Digby posed a rhetorical question the other day, and I've been scouring the tubes for an answer, but haven't yet found one. Since I've seen quite a few LieberDefenders in the comment threads, I thought I'd ask it here:
What good has Lieberman's bipartisanship done the Democratic Party?
Why, exactly, does Lieberman feel entitled to demand the absolute loyalty from the party that he won't give to it?
And why do the Grand Satraps of Beltway Establishment Gasbaggery agree with him?
The Washington Post had an unsigned editorial Sunday, "Mr Lieberman's Strength", that reads almost like a self-parody of Beltway CW:
IN HIS BATTLE to win Democratic renomination to the U.S. Senate, Joseph I. Lieberman seems to be getting blamed in Connecticut for something that in Washington is an asset -- and ought to be understood as such by Democratic voters back home.
[...]
Mr. Lieberman is also being pummeled for his ability to work with Republicans and get things done in Washington -- also rare traits -- and that's a criticism that strikes us as shortsighted even from a partisan Democratic point of view
[...]
This is a talent and temperament that is helpful to the Democrats in the minority [...] His ability to do so is a strength, not a weakness, for the party as well as the nation.
Ruth Marcus, David Broder, Morton Kondracke, Jonathan Alter, etc. etc. They all agree that Lieberman has earned a Seat for Life through noble and principled bipartisanship, but none of them seem to feel compelled to give a justification by naming some of his achievements.
So, how 'bout it, LieberDems and LieberDefenders? Give me some examples. What has Lieberman done for the Democratic Party, specifically in the last six years, to deserve unchallenged loyalty? What has his rare talent and glorious temperament 'got done' that should make Democrats overlook his support for so many (not all) of this administration's worst descisions? How has he been helpful to Democrats in the minority? For that matter, what boon to the country has resulted from Lieberman's self-appointed mission as Bush's spokesman in the Democratic Senate Caucus?
As Mr Burns said to Homer: You may now WOW me!