Lieberman Savoring Life On Both Sides of the Aisle

Granted anonymity, Senate Democrats whisper that Lieberman's day of reckoning could come next year if Obama wins the White House and Democrats expand their majority enough that they could risk his departure. Under that scenario, several suggested, his chairmanship would at least be contested.

Obama took matters into his own hands on Wednesday when he made a rare appearance on the floor to vote for the Democratic budget bill. Lieberman sought out Obama, patted him on the back and shook his hand.

Obama guided Lieberman to a corner of the chamber, where for three minutes they engaged in an animated conversation that had other senators gawking. No voices were raised, but several times Obama gently put his hand on Lieberman's shoulder, and Lieberman more than once pointed his finger back at Obama.

When it ended, realizing that reporters were leaning over the balcony of the Senate press gallery to watch, Obama put his left arm around Lieberman and the two walked away, smiling.

Lieberman recounted that he began the conversation by telling Obama "I'm proud of you," but he declined to go into detail. "The rest was politics. It started warmly and it ended warmly," he said.

Obama declined to address the discussion, telling reporters Wednesday that it was just about "politics." But his most ardent supporters were happy he went straight after Lieberman.

"I think that was the way it should be -- talk it over with him in terms of what he's going to do and what his role's going to be," said Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.).

None of the talk of retribution and betrayal fazes Lieberman: He said "the post-2006 chapter of my life" has freed him from "tribal partisanship."

After losing the 2006 Democratic senatorial primary to an opponent of the Iraq war, Lieberman won as an independent in the general election, forcefully advocating staying in Iraq and a tougher stance toward Iran.

"Being elected as an independent has encouraged me to do more what is right, rather than worrying about what it means politically in two years or four years," he said.

That has left him free to move from one end of the political spectrum to another, sometimes within a few minutes, joining conservatives on foreign policy votes and liberals on social issues.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Lieberman partnered with Rep. Eric Cantor (Va.), a Jewish member of the House GOP leadership, on the conference call hitting Obama on his refusal to support Lieberman's bill declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group.

Minutes later, Lieberman joined Boxer and environmental activists in Reid's office to discuss strategy for a news conference pushing the global-warming legislation. After the press event, he went to the Senate floor for the budget vote, where Obama buttonholed him -- all in the span of an hour.

He said he will continue to "do what I think is right on each issue," regardless of the consequences next year within the Democratic caucus.

"I remain a Democrat for reasons of principle," he said. "I've been a lifelong Democrat, so I have no desire to leave the party."