Will Joe Lieberman be Stripped Of His Homeland Chairmanship?



(image via yesterdayssalad)

He's looking kind of Zellish, churlish, combative, saucy. What to do with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who is shaping to be the Zell Miller of this year's Republican Convention. Once a Democrat, he drew netroots ire by vehemently backing Bush 43's Iraq War. Ousted in a contentious party primary, Lieberman is now officially "Independent." Lieberman, inseparable from his old pal Senator John McCain -- the presumptive Republican nominee -- has been mentioned as having a prime time speaking role at the Republican convention in Minnesota. On Sunday on "Meet The Press" Lieberman appeared to be doing a little recon, hinting that although no decision has been made, he may actually address the republican Convention.

That would be a no-no to Democrats, who have (strategically) allowed Lieberman to keep his Homeland Security Chairmanship in the Senate despite his not being a party member anymore. From our favorite Dickensian villain, Robert Novak, this past June:

"Despite assurances to the contrary from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democratic insiders are certain Sen. Joseph Lieberman next year will be kicked out of the party's caucus and lose his Senate chairmanship if he addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., as planned.

"Lieberman's Democratic colleagues willing to accept his support of Sen. John McCain for president consider speaking to the GOP convention as the last straw. Lieberman was re-elected from Connecticut as an independent in 2006 after losing the Democratic nomination because of his support for the Iraq war.

"After his 2006 election, the Senate Democratic leadership agreed to give Lieberman the Homeland Security Committee chairmanship if he provided the decisive vote to make the Democrats a 51 to 49 Senate majority. However, with additional Democratic senators likely to be elected this year, that agreement is expected to be null and void in the new Congress."

What curious karma this Lieberman must have. His entire Senate political career involves the delicate tightrope balance between conservatism and liberalism, staring from his 1988 victory over liberal Republican Senator Lowell Weicker. Lieberman ran to the right of the Republican and was aided by summer-house Connecticut Republicans like the late William F. Buckley, Jr. With friends like that, no wonder he is having trouble with his party.