AFTERNOON CHATTER

Democrats in the Senate voted to accept Joe Lieberman back into their caucus after he turned against the party and not only campaigned for Republican John McCain but also bashed his fellow party member, President-elect Barack Obama.

As a result, Lieberman will still be allowed to chair the of the homeland committee, but he will be removed from the environmental committee.

I guess you can consider that Joe's "punishment" although no one would ever call it that. Lieberman really enjoyed working on the environmental committee according to his aides.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Senators followed a suggestion by Obama to let Lieberman maintain his homeland post and still caucus with the Democrats.