Has Reid really assured Joe he'll be welcomed back??!

Today's Hartford Courant has a story that asks the question, "Would Party Forgive Joe?"  We are starting to get hints that the answer is no!  But Joe doesn't seem to agree.  What does he know?

As we have seen, there are leaks from some Senate advisors that Joe may be losing support from many of his ex-colleagues, thus affecting his standing and seniority if he were to be successful with his Connecticut Republicans for Joe candidacy.  However, Joe's response to the reporter was:

"Sen. Reid left no doubt in my mind that I would retain my seniority and committee assignments within the Senate Democratic Caucus should I be re-elected," Lieberman said Thursday, "and that has been confirmed to me by several other members of the Democratic caucus."

Now... I am not one to take Joe at his word anymore and even the way he phrased it seems kind of slippery.  Reid "left no doubt in my mind".  He didn't simply say Reid "told me".  What is going on here?  

I have not been very vocal in demanding that Joe be stripped of his seniority and positions in the Dem caucus yet.  I think it is too soon.  I would rather Dems try behind closed doors to get him to drop out.  If they can help Joe save a little face by not publically humiliating him, I am all for it.  I don't care about Joe's feelings.  I want Democrats united behind Ned Lamont and against this war.  However, a time is going to come soon where either the behind-the-scenes talks aren't working, or they aren't happening at all.  Then I think we will need to demand more from Harry Reid and our Democratic leaders.  

The Courant story raises some issues about why Dem leaders have not been too heavy handed yet, including a fear of what Senator Lieberman could do in the future.

Then there's the power an individual senator holds. One person can block Senate legislation or nominations indefinitely, so "the cost of alienating a single member is high," said congressional expert Randall W. Strahan, associate professor of political science at Emory University in Atlanta. "Democrats may not want to treat him in a manner that he sees as heavy-handed."

There is no way we should let Joe be a threat - whether direct or implied.  Dems have been suffering nationally for too long because we have cowered to fears of what might happen if we act boldly.  It is time for Dems to take a stand.  We will not have a tidal wave election this year unless we are bold.  Besides, whether Dem leaders kick Joe out or not, can we ever really trust him anymore anyway?  

Time is running out for Joe.  He has one last chance to exit gracefully.  As we get into September, that window will close and it will be time for an all out push to take Joe out the hard way.  And based on what we've seen so far from Joe, he will come out of it looking pathetic.