Hey!
I'm the guy that wrote The filibuster-proof majority (or, Keep Lieberman!) yesterday. I said stuff like:
Let Lieberman keep his chairmanship, but keep an eye on him. It's not giving him power in exchange for nothing. All of those who caucus with the Democrats (for example, 50-some Democrats) have the same obligations to support a Democratic agenda (i.e.: whatever they want to do, because they're human beings with opinions and special-interest money, etc.).
and
Joe's an asshole, but we all do better if he's OUR asshole. Hell, the Democrats let Max Baucus chair all kinds of committees, and he's hardly someone I'd consider a progressive.
Yeah. Sorry about that. I've had a bit of a re-think. [h/t Kagro X]
Rachel Maddow did a piece on the danger of keeping Lieberman in his chairmanships. (which can be viewed at Crooks & Liars)
And I think that's probably the most important issue with reagrd to Lieberman keeping his chairmanship. And here's why I am no longer so worried about the prospect of a filibuster:
Conason:
Nobody can doubt that the Republican remnant in the Senate will obstruct as soon as that seems politically safe. Right-wing pundits, from Rush Limbaugh to the Wall Street Journal editorial page are already egging them on furiously. But is there enough muscle behind that filibuster threat to block Mr. Obama’s mandate?
The short answer is no – and the new president’s own political arsenal should enable him to call the Republican bluff.
I don't know how much I'm allowed to quote, but it's a good article. Conason goes into some detail. It reminds me of a thread by evenson from back on Nov. 5th.
Look who won't be showing up in January:
Wayne Allard (CO).
Larry Craig (ID).
Elizabeth Dole (NC).
John Sununu (NH).
Pete Domenici (NM).
John Warner (VA).
Yeah, it certainly could have gone better for the Democrats last night. But just replacing the onerous Wayne Allard with Mark Udall is going to make the Senate a much better place for progressive legislation.
Boy, that evenson. He's an awfully smart guy. Good head on his shoulders. ...wait. I'm evenson!
Oh yeah, that's right. Way back in early November, when I thought the Dems couldn't pull off the 60 seats, I had a whole different outlook.
All right. So, to sum up:
Lieberman: BAD.
Chairmanship: Take.
UPDATE:Lieberman committee verifies Cheney's view of VP
Think Progress is reporting that the Senate Committee on Government Affairs, which is chaired by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), produced this cycle's "Plum Book," listing "more than 7,000 government jobs that are likely to open up with the presidential transition."
It lists the VP office in the appendices, not in the executive branch:
The Vice Presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch, but is attached by the Constitution to the latter. The Vice Presidency performs functions in both the legislative branch (see article I, section 3 of the Constitution) and in the executive branch (see article II, and amendments XII and XXV, of the Constitution, and section 106 of title 3 of the United States Code).
What a dick.