Get ready for the coming spin on Lamont/Lieberman. Joe stuck his long goodbye to the Democratic Party as deep into the July 4th newshole as he could, but in the weeks to come he'll be calling in every chit with every talking head he knows.
Expect him to show up on Russert, Matthews, and Fox, philosophically ruing today's sad state of politics, when a senior statesman gets ambushed by far-left drive-by bloggers. He won't mention Lamont--he'll focus on us, and how we're manipulating the internet--a clear evil. He'll reminisce with the beltway whores about how it used to be, and they'll fawningly agree.
He'll position himself as a man of principle. Expect much more of putting the country ahead of his party. "Yes, Tim, it's painful, but it's what any American would do. I have to think about the country, and not just my party. I didn't leave the Democrat (sic) Party --it left me." (More after the jump...)
Tim will murmur appreciation of Joe's support of civil rights. "You marched in Selma, right?"
"Yes, Tim, I fought for the rights of black voters when it was unpopular. But the far-left fringe has a short memory, Tim, and many of them are too young to remember." Expect more clucking and sympathy--Andrea Mitchell will dive under the table at her first chance.
When he loses the primary, look for a high-gear shift. He'll tell Connecticut voters that this is his last hurrah. He'll laud their stubborn nature. He'll tell them they're smarter than to be pushed around by outsiders and radicals. And if push comes to shove, he'll play his own version of the race card: Ned Lamont is a privileged rich kid who wants to buy this election. Win one for the little guy!
To what depths do YOU think Joe will stoop?