he knows this war trumps everything else…..thanks Joe.
Limerick on February 22, 2007 at 6:45 PM
I seriously doubt Hagel could convincingly jump ship. He’s not an Olympia Snowe. He’s from Nebraska, one of the reddest states in the union. The people of Nebraska voted for Bush 66/33; if that’s not ringing support for Bush’s foreign policy decisions, I don’t know what is. If he jumps ship, he needs to make sure he can’t be recalled first.
spmat on February 22, 2007 at 7:06 PM
Heh, the dems make up the rules in the majority and in the minority, as the world turns…I’m shocked!
Entelechy on February 22, 2007 at 8:21 PM
Ah geeze! Just what we need. Another faux-republican.
Yah, yah, he’s strong on the WOT but he’d still cross party lines on other issues.
Stay where you are Joe. Jumping ship will not help anyone and it will SEAL your fate if you decide to seek re-election. Jump and you’re done.
In the words of Capt. Jack Sparrow…….”Why is the rum always gone?”
Talon on February 22, 2007 at 9:44 PM
You know……… this is starting to look like a tired old soap opera, any one remember “Luke and Laura”……. geeeessshhhh, how long did that thing play out and how many twists did it try before “jumping the shark”?
I feel the same way here, time for some new blood, time for someone who is interested in securing the borders for real… Duncan Hunter is under the radar rigth now, but we still have two years to go……..
PinkyBigglesworth on February 22, 2007 at 9:53 PM
In today’s Democrat Party, there is no place for Joe Lieberman. Republicans really elected Joe Lieberman last November. So welcome him over. The persoanl decency he has may cause him, when freed of the Democrats, to “grow” in the right direction.
Phil Byler on February 22, 2007 at 10:21 PM
You’re close PinkyB. but I think that whispering sound you hear in the background is Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnewt!
Newt/Guiliani ‘08. Adult supervision for the new millenium.
Mojave Mark on February 22, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Nebraska’s other Senator is a Democrat.
honora on February 23, 2007 at 9:33 AM