One of DKos' favorite whipping boys, Andrew Sullivan, might have hit on a real interesting dynamic in the Connecticut Senate race. In a very tepid semi-endorsement of Lieberman today, he correctly pointed out something that many in the mainstream media cannot manage to grasp.
I can understand those Democrats who do not think it is their role next week to give Bush their party's cover for his war-mismanagement
The interesting point Sully makes has to do with better understanding Lieberman's almost manic defense of Bush on the war--it might have to with not wanting to piss off his future employer.
Sullivan suspects, as have some around DKos, that Lieberman may be auditioning for the Bush cabinet.
You could understand, if not forgive, this abdication of leadership if Lieberman were bound by partisan loyalty to Bush. But he isn't... My guess is that he's still lobbying hard to replace Rumsfeld later this year and, by all accounts, probably will.
This might also explain today's revelation that the college Republicans are interested in the outcome of the Democratic Primary in Connecticut.
Try this supposition on for size--Lieberman (aided and abetted by the GOP) wins re-election. He then resigns from the Senate in 2007 to replace Don Rumsfeld (whose resignation is long overdue). This will allow Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell, a Republican who is overwhelmingly likely to win re-election this year, to appoint a Republican (y'know...an ACTUAL one) to replace Lieberman.
I know this is not something often heard on DKos, but I think Andrew Sullivan is dead on. One of the things about Lieberman that we all know is that his primary concern is...well...Joe Lieberman. Could he be running for re-election, knowing full well that he will leave the seat in order to join the Bush cabinet??
That might be something that Ned Lamont asks him about on MTP this weekend: "Senator Lieberman: will you pledge to serve the entirety of your term, and pledge not to accept a position in the Bush administration?"