In April, Joe Lieberman explained that he’s open to delivering the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in September. “If Sen. McCain, who I support so strongly, asked me to do it, if he thinks it will help him, I will,” Lieberman told The Hill. (The remarks came just days after Lieberman praised Rush Limbaugh for his “love for our country and support for our troops,” adding, “Rush has a big voice but he has heart that is even bigger.”)
At the time, the Democratic Senate leadership didn’t seem prepared to do anything about Lieberman’s antics. Asked whether Lieberman’s chairmanship was at risk in the next Congress, Majority Leader Harry Reid said succinctly, “No.”
Since then, Lieberman has not only pushed the envelope of propriety, he’s effectively become a Republican attack dog. So it’s worth noting that Reid’s perspective seems to have changed a bit.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday did not rule out removing Sen. Joe Lieberman from his coveted chairmanship in 2009, but he pleaded for critics to leave the Connecticut Independent alone.
Asked whether he plans to retaliate against Lieberman next year by stripping him of his chairmanship on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Reid said, “Let’s talk about this year” and stressed Lieberman’s importance to the Democrats in the 110th Congress.
Reid noted that there was a key vote on Medicare on Wednesday afternoon, and Lieberman voted with the Dems, as expected. Of course, there was also a series of key votes on FISA that afternoon, and Lieberman voted with Republicans on the overall bill and each of the amendments.
Pressed on whether he’d give Lieberman’s gavel to a Democrat if the party expanded its majority next year, Reid said, “Next year will be next year when we get there.”
This is very much in line with what I want to hear. It’s also the exact opposite of what Lieberman wants to hear.
There’s been an evolution to Reid’s thinking, and that’s understandable. For one thing, Reid doesn’t want to show his cards, sparking speculation over a hypothetical expanded majority when there’s ample legislating to be done. For another, Lieberman keeps getting worse, causing his standing with his Democratic colleagues to deteriorate further all the time.
So, in April, Lieberman’s chairmanship was not at risk, at least publicly. In May, Lieberman’s chairmanship was up for discussion. In July, the Majority Leader would prefer to just not talk about it at all.
A Lieberman aide told The Hill in May, “Sen. Reid has made it clear that the chairmanship is absolutely not in jeopardy.” In the spring, that sounded about right. But as Lieberman’s Republican antics have become more offensive, he had to realize the caucus would notice.
Lieberman has to see the writing on the wall, but he apparently doesn’t care. He has about six months before the next Congress convenes, at which point Lieberman will have lost just about everything — his role in the party, his committee chairmanship, the respect of his constituents, and his ability to be a key player on the Hill.
I wonder if he’ll think it was worth it.