Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Don't Let The Door Hit You. . .

Just to review, the Democratic caucus is voting today to decide what to do with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.  You remember Joe:



Last seen in Minneapolis, palling around with a bunch of fat-ass, conservative white guys wearing funny hats.  That one.

Lieberman caucuses with the Democrats (but does most of his traveling with the Republicans:



Lieberman is also the chair of the Homeland Security and Government Reform committee, a rather minor committee as these things go, filled mostly with junior senators.  Some Dems are drawing a hard line, insisting that Lieberman's acts of disloyalty should cause him to be removed from his chairmanship, if not kicked out of the Democratic caucus entirely.  The other side, which includes President-elect Obama, wants to let him off with a good scolding.

Lieberman wants to retain his chair and claims, if it is stripped from him, he will take his ball and go play with the other team.  

Here's the thing.  Lieberman has always said that, "Political party is important, but it's not more important than what's good for the country. . ."  I'll take him at his word.  He backed McCain because he honestly believed that McCain had the best shot at breaking the partisan gridlock in Washington.  No fan of gridlock, Lieberman votes his conscience on each issue, regardless of party, I'll assume.

If that's the case, what difference does it make which side of the aisle he sits on?  Other than national security, Lieberman is a pretty reliable Democratic vote.  Pro choice, pro stem cell research, no on flag burning amendment, yes on driver's licenses for immigrants, yes to expand hate crimes to include women, gays and disabled, yes on death penalty moratorium and more DNA testing, no on school prayer, yes on condom distribution, etc, etc.  

Basically, take the middle east off the table, the guy's a Progressive.  And, if he's such a principled guy, he'll continue to vote as one.  Doesn't matter where his chair is in the room.

Lieberman supported the Republican candidate for president, he campaigned for him and, most importantly, he campaigned against Barack Obama, questioning his judgement and his idealogy.  He needs to be punished.  Even he knows it:



Let the Republicans have him.

No comments: