Lieberman argued on CNN that the reason he is going to run independently if he loses the primary is that:
1) He believes in his heart of hearts he would do a better job than either the republican or democratic nominee.
2) "Most of the people here think that at best, there will be 25 or 30 percent of the Democrats who come out. That means about five percent of all the registered voters in Connecticut might have the final say as to whether I continue to serve Connecticut and my country in the U.S. Senate. I think all the voters of the state ought to be able to make that decision. That's why I've done what I've done today."
also: " And that's what I am saying, one way or another I am going to be on the ballot in November. I want it to be as a Democratic, as the nominee of the Democratic Party. If for some reason that doesn't work out, I'm going to be there as Senator Joe Lieberman, individual Democrat asking for their support for reelection."
Reason number 1 is his opinion and we mostly disagree with him, lets think about 2 below.
If all lieberman really wants is to take his case to all the voters in the state, he should drop out of the primary and do that--it would be a semi-respectable move.
His argument, however, is that he wants to see if he can get the democratic nomination and, if not, he will then go straight to all the voters.
The illogic here is obvious: If Lieberman actually thought the official democratic primary nomination meant anything, he would respect the winner of it. His actions today show that he obviously does not think it means anything--he has said that if elected as an independent in the general election he will continue to caucus with Leader Reid and the democrats and that he will do so as "an individual Democrat."
If Joe Lieberman were a man of integrity and of principal, if he truly believed what he was saying, he would drop out of the democratic primary immediately and run as an independent "individual Democrat" candidate in the general election against Ned Lamont (the "official Democrat") and the Republican nominee. A man who truly believed in taking his case to the voters on the basis of his record and principals would not bother with a silly party primary--its a waste of time and money for everyone involved.
Joe is showing himself to be a man with very little remaining integrity. This man wants to have his cake and eat it too. A DSCC serious about its commitment to the party, as distinct from the incumbent, would not let anyone get away with this.
Chuch Schumer and others should play their cards very carefully--they might very well have his own Primary problems in the coming cycles.
Never have I been more upset at the profound incompetence and detachment of the party establishment than when our DSCC chair suggested that Lieberman might recieve the national party support as an independent candidate over the primary winner. I have the feeling that is the case for many of us here.
Here is the question Joe: why waste millions of dollars on all sides and countless hours of volunteer effort in the primary if it doesnt matter to you?