Sure to form, what Holy Joe Lieberman is best known for, undercutting the Democratic message and giving cover to the criminal war party in Washington is happening once again. We thought we had defeated Joe for good when, against all precedents, Ned Lamont defeated him for the Democratic nomination in Connecticut. But that victory was short-lived.
After he lost the Democratic nomination to Ned Lamont, Lieberman went to great lengths to reaffirm his loyalty to the Democratic party. He acted like he had stood up to Bush on Iraq from the beginning. He reassured Connecticut voters that he would remain a loyal Democrat.
Now, exactly what we all knew would happen has come to pass. Just days after being sworn into his new term, Lieberman is now openly calling himself an "independent Democrat." He is actively lobbying for Bush's escalation of the Iraq war, against the wishes of his Connecticut constituents and his fellow Democrats, even the party's Majority Leader, Harry Reid.
I believe it is inevitable that Lieberman will eventually, sooner than later, defect to the Republican. If we think he will stay in the Democratic caucus because he is Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee think again. Whats to stop the Republicans in the Senate making a sweetheart deal and keep him as Chairman if he defects and throws the Senate to the GOP?
Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi evidently feel that they can oppose the Iraq war and Lieberman will go along. They might have hidden assurances we don't know about. But I feel the Democratic Senate majority is on very thin ice. If Democrats act like Democrats were elected to do in the 2006 election, and fight Bush and his lying war, Joe might get upset.
I think we need to contemplate what will happen if Lieberman defects. I think its only a matter of time. I am interested in how many of you out there feel the same way.
What assurances do we have that the "Independent Democrat", as he is being referred to openly now, will stay at least a nominal Democrat.