Why would LIEberman promise to caucus with the Democrats...giving them the majority

[Horse with no Name]

when indeed, he is about as Republican as they come?
Is it for the reason we saw yesterday?
An attempt to render the Democrats impotent? Perhaps the Republicans REALLY didn't want the majority and the responsibility of fixing the mess they created?
However, with Lieberman, they get the best of both worlds. They aren't the party in power AND they may not be able to set the agenda, but they can damn well control it.

[xchrom]

1. both parties have to kiss liebermans ass right now.

an egomaniacs idea of heaven i should think.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Because it gives him power

Plain and simple. And frankly, that the Democrats gave him a standing ovation was july playing up to his ego.

[Kagemusha]

5. Yes, power called seniority, like running the Homeland Security cmte

It's a good deal for Lieb.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Yup! You have to wonder if they negotiated that with him

Personally, I would have gone ahead and stripped him of his seniority on the grounds that he's a freshman "Independant". That's what he ran under and that's what he was elected under. There are plenty that would strongly disagree with me (even vehemently disagree), but it would be taking a stand. It also, at least IMO, promotes both Party and Principle.

They should have called his bluff. Leiberman proclaims his Democratic values, principles, and positions with fanfare. If that's the case and the Iraq Adventure is his only disagreement, then he'd stick with the Democratic Caucus and retain the Majority as he campaigned to do. JMHO.

[Kagemusha]

9. Oh I would've bounced him out on his butt if it was me.

But either way, this spectacle would exist in some form or another... so much for his election campaign stuff about being a critic of the war huh?

[saltpoint]

3. Because he has some tenure with the Democrats and none with the

Republicans.

They want Joe to keep bending over for them but they aren't about to offer him a prestigious Chairmanship.

[atreides1]

4. Because

He wants to have his cake and eat it too!

Lieberman is only concerned with Lieberman, he knows that with of the slim majority held by the Democrats, he can pretty much do as he pleases, the Iraq resolutions are a perfect example.

What needs to happen to put him where he's basically harmless, is for the Democrats to hold on to their current seats in the Senate and to gain enough Republican seats to have a majority that will
require Lieberman to crawl on his knees to them, instead of them crawling to him like they do now.

[aceman2373]

6. because he wants to be re-elected in 6 years

[Jacobin]

8. If you are an enemy, you can do much more damage from the

inside of an organization than you can from the outside.

Its all about Joe...nothing else matters to him.

[Marr]

10. Lieberman is the reason I don't believe Hagel is all that sincere.

If he were, he'd switch sides, and Lieberman would be out in the cold. Lieberman's affect would be erased overnight.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Seniority.

Shithead Connecticut voters.