Lieberman a "Super Delegate"? Nope.

Via Mark Pazniokas:

   

Thanks to Zell Miller, there is a rule to deal with Joe Lieberman.

     Lieberman's endorsement of Republican John McCain disqualifies him as a super-delegate to the Democratic National Convention under what is informally known as the Zell Miller rule, according to Democratic State Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo.

    Miller, then a Democratic senator from Georgia, not only endorsed Republican George Bush four years ago, but he delivered a vitriolic attack on Democrat John Kerry at the Republican National Convention.

This is great news - not that I was particularly worried about a Lieberman vote at the convention. It's more that this is hopefully the first step (assuming a Democratic gain in the senate of any size in November) towards the Democratic Party kicking Lieberman to the curb - more exactly, ratifying Lieberman's decision to kick the party to the curb. Bye Bye, committee assignments. Joe, we hardly knew ye.

•  don't you have to be a democrat anyhow?

  He can be a superdelegate at the Connecticut for Lieberman convention.

  by mattw on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:34:04 PM PDT

  •  He'd be the only delegate

    as far as I know. He could hold the convention while he's on the loo.....

    by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:36:49 PM PDT

    •  P{lease did you have to put that image in my

      head?

      by mr crabby on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:38:31 PM PDT

      •  try this image

        Just tryin' ta help.

        

        by FireCrow on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:47:13 PM PDT

        •  Thanks - now I'll never date a Ballerina

          by mftalbot on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:48:39 PM PDT

          •  But they're soooo flexible :P nt

            by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:50:52 PM PDT

          •  heh

            they're pretty fragile anyway, get yourself a sturdy gal.  ;)

            by FireCrow on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:55:52 PM PDT

            •  Gotta be kidding

              they only LOOK fragile. What they do is incredibly athletic.

              by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:00:49 PM PDT

              •  sorry

                dated one, athletic, yes, incredibly so, but break easy.  ;)

                by FireCrow on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:06:48 PM PDT

                •  Okay, will shift my fantasies

                  to Chinese contortionists. :P

                  by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:15:15 PM PDT

    •  Yeah, but then he'd miss the floor vote n/t

      by mftalbot on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:45:26 PM PDT

    •  Not so!

      He never actually joined for his own party!  But there are two feuding would-be CFL party chairs, each of whom submitted rules for the party with the Secretary of State's office.

      Lieberman, btw, is a registered Democrat.

      The Music Room.

      by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:53:07 PM PDT

      •  He wasn't elected as one, though n/t

        by ubertar on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:56:47 PM PDT

        •  Think you're right

          while he may be a Democrat, he's not a Democratic office-holder, which I think means he's not a superdelegate.

          by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:01:32 PM PDT

          •  Zell rule

            Zell Miller was a Democrat -- I thought it was the endorsement that kicked him out.

            I do like the idea of the party Joe created turning on him.

            

            The Music Room.

            by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:06:02 PM PDT

            •  We still need him though

              At least until we pick up more seats in the Senate.

              by democrattotheend on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:11:37 PM PDT

              •  I look forward to when

                We don't need him at all.

                

                The Music Room.

                by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:13:21 PM PDT

  •  I thought he got kicked out of the CFL party? n/t

    by dougymi on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:49:44 PM PDT

    •  He never actually joined it!

      See links in my comment above.

      The Music Room.

      by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:06:28 PM PDT

  •  He's still a registered Democrat

    He was asked about this by the press last week. He admitted that he could not vote for McCain in Connecticut because he was still a registered Democrat, but said that he did not plan to vote in the Democratic primary, since he supports McCain.

    Glad he won't be a superdelegate...will Connecticut get another superdelegate in his place?

    by democrattotheend on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:10:42 PM PDT

•  Lieberman

  will be a speaker at the RNC, I have no doubt about it, he will be the Zell Miller of this election.

  by nrafter530 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:34:37 PM PDT

  •  Yep, I'm sure he will.

    The bastard deserves a stretch in the political wilderness with the rest of the Republicans. Let's make it a LONG stretch.

    by mftalbot on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:36:28 PM PDT

    •  But we know Joe

      He'd quit because he wouldn't get to be chair anymore.

      Joe, here's a chair for you.

      

      The Music Room.

      by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:07:52 PM PDT

  •  Except...

    ...his speech will drone on and put everyone to sleep.

    by PsiFighter37 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:39:18 PM PDT

    •  He's the only public speaker...

      ...who can compete with Ben Stein in the put-the-audience-to-sleep-the-fastest competition

      by mftalbot on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:40:48 PM PDT

      •  Yeah. No foaming at the mouth for Joe....

        by jeremybloom on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:22:17 PM PDT

  •  did Zell hurt us?

    not sure myself.  Crazy-assed speeches at the RNC have hurt the republicans in the past.  Pat Buchannon was said to have really hurt GHWBush with his "culture war" speech at the '92 convention.  

    Nobody ever liked Lieberman anyway, that's one thing that dragged Gore down in 2000

    by unterhausen on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:07:40 PM PDT

    •  No one eh?

      Nobody ever liked Lieberman anyway

      A majority of Connecticut voters apparently did.

      by nrafter530 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:22:43 PM PDT

      •  mostly republicans

        if the republicans could put up a fight in CT, lieberman wouldn't have won.

        by unterhausen on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 05:32:14 AM PDT

•  I'd be pissed if he was.

  he's not EVEN a DINO.

  by pseudopod on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:35:31 PM PDT

•  Will Lieberman be McCain's running mate?

  I suspect he will...although I don't think it will do him much good with the Democratic faithful, and none at all with the Republicans.

  by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:35:34 PM PDT

  •  Probably Huck

    To get the SoCons on board with McCain

    by bhagamu on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:36:47 PM PDT

    •  Unlikely

      My guess is that McCain will try to pick off "national security" Democrats and independents who think, mistakenly, that he's a moderate. Huckabee scares those people, and so wouldn't help McCain. Lieberman would make McCain look like he was running on a "national unity" platform, aiming to end the divisiveness of the past eight years, etc.

      by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:39:32 PM PDT

      •  So he'll try to pick off his opponent's voters...

        instead of shoring up his base?  I hope he goes for it, because that strategy has worked so well for our side in the past.

        by filmgeek83 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:44:39 PM PDT

        •  Republicans are more disciplined

          than Democrats. They may grumble, but most of them will probably show up and vote, anyway. Can you really see Texas going Democratic under any realistic circumstances?

          by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:48:23 PM PDT

          •  Yeah but if enough of them listen to Dobson

            They're all staying home.

            The Music Room.

            by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:09:20 PM PDT

            •  That would be McCain's gamble nt

              by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:41:39 PM PDT

  •  Nah...

    that's going to be Huckabee.  McCain needs to shore up his conservative base, and Lieberman, while a disgusting waste of oxygen, will not do that.

    by filmgeek83 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:37:13 PM PDT

    •  See my reply to bhagamu above. nt

      by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:40:07 PM PDT

  •  He said no, but Joe's word is worthless.

    by jfern on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:37:15 PM PDT

  •  It's an interesting dilemma

    On one hand, he could pick Huckabee, securing conservatives who don't think he has the proper credentials, but alienating everyone else.

    On the other hand, he could pick his bosom bud Lieberman, secure a few "maverick" voters, but still alienate conservatives.

    Oh, the choices.

    by DH from MD on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:42:00 PM PDT

    •  Wait, I've forgotten something crucial

      Consevatives just adore Joe Lieberman.  That's a fatal flaw in my analysis.

      Carry on.

      by DH from MD on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:44:58 PM PDT

      •  Until they're reminded he's pro-choice...

        ...pro-gay rights, believes in global warming, etc. (ugh...did I just sort of defend lieberman? I feel dirty)

        Conservatives love him as a Democrat, but they'd hate him as a repub.

        by Arlingtonian on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:50:44 PM PDT

    •  Something to look forward to!

      Who can McCain pick that will both placate the conservatives and help in the general election? There's no obvious answer that I can see...especially since much of the republican bench consists of ultra-conservative southerners.

      by Arlingtonian on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:48:56 PM PDT

      •  Rudy!

        No. Never mind.

        by jeremybloom on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:24:27 PM PDT

•  The comparison with Zell Miller

  seems particularly apt ....

  by jfdunphy on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:39:43 PM PDT

•  Joementum!

  I hope he does speak at the Republican Convention.

  by Oothoon on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:41:01 PM PDT

  •  Hmmm

    Zell Miller was a lot more culturally conservative than Lieberman is. Also, if the Republicans run on an anti-immigration platform, Lieberman can't speak and keep his seat: too many Hispanics in Connecticut. He'd do himself real damage in that instance. If McCain keeps immigration from a prominent place at the convention (which in turn depends on him gaining the nomination early and being able to control the event), Lieberman MIGHT speak.

    by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:45:49 PM PDT

•  conneticut wont elect him again and he

  knows it so hes looking for greener pastures (pun intended)

  by TAPayne on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:44:34 PM PDT

  •  and hopefully after the senate majority grows

    after senator obama is made the democratic candidate for president, he will lose his commitee assignments as well

    by TAPayne on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:47:05 PM PDT

    •  and then after that majority

      grows in 2010 under president obama, maybe therell be a recall from his state

      by TAPayne on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:51:01 PM PDT

      •  they don't have a recall procedure

        people would have tried it.

        by unterhausen on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:26:05 PM PDT

    •  There is no reason

      that this POS should be left anywhere except at the curb as road kill. I have come to not dislike him, but really hate him. He's a war monger and a pariah.

      by dgone36 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:31:49 PM PDT

  •  While I'd like to believe this

    I'm not so sure that's the case...in terms of bringing home the bacon, he's been a pretty effective senator, and a lot of people vote on those grounds, rather than on ideology.

    by gracchus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:52:26 PM PDT

    •  if you look at the newspapers in conneticut..

      ..youll see his name is mud

      by TAPayne on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:55:27 PM PDT

•  What is your TIPping point?

  by mftalbot on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:46:14 PM PDT

•  Confusing Article

  http://blogs.courant.com/...

  Lieberman will not be replaced, DiNardo said.

  If Joe isn't being replaced then it would be logical to assume that CT is losing one of its Super Delegates.

  But then there is this:

  Connecticut has 12 super delegates: six Democratic National Committee members, one Democratic senator, four Democratic members of congress and one "unpledged add on" to be selected.

  The "unpledged add on" appears to be the replacement for Lieberman.  Or was Joe Lieberman never a Super Delegate in the first place?

  This article is not going to win any clarity awards.

  by Norm DePlume on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:54:46 PM PDT

•  Wouldn't not being a Democrat disqualify him? n/t

  by Marie on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:55:39 PM PDT

  •  Question.

      Did his running as an independent preclude support from the Democratic party in 2006?

    by redrelic17 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:59:16 PM PDT

    •  He lost the DEM nomination

      in 2006 and instead of accepting the defeat gracefully, he launched a campaign as an IND.  Super-delegates are current and high level former Democratic office holders.  He's not a Democrat.

      by Marie on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:09:58 PM PDT

  •  Lieberman is still registered as a Democrat

    and belongs to the Dem Senate Caucus.  I assume that is the basis, but I'm not entirely sure that he ever was designated as a Super Delegate for 2008.  He endorsed McCain a while ago (think it was back in December).

    by Norm DePlume on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:03:07 PM PDT

    •  Lieberman is an IND Senator who caucuses

      with the DEMs.  His status has been clear and neither he nor Reid have modified it.

      by Marie on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:07:06 PM PDT

      •  What he is with Senators is not what he is

        registered as.  Norm is correct -- Lieberman is a registered Democrat.  Here's the proof.

        The Music Room.

        by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:10:38 PM PDT

      •  Does anyone read the links in diaries?

        I think everyone knows that Lieberman was elected as an Independent in 2006.

        Per the article:

        He remains a registered Democrat and a member of the Senate Democratic caucus, but he declared himself an "Independent Democrat."

        If he ever was a Super Delegate for the CT Democratic Party for 2008 it had to have been on the basis that he is still registered as a Democrat for voting purposes and that he belongs to the Dem Senate Caucus.

        by Norm DePlume on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:15:07 PM PDT

        •  It's the status of an individual as an

          officeholder not their voter registration that makes them a super-delegate.  Lieberman is not an elected Democratic officeholder.

          by Marie on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:34:47 PM PDT

•  Good

   if Joe was a delegate, then whoever he endorsed, if they didn't win, Joe would whine partisanship and run as an independent to protest rampant partisanship in the Democratic Party. Screw him.

  by usmeagle69 on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:57:45 PM PDT

•  Just to clarify

  And maybe someone has already said this, but...

  Joe Lieberman is not a member of the Democratic Party.  He is an Independent and has no delegate status.

  Zell Miller was a Democrat.  A shitty one... a traitorous one.. but he was still elected as a Democrat and had delegate status.

  by The Crusader on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:08:01 PM PDT

  •  To clarify further

    Joe registered as a Democrat in 2007.  But he doesn't list himself one as a  Senator.

    The Music Room.

    by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:12:06 PM PDT

    •  He lists himself as I/D

      That's how he told the clerk of the senate he wanted to be listed.

      by democrattotheend on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:13:37 PM PDT

      •  Difference between VOTER and SENATE registration

        He is a registered Democrat in the same way I am.  Except I never started a rival political party.

        The Music Room.

        by madhaus on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 08:14:35 PM PDT