Lieberman and his whippers argue that stripping him of Homeland Security would be "punishment", and that Democrats should be forgiving of all the gleeful right-wing slams Lieberman delivered against Obama and Democrats over the past two years.
Of course, committee assignments generally go to those who helped the party gain its majorities. Otherwise, why "punish" James Inhoffe by removing him from the Senate Environment and Public Works committee? Why "punish" Republicans, now that the Senate is an even bigger Democratic place, by stripping them of staff, budget, and seats?
Why? Because to the victor go the spoils. It's called democracy, and the people have made their preferences felt at the ballot box.
If they wanted the Lieberman version of DC, they would've voted for McCain.
So if it would be ridiculous to reward James Inhoffe with a committee chairmanship -- or even better, Olympia Snowe who has voted with Democrats more than with Republicans in the past couple of years -- then why isn't it ridiculous to reward Lieberman who campaign for Senate Republicans and McCain?
Throw in the fact that Lieberman's tenure at the committee has been an abject failure -- zero hearings into the Bush's administration's mismanagement of homeland security matters or Katrina -- and you have zero reason beyond bullshit Senate collegiality to keep him where he wants to be.
The American people have spoken -- they wanted change. Senate Democrats, as usual, appear tone deaf to the wishes of the people, and ready to once again capitulate.
The more things "change", the more they appear to stay the same.