Let me first state that by no means am I a Lieberman apologist. This guy is a disloyal charlatan to the Nth degree. I obviously agree that he is the Captain of the Prick Patrol and would personally LOVE to see him crash and burn.
That being said, we really need to ask ourselves what is more important: pride or progress? The pragmatic side of me keeps calling to the latter.
The Republicans are going to filibuster a lot of stuff in the new Senate. Looking at the post inauguration political landscape, the issue of cloture is the only shred of control the withering elephants will have left.
Let's call a spade a spade here, we're going to need as many votes as we can to get to 60. While Merkely came through, we are on the wrong side of some razor thin margins in AK, MN, and GA. If we sweep those, then this diary is moot. And while the Senate map for 2010 looks good, a lot can happen in 2 years and we cannot count on anything. I am not fearing losing control of the chamber, far from it actually. I have a feeling we'll see a comfortable Democratic majority for some time to come. The issue at hand is using this incredible progressive momentum to push through a lot of wonderful things. There is no time like the present to make this stuff happen.
We cannot afford to "tar and feather" Lieberman right now. If we (Reid and our party) punch him in the gut and tell him to f*** right off, he would undoubtedly abandon any principle he had left and finally sign the papers on the Faustian deal he has made with his Republican bed buddies. He is an arrogant and shifty SOB and he would put is ego and pride above his stated beliefs in moderation.
We should not be held hostage by Lieberman either. I am a huge fan of letting the Senate mechanisms work and quietly back benching him to a sub-committee or two. He'll still have something to control (sub-committee on who f***ing cares), and like a few previous comments and diaries have said this scenario puts the ball in his court. If we boot him through the uprights, the Republicans can embrace him and puppet him around by selling the Democrats as "TOO LIBERAL, NOT BIPARTISAN, SCARED OF DISSENT!" This is what they want. They don't care about him, or necessarily his vote. The NRSC wants a 2010/2012 mascot "Joe the Liebermaverick". If Reid quietly demotes him and sends him to the back bench, he can walk away like the sad droopy dog that he is. Fine, let him. It is a lot harder for Rove and Co. to capitalize on the image of "Joe the Pouter".
Putting him in this situation is what we want. He knows he is powerless, but can still retain a very marginal amount of influence if he plays nice with the Democratic Caucus. He would be on a very short Harry Reid controlled leash and if he f***s up on one important vote (Supreme Court nomination, health care, Iraq, etc.) he is out like Keds. I'd prefer a neutered Lieberman to a Republican anyday.
Joe the Dickbag is done in 2012 anyway. Can anyone see him running for re-election, let alone winning? The CT Democratic party hates him, Dem leaning independents have been betrayed by him, and the Republicans of the state couldn't be bothered.
Let him dig his own grave, we don't need to help him. Let's use this as one more chance to kneecap the Republican party in the coming elections.
Revenge is best served cold, and it will taste so much sweeter in 2010.