Liberman's Dilemma

Senator Joe Liberman continues to dig himself into a great hole: he is only one of two independents and after campaigning with fellow Republican Senator John McCain, he is only becoming more and more isolated. Harry Reid, the majority leader has had serious thoughts of removing Liberman from his chairmanship and they have both had several private meetings to discuss this but neither have come to any compromise. Joe had threatened that if he had lost his chairmanship, he would remove himself from the Democratic cacusus and begin caucusing with the Republicans.

If anything Liberman cannot afford to remove himself from the Democratic side of the Senate. He agrees with everything they believe in except for the Iraq War which puts him between a rock and a hard place. In Conneticut, his home state, citizens were polled on the following questions:

• Do you approve or disapprove of the job Joe Lieberman is doing as U.S. senator?

Approve 36 (45)
Disapprove 61 (43)

• If the 2012 election for U.S. Senate were held today would you to reelect Joe Lieberman would you consider voting for another candidate or would you vote to replace Lieberman?

Reelect 35
Consider Someone Else 18
Replace 48

• If Joe Lieberman loses his committee chairmanship at Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and switches his allegiance to the Republican Party would you that make you more likely reelect Lieberman more likely to consider voting for another candidate or more likely to vote to replace Lieberman?

Reelect 31
Consider Someone Else 15
Replace 52

• If you could vote again for U.S. Senate would you vote for Ned Lamont theDemocrat Alan Schlesinger the Republican or Joe Lieberman an Independent?

Lieberman (I) 34 (36)
Lamont (D) 59 (51)
Schlesinger (R) 3 (7)

It seems that the people of Connecticut don't like the Republican version of Lieberman, the one that trashed Democrats on the campaign trail with John McCain, the one that spoke at the RNC convention, the one that failed to hold the Bush Administration accountable in Congress, and the one that pretended Katrina never happened. I can predict with certainty that Liberman will most likely not be re-elected when his term ends. But also don't forget: it's either they keep Liberman on to get the magical 60-seat Filibuster proof position (which they can obtain I believe even without him if the three disputed races are resolved soon) or Joe Liberman consorting with the Republicans; trying to get reelected in New England, which as we all know is perhaps the one of the most Democratic areas in the United States. Below is a video clip I found on 'Daily Kos' but broadcasted by MSNBC, watch it: