The newly strengthened Democratic majorities will begin to plot changes within their own caucuses, with the ouster of Senator Joseph Lieberman as the chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as the potential first order of business. Lieberman met yesterday with Harry Reid, with a decision on his status due by November 18th. Lieberman, if he is stripped, will then have to decide whether he stays with the Democratic caucus. But some dealmaking appears to be going on here, with Lieberman potentially holding on to some sub-committee chairs to help salve what is coming. From the Washington Post:

Senior aides suggested that revoking Lieberman’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would be the likely penalty. He would receive a subcommittee chairmanship on that panel and retain his subcommittee chairmanship on the Armed Services Committee, they said.

It appears that Michigan Democrat John Dingell will be challenged for the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee by Henry Waxman of California. Dingell is a Michigan Democrat who has been a champion to the auto industry, fighting his own party on a host of issues, including CAFE standards and global warming issues. He has been a thorn in the side to Speaker Pelosi, and it may be that the Speaker would not mind that change at all. Look for some heavy infighting on that issue.

The other issue that will bring some politicking to the forefront will be the vacancy created by Rahm Emanuel’s departure to be Chief of Staff. Emanuel is the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, considered to be fourth in the pecking order of the House. That will create a stampede for the job, with the inside track held by current caucus vice chair, John Larsen of Connecticut.

It should be some interesting times in Congress for political junkies.