Joe Lieberman

The U.S. Senate really takes care of their own, apparently even going so far as to reward poor behavior.

Republicans promoted U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) today to the 4th ranking leadership position in the GOP conference after he oversaw the loss of six senate seats as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Searchlight) and the Democratic caucus let Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) off with a slap on the wrist after he campaigned against his former colleague, now President-elect Barack Obama (D).

U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) has been voluntarily skipping some weekly Democratic caucus lunches, but according to a Roll Call report, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Searchlight) let him know he's no longer welcome at all -- voluntarily or otherwise:

The decision comes in the wake of Lieberman’s attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at the GOP convention last week, and essentially formalizes a deal Reid and Lieberman had cut earlier this year under which Lieberman would not attend meetings that included discussions of sensitive campaign or political issues. 

Al Franken, candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, addresses the Clark County Democratic Convention.