With the future at stake, letting bygones be bygones, it was a forgiving day all around in the world's clubbiest legislative body - the American Senate, when Senate Republicans unanimously re-elected their leadership and the Democrats refrained from turning cannibal on Joe Lieberman.

Though, Lieberman's fellow Democrats are still angry over his support for John McCain and heretical defense of President Bush, yet, despite many an intent for postelection retribution, when as McCain's constant companion on the campaign trail all year; Lieberman not only belittled Obama, but also endorsed various Republicans, in short, behaving very much like a man asking to be tossed out of his party, in a wise move of forgive and forget, the Democrats ended up with a 42 - 13 vote for keeping him within the Democratic fold. However, without stripping the Connecticut independent of his powerful committee chair, Lieberman has had his Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection Subcommittee post taken away. Punishment indeed, albeit with a feather duster!

On being questioned what his reason for staying back was, Lieberman talking at a press conference stated, his single most reason was an appeal made by the new President-elect. A shrewd Obama move, as Democrats not only picked up six Senate seats this year, if they pick up the still undecided Minnesota, Georgia and Alaska, their 60-vote majority will have the clout to quash any GOP filibusters, providing Lieberman continues to vote with his former party.

Obama's Monday sit down with John McCain, reveals he is so obviously trying to assemble votes required to beat Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the top most priorities on the domestic front, like labour, health care and climate change. While, liberal activists continue to seethe over the non-guillotining of Lieberman, even so, a bête noir like a live Lieberman is more useful to President-elect Obama than a Lieberman banished, forever!