Senator Joe Lieberman has accomplished something truly remarkable:
Joe Lieberman, as a member of the Democratic Caucus, has ignited our passion and united the progressive netroots. He appears to have generated on Daily Kos a consensus of condemnation that may never be equaled regarding someone who is supposed to be on our side.
Reading the various diaries and hundreds upon hundreds of comments in recent days, I have yet to find a single, lonesome comment expressing anything less than complete disgust with the Independent Senator from Connecticut.
The Senate leadership apparently hasn't yet heard the message. Senator Tom Harkin believes Joe will come around. There is still the belief that somehow, Joe can be placated, that deeply buried in Joe there is still some inner core of goodness that will lead him to "do the right thing".
Perhaps there are some Kossacks who agree with the thought that Joe is still worth courting. Perhaps our vociferous opinions to the contrary are too intimindating. So, this is your chance to say so in a poll.
I have attempted to construct the poll below without snark, with as much nuance and true choice as possible.
It's not necessary to recount to this audience Joe's history of deceit and disloyalty. We all know this only too well. But it's worth noting again how Joe fears for his country if the Democrats are able to lead, and how he therefore plans to campaign for Republicans in 2010 to replace the fearsome Dems.
Lieberman's performance on Face the Nation yesterday morning seemed designed to rub as much salt as possible into the gaping wound that is the health care system of this country.
His remarkable aim in spitting in the eyes of his constituents who overwhelmingly desire true health system reform with a public option is nothing short of awe inspiring.
Can Joe Lieberman truly be placated? Is there a heart of gold in there somplace, or simply a lump of cold, uncaring, self-serving, black coal?
So, this is a very simple diary. Yeah, the title is snarky, but really -- it's worth saying thank you to anyone who can bring us together like this, and of course, I was hoping to get your attention. I apologize that the poll is perhaps too wordy, but it's hard to otherwise capture the range and possible nuances of opnion about Joe.
Perhaps this will allow us to express our opinion as a progressive community, clearly and succinctly. Obviously, the choices that include some combination of taking away Lieberman's chair of Homeland Security or completely throwing him out of the Democratic Caucus imply that this would be the course that is pursued by Democratic Party leadership, which of course is always subject to the votes of others in the Caucus.