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SENATE SHUFFLE COULD ELEVATE MURRAY TO VETS'

COMMITTEE CHAIR -- With the Dems trying to "bounce" Joe

Lieberman, Patty Murray could take Daniel Akaka's chair.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), puts the "evil eye" on former VA
Secretary Jim Nicholson during Senate Vets' Committee hearing.

For more about Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), use the VA Watchdog search engine... click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessear
ch.php?q=patty+murray&op=ph

Story below:

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by Larry Scott

Now that the election is over, the Senate Shuffle has begun. 

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), is not a favorite of the Democratic Party for supporting Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for president.  So, it looks like the Dems want to bounce Lieberman from the Chair at the Senate Homeland Security Committee... then move Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), current Senate Vets' Committee Chair, into Lieberman's position... then, move Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) from Member to Chair at the Senate Vets' Committee.

Got all that?

Now let's throw in a wrench... because there are reports that Lieberman was offered the Chair at the Senate Vets' Committee if he'd step down at Homeland Security. 

This is still all up in the air, but Lieberman is vulnerable because all of his Joementum is gone.

We have two stories...

First story here... http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn
.com/2008/11/07/lieberman-not-happy-with-reids-offer-aide-says/

Story below:

-------------------------

Lieberman not happy with Reid's offer, flirting with Republicans
rman was not happy with what Reid had to offer, an aide said.

UPDATE: Democratic source says Reid offered Veterans Affairs chairmanship

(CNN) — An aide to Sen. Joe Lieberman tells CNN that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told Lieberman he wanted him to give up his position as Chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, and instead take the helm of a lower profile full committee.

A Senate Democratic source familiar with the meeting confirms that account and tells CNN that one of options Reid gave Lieberman in a private meeting Thursday is Chairman of the Veteran’s Affairs Committee.

But the aide to Lieberman says the Connecticut senator made clear that was “not acceptable” to him, and reminded Reid that he was one of the Senators who wrote the legislation creating the Homeland Security Department, and that’s where he wants to stay.

Nothing was resolved in the meeting, and the Lieberman aide tells CNN that although he still wants to caucus with the Democrats, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has contacted Lieberman about formally aligning with Republicans, and that Lieberman is “keeping all of his options open.”

An aide to McConnell confirms to CNN that the two men “have been talking.”

This Lieberman aide, who insisted the meeting was very cordial, also says that he reminded Reid that he may have been elected an Independent, but that he has voted overwhelmingly with the Democrats.

The Senate Democratic source says this issue will now likely be dealt with by the full Senate Democratic caucus, when it meets on November 18th.

Lieberman was a fixture on the campaign trail with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, and Reid is under pressure from many Democrats to punish him for harsh criticism of Barack Obama in a speech at the Republican convention.

A spokesman for Reid had no immediate comment on the specifics of the meeting, except to say that it was “frank,” and that the two agreed to talk more about Lieberman’s future role in the Senate.

The two met on Thursday.

-------------------------

Second story here... http://seattlepi.nwso
urce.com/local/386856_murray07.html

Story below:

-------------------------

Murray could move up in Senate shuffle

By MATTHEW DALY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Patty Murray of Washington could be in line for a promotion after Tuesday's election, which expanded the Democratic majority in the Senate.

Murray, a three-term Democrat, could end up being chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee if party leaders demote Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. But he could be stripped of the title by Democrats angry at his support of Republican John McCain in the presidential race.

Lieberman's status was in question after a meeting Thursday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said afterward that no decisions have been made.

But an aide to the Nevada Democrat said Reid was leaning toward removing Lieberman. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential.

"While I understand that Senator Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our caucus," Reid said in a statement.

If Lieberman is removed, the Homeland gavel could go to Sen. Daniel Akaka, of Hawaii, who in turn would give up the top job at Veterans' Affairs. Democrat Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, who also serves as Intelligence Committee chairman, is expected to pass up the veterans' post and let it go to Murray.

A spokesman for Murray declined to comment Thursday.

If she got the promotion, Murray would be the first woman to head the veterans' committee and only the second nonveteran to hold the post.

Murray, whose father fought in World War II, has been an outspoken advocate for veterans and a sharp critic of the Bush administration. She received an A+ grade last month from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a nonpartisan advocacy group. The group cited her work on issues such as veterans' health care, the new GI Bill, mental health and support for homeless veterans.

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posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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