Lieberman's Role In Next Congress Tenuous

On Friday, a reporter asked former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman if current Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin would be ready to be President on day one. Lieberman's answer was a little bit less than confidence inspiring. "Thank God, she's not gonna have to be president from day one," Lieberman said, "because McCain's going to be alive and well."

Over the weekend Lieberman, an Independent, criticized reporters for focusing on the negativity of the McCain campaign. Then he began defending his own comments about the Presidential nominee of his former party, Barack Obama. "When I go out, I say, 'I have a lot of respect for Senator Obama," Lieberman said, "he's bright. He's eloquent.' Someday, I might even support him for president. But now in the midst of this series of crises, John McCain is simply so much better prepared that that's who I am proud to support."

Perhaps Lieberman's less than charitable response to the question about Palin's readiness and his sudden emphasis on his "respect" for Barack Obama has to do with Democrats approaching what I like to call the Lieberman Threshold of 60 Senate seats in the Democratic caucus.

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PD toolbar!All the numbers around 60 have wildly shifting implications for Lieberman. If the Democrats get to 60, Lieberman will continue to hold a considerable amount of power, as he would be the likely swing vote that could consistently overcome GOP filibusters. If the Democrats get to 61 or stall short of 60, then Lieberman will have virtually no leverage whatsoever.

If Lieberman loses his leverage, he could be stripped of his coveted position as chair the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and his position as chair of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. In July, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to comment on whether Lieberman's committee assignments would be continued in the next congress. Reid has been powerless to strip Lieberman of his chairmanships, despite a huge outcry from liberal bloggers to do so, because he lacks the votes to override the organizing resolution congress is currently functioning under.

Steve Benen of Political Animal names four instances where Lieberman was not exactly respectful of Obama:

The party is supposed to forget, for example, when Lieberman argued that Obama doesn't put "country first."

And the time Lieberman said it was a "good question" to ask whether Obama is a "Marxist."

And the time Lieberman ironically accused the Obama campaign of "sleazy tactics."

And the time Lieberman, at the Republican National Convention, falsely accused Obama of trying to undermine the troops.

Josh Orton of MyDD argues that reaching 60 Senate seats is a very important feat for the Democrats.

While 60 seats would make life easier for the candidate I support, I'm not sure that actually reaching the Lieberman Threshold is all that important. Two more years of the default filibuster is just not a viable approach for the Republicans. After this election the remainder of the Republicans left in office will feel a great deal of pressure to redefine (moderate) the party, which will leave plenty of low lying fruit for the Democrats to craft a steady and productive agenda for at least four years if there is an Obama Administration.


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