Before Democrats indulge in any more euphoria over taking control of the U.S. Senate, a reality check is in order. There are only 49 Democrats elected to that body now, plus the Socialist/Independent Bernie Sanders, and the nominally independent Joe Lieberman.

Lieberman, who nurses a grudge against the Democrats for rejecting him as its presidential nominee in ‘04; Lieberman, who of all Democrats, most loudly and most consistently supported the invasion of Iraq; Lieberman, who repeatedly voted with the Bush administration on a wide variety of issues, and, while claiming to support a woman’s right to choose, voted to confirm two virulently anti-choice nominees to the Supreme Court – Roberts and Alito.

Harry Reid’s status as majority leader is therefore fragile, tentative and tenuous, at best. Lieberman will vote with Democrats to organize the Senate, but after that, after he gets his coveted committee chairmanships, it will be back to business as usual, voting with the neo-con Republicans. And any time he feels the urge, he can switch, and return Democrats in the Senate to minority status.

It will be an interesting challenge for Harry Reid; maybe he can navigate the next two years without either sacrificing essential Democratic principles or provoking Lieberman into openly joining the Republican caucus. But I won’t bet any money on it.

Norman K. Marsh

Darrington