Honest-to-God ...
Ned Lamont and Joseph I. Lieberman don't look that different on paper. Both are strong "security Democrats." Both are liberal on social and economic issues. Both are from Connecticut.
But there is one way that Lieberman is different from Lamont. And this reason makes him irreplaceable.
Here is the scoop:
Lieberman has a special relationship with Bush and Cheney that no other Democratic senator has.
I wonder if I am mistaken to suspect that Lieberman has been -- for the last three years -- playing the role of Bush and Cheney's "inside man" in the Democratic caucus.
Lamont, whom "Candy" (oh, the humanity!) Crowley derided this morning as a "newcomer" won't be nearly as connected into the GOP nexus as Lieberman has been. He won't get the e-Memos from Ken Mehlman. He won't get the late night phone calls from Karl Rove. He won't get those deep, long tongue kisses from the President.
All Lamont has to offer the voters of Connecticut is an earnest desire to serve the people.
Lieberman offers a whole lot more:
A synergy with the Republican machine. A sympathy for the Republican platform. A collaborative spirit that drives him to erode and undercut public confidence in other Democrats.
We've been paying a lot of attention to what Lamont has to offer in this race.
We need to take a better look at Lieberman, though, to see exactly what we are losing.
Lieberman is irreplaceable ... for Republicans.
Which is why they are freaking out.