Sure, I'm unhappy with Obama and the 40-odd Dem Senators for coddling Lieberman. Unhappy, but not surprised, and not really disappointed, because given the track records since 1981, I was expecting the worst.
Obama's not all bad -- rated most liberal senator by his voting record in office. But Obama did endorse Lieberman over Ned Lamont in 2006. He did cave in on FISA this year.
What I find most notable about this latest fiasco of the Congressional Democrats and/or Democratic president is the seeming conspiracy of silence on both sides -- among Republican journalists as well as Democratic politicians -- as to what the genuine reasons are for flinching at punishing Lieberman. (As for left of center Democratic bloggers, I assume they genuinely aren't privy to the secret.) The "cool it with retribution" line is insincere, of course. But I have not found any Republican journalist at The Atlantic, Real Clear Politics.com, Politico, etc., or anybody at TPM, The Nation, Daily Kos, or anywhere else who has come up with any other explanation. That is truly fascinating.
For my part, in the California primary, I voted for Obama. Second choice: Edwards had already dropped out, and I have despised Hillary ever since she smothered single payer health care in 1993. Then I voted for Obama in the general election because I have despised the Republicans ever since 1972. The Tom Harkins (presidential candidate 1992) and John Edwardses can't do better than third place among Democrats, and McGovern lost 49 states in 1972 despite the disastrous Vietnam War.
Ever since 1981, Congressional Dems have collectively been weaseling out of political responsibility when it comes to policy clashes with Republican administrations. They have had all the fight of a wet noodle. Like the several policy issues (most notably aid to Central American goon governments) where they accepted the formula that they would approve US aid provided the President annually certified that the recipients were behaving decently, and provided Congress accepted the certification. In short, a charade of rubber stamping.
At the national level, the Democrats are soft on defense, all right -- that is, defense of the Constitution, defense of fair play with foreigners, defense of the interests of the poor and middle class.