First diary, hopefully I don't get flamed to death...
Can we please welcome Joe back to the party?
The main argument for attacking Joe Lieberman while letting off scot-free Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Ken Salazar, etc., has been that Lieberman is from blue Connecticut, while the others are from red states. The level of venom for Lieberman on this site over the past year has matched or surpassed the venom expressed for Bush. This, despite Lieberman's record being more liberal than Nelson, Landrieu, and Salazar. The explanation has always been, "the state of Connecticut would support a Senator more liberal than Lieberman."
Well, that was proven wrong yesterday. The state of Connecticut showed that it prefers Lieberman to a liberal, whether we like it or not. It's a fact. Many keep saying Lieberman "received more of his votes from Republicans than Democrats." Well, sure, but what's the point? Those Republicans are allowed to vote, and they are going to be voting no matter what. The non-liberal bloc in Connecticut has proven larger than the liberal bloc. Jodi Rell's numbers tell us that as well.
Thus, the idea that Lieberman should be vilified because Connecticut should have a more liberal senator is just not grounded in reason. The state did not want a liberal senator. A majority of Democrats may have, but they aren't the state. I'm sure many Democrats in Louisiana would like a more liberal senator than Mary Landrieu, but you take the Democrat who will win a statewide general election.
The fact is, whether you like Joe Lieberman or not, we need him now. The country, actually the world to be honest, needs a Democratic-majority Senate. Joe Lieberman's caucusing with the Democrats (and thereby putting aside any feelings of vengeance or spite) is the key to this country's halting of the far-right Bush/Cheney/Rove machine. And that, my friends, is the most important thing. Whatever you think of Lieberman's politics, he should be commended for not holding a grudge against the party that rejected him, and for putting the country ahead of any personal feelings of resentment. If we are going to criticize him for everything he does that we don't like, let's be fair and praise him for doing something we do like, especially when that something will save this country for the next 2 years.