Lieberman Should Be Punished: Leahy

Connecticut senator stands at the middle of Republican/Democrat divide

(NEWSER) - Had things gone just a bit differently in Florida in 2000, Joe Lieberman might be ending his second term as a Democratic vice president. Instead, the now-Independent is delivering a primetime RNC address and again being bandied about as a potential veep—this time for John McCain. The Boston Globe takes a look at how Lieberman now finds himself courted and detested by both sides of the aisle. More»

Indy senator promises he'll vote with Dems to end filibuster

(NEWSER) - Forget all the grandstanding about joining a GOP filibuster of health care reform if it contains any kind of public option: Sen. Joe Lieberman won't do it, Harry Reid tells liberal interest groups, who tell the Hill . He has a deal with the Connecticut Independent, the majority leader claims. Lieberman is the likeliest lawmaker outside the Democratic caucus to provide the extra vote needed to shut down a GOP filibuster. More»

(NEWSER) - Democrats everywhere, even in the Senate, are still furious with Joe Lieberman for campaigning against Barack Obama. So pushing to allow him to stay in the Democratic caucus, and continue as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, was a savvy political move on Obama's part, Time reports: Lieberman will owe the new president big time, and there'll be plenty of opportunities for Obama to collect. More»

Will lose some meaningless subcommittee job instead

(NEWSER) - Senate Democrats voted 42-13 today to let Joe Lieberman keep his perch atop the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, hoping to prevent the Connecticut Independent from becoming a full-fledged Republican, the Hill reports, The former Dem, who actively supported John McCain's presidential bid, will instead lose his chairmanship of the smaller global warming subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Commission, a comparative slap on the wrist. More»

The party is ticked, but this might not be the time for vengeance

(NEWSER) - Joe Lieberman has crossed nearly every line there is in supporting John McCain—on Sunday he even praised Sarah Palin—and many liberals want him ousted from the Democratic caucus. But Harry Reid and company show no signs of moving against Lieberman, Salon reports. “We're going to have to wait and see,” was all a Reid spokesman would say. More»