Via Political Wire:
When Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) returns to work this week, "he can expect some arm-twisting from his Republican friends and the cold shoulder from some Democrats" for giving a speech at the Republican convention, CQ Politics reports.They can have him. The Republican base doesn't like Lieberman because he's pro-choice and supports gay rights. The Republican base wouldn't let McCain pick Lieberman as his v.p. But, the GOP Senators want Lieberman for tactical reasons -- and Joe is pathetic enough to be used by them.
There is a silver lining (besides getting rid of Lieberman). If Lieberman becomes a Republican now, before he's kicked out of the Democratic caucus after the election, the Senate becomes 50-50. Dick Cheney would becomes the 51st Republican to give them control. Cheney would be the deciding vote in the Senate.
Do the Republicans really want to put Cheney front and center between now and the election? Every time there's a vote in the Senate, Cheney will have to sit in the Senate President's chair and cast the tie-breaking vote. The Republicans have been trying to hide Cheney. They succeeded during the GOP convention. Joe Lieberman could thrust Cheney back into the spotlight during the height of the election.
McCain isn't just offering four more years of Bush. He's offering four more years of Cheney, too.
