I hate to break this to you, but the Democrats did not win control of the Senate. It's great that we did so well, but it is inaccurate to move forward thinking we control the Senate. What surprises me is that not even the Republicans are talking about this. Perhaps they are in such control of their message they are trying to keep it quiet until the first important vote.
Look at the numbers.
We hold 49 seats. Yes, we can count Sanders. He's an Independent, but tends to vote like a Democrat. More than most Democrats, actually. He gives us 50.
But why are we all counting Joe as a Democrat? Just so we can say we control the Senate? This is dangerous.
Joe is in this for Joe. And now he is indebted to the Republican Party and his Republican constituents. He's going to serve Joe first and those Republicans second. The Deomcratic Party is a distant third.
On Meet The Press last Sunday, he said, "I'm going to caucus with the Democrats both because it's good for my constituents in Connecticut, because I retained my seniority, I become a committee chair, but also I want to continue to work to bring the party back to its historic traditions of strength on national security, foreign policy, and innovation and progress in domestic policy,"
I parse that statement as:
1.) I'm going to caucus with the Democrats because I become a committee chair.
2.) I'm going to work for my constituents, well for the 70% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats who voted for me.
3.) Everything from "but also" on is just hollow, but "continue to work" should give you an idea of his direction - the same old Joe.
He asked to be listed as "ID" for Independent Democrat. He should be labelled "SE" for selfish and egotistical.
It's 49(D) 49(R) 2(I). The records of the Independents makes it 50-50, and Cheney breaks the tie.
And Joe, who I think loves all of the attention, is essentially holding our party hostage. He will caucus with the Democrats so long as we treat him with the respect he thinks he derserves. It will be a constant threat on every key vote.
I think the Democratic Leadership should write him off now and plan accordingly. We made a lot of progress, and that's great, but if we count on Joe and claim victory, it's only a matter of time before the victory proves pyrrhic.
Can anyone explain what happens to committees and such when it is a tie? Does Cheney essentially break that tie? If that's the case, do the Republicans control the Senate, and therefore continue to stifle any meaningful investigations and oversight? If that's the case...then maybe...
Nevermind, Joe's a Democrat.