Reid to Lieberman - you won't keep the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Harry Reid has reportedly told Joe Lieberman that he will not be allowed to keep the Chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He can have another committee, but not that one.

Senator Lieberman has replied through aides that if he cannot keep that committee he will switch to join the Republican caucus. Unfortunately for Joe, Ryan Grim of Politico writes:

A Republican Senate aide said Friday morning that there was little McConnell could offer in terms of high-ranking committee slots, which is why Lieberman is resisting overtures from the Republican side.

Steve Benen wonders why Lieberman is so dead set that he has to keep the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, then offers a likely explanation.

This seems to be routinely overlooked, but take a moment to consider what the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs actually does: it's the committee principally responsible for oversight of the executive branch. It's an accountability committee, charged with investigating the conduct of the White House and the president's administration.

As chairman of this committee for the last two years, Lieberman decided not to pursue any accusations of wrongdoing against the Bush administration. Lieberman's House counterpart -- Rep. Henry Waxman's Oversight Committee -- was a vigilant watchdog, holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching multiple investigations. Lieberman preferred to let his committee do no real work at all. It was arguably the most pathetic display of this Congress.

And yet, now Lieberman acts as if keeping this chairmanship is the single most important part of his public life. Why would he be so desperate to keep the gavel of a committee he hasn't used? I'll let you in on a secret: he wants to start using the power of this committee against Obama.

Lieberman didn't want to hold Bush accountable, but he seems exceedingly anxious to keep the committee that would go after Obama with a vengeance, effectively becoming a Waxman-like figure -- holding hearings, issuing subpoenas, and launching investigations against the Democratic president.

That would fit with his recent attacks on Obama and his support for McCain.

My advice to the Senate Democrats - It's good riddance to bad rubbish. No one can trust Joe Lieberman, and leaving him on a powerful committee is stupid.

Besides, Hillary Clinton doesn't have a committee Chairmanship. She might like that one.