QUOTE
Retribution sought for Lieberman
DENVER — Connecticut delegates are demanding that party leaders punish Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent, because of his support of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the Republican nominee.
For many of them, Lieberman’s plan to speak at next week’s Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., is the latest offense from the man who represented their state as a Democrat in Washington for 18 years.
“There has to be some kind of penalty for this sort of thing,” said Martha Aasen, a delegate from Westport, Conn.
“He’s a traitor to his party,” said Jennifer Just, a delegate from Woodbridge.
But Democratic senators’ anger toward Lieberman has been tempered by the tens of thousands of dollars he has given to their fundraising committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
Lieberman still heads the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and sits on the prestigious Armed Services Committee by virtue of his association with the Democratic Conference. Although Lieberman now considers himself an Independent, he still sits in on Democratic caucus meetings.
Democrats have been leery of punishing Lieberman because it is only his informal allegiance that gives them a majority in the Senate by one vote. If he caucused with the Republicans, there would be a 50-50 split in the chamber and Vice President Dick Cheney as Senate president would tip the balance of power to Republicans through his tie-breaking votes.
DENVER — Connecticut delegates are demanding that party leaders punish Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent, because of his support of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the Republican nominee.
For many of them, Lieberman’s plan to speak at next week’s Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., is the latest offense from the man who represented their state as a Democrat in Washington for 18 years.
“There has to be some kind of penalty for this sort of thing,” said Martha Aasen, a delegate from Westport, Conn.
“He’s a traitor to his party,” said Jennifer Just, a delegate from Woodbridge.
But Democratic senators’ anger toward Lieberman has been tempered by the tens of thousands of dollars he has given to their fundraising committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
Lieberman still heads the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and sits on the prestigious Armed Services Committee by virtue of his association with the Democratic Conference. Although Lieberman now considers himself an Independent, he still sits in on Democratic caucus meetings.
Democrats have been leery of punishing Lieberman because it is only his informal allegiance that gives them a majority in the Senate by one vote. If he caucused with the Republicans, there would be a 50-50 split in the chamber and Vice President Dick Cheney as Senate president would tip the balance of power to Republicans through his tie-breaking votes.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/retrib...2008-08-28.html
As a former resident from Connecticut, the place where I was born, I would be so thriled if the delegation decides to punish this man. The DSCC shouldn't care about the fact that LIEberman gave campaign donations to the committee, or the fact that he is percieved to hold the balance of power in his hand.....first of all, the fact that he is speaking like he was Zell Miller at the Republican convention should be reason to say 'enough is enough"!!!!! The donations he hs made should be returned to him, like you return monies from a corrupt donor....LIEberman definitely fits that bill. And there is great expectation that the Democratic Party will extend the majority by 5 or 6 seats, and then he can be cut loose. 
