Today,
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) informed Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) that he will longer attend the
Senate Democrats' weekly policy lunches.
While
Reid has repeatedly said, that Lieberman will not be punished "in the current
Congress" for supporting Republican John McCain for president, his active and
public support of McCain has infuriated rank-and-file Democrats.
Lieberman
staff has indicated that the Senator has not ruled out attending all lunches
prior to the election but "does not attend the lunches when he thinks there is
a likely discussion of presidential politics."
In addition, Sen. Lieberman's Legislative Director, Joseph Goffman, abruptly
announced he would be leaving the Lieberman office yesterday. David
McIntosh, the Lieberman Counsel who handled this year's climate cap-and-trade
bill, announced his plans last month to leave Lieberman's office. Both Goffman and McIntosh have been very
responsive to concerns raised by Northeast public power members.