You Go, Joe!

You Go, Joe!

After President Bush outlined his plan for the Iraqi War, which included a troop surge, the House couldn’t wait to pass a “non-binding resolution” against the plan. While the Democratic leadership did allow some debate on the measure, they would not allow Republicans to introduce any opposing resolution.

Senator Harry Reid had similar plans for a resolution in the Senate, but he was stopped. The Republicans have been blamed, but the Democrats are in the majority. The Republicans could not stop the Democrats from introducing and voting on a resolution if the Democrats chose to do so. The one man who could stop the resolution was Sen. Joe Lieberman.

During the last election, the Democrats chose to support Ned Lamont for Connecticut’s Senate seat instead of supporting the incumbent and former vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman. Lieberman ran as an Independent and won, but he has caucused with the Democrats, giving them a slim majority of one. When Reid decided to push for a resolution against Bush’s plan, Lieberman demurred. He said, “I have no desire to change parties. If that ever happens, it is because I feel the majority of Democrats have gone in a direction that I don’t feel comfortable with.” He also said that the fight over funding the war could induce him to switch parties. If Lieberman leaves the Democratic caucus, the Republicans gain the majority in the Senate, and all the committee chairmanships change to Republicans. Republicans, not Democrats, would decide which legislation would make it out of committee and to the floor for a vote.

Only five Senate Democrats campaigned for him against Lamont, and Lieberman was elected by Republicans. In the past, Lieberman called Sen. Dodd (D, CT) his best friend. Recently he was asked if that was still the case. Lieberman replied, “I have so many good friends in the Senate. John McCain is a very good friend.” Ouch. Lieberman has been isolated. He is a Democrat on social policy but a Republican on defense.

I think Lieberman’s main concern is Israel. If we leave Iraq and it crumbles, the Middle East will further destabilize and Israel will be more of a target for terrorists. Lieberman will never vote for anything that might hurt Israel.
I guess he who laughs last laughs best.