General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: By Ditching the Public Option, Obama Gave His Enemies a Path to the Supreme Court [View all]Chan790
(20,176 posts)it's his committee chairs. As a non-member caucusing with the Democrats, he's not supposed to retain accrued seniority; he's supposed to go to the end of the line after all the freshmen Democrats in the Senate in terms of committee assignments among other things. He got a sweetheart deal from Reid to keep his committees, keep his chair. Those are more important to him and his constituents than anything. He admitted as much. That says to me that's where to twist his arm; he can think what he'd like, say what he'd like, but in the end...he'd better vote the party line where it matters.
In exchange, he was supposed to be a loyal member of the caucus. He traded his independence for the chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Then he reneged. I'd say that spoils the deal. Let him serve out his time on the special committee for mopping the drool off John McCain's chin.
Edit: Every step of the way, every time he's gone maverick and screwed us I've asked "Why are we allowing him to break the promise that underlined his caucusing deal??"