President Bush got it exactly right today when he warned about the threat of Iran and its terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah. It is imperative that we reject the flawed and naïve thinking that denies or dismisses the words of extremists and terrorists when they shout "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," and that holds that — if only we were to sit down and negotiate with these killers — they would cease to threaten us. It is critical to our national security that our commander-in-chief is able to distinguish between America’s friends and America’s enemies, and not confuse the two.

It's time for Harry Reid to strip Joe Lieberman of his positions on all Committees. This malaise which infects the Democratic Party is no longer welcome. We don't need him anymore.

Do it, Harry.

For the good of the Party, and for the good of the Country.

Let Joe Lieberman jump out of the lifeboat, and onto the sinking elephant.

[to be sung to the tune "Back Home Again in Indiana"] "I spent the war in Indiana. Getting shot was not for me!" Since Keith brought up VP Quayle in the intro for tonight's "Oddball" segment, I felt the need to contribute this little gem. I must give credit where credit is due; this little ditty was from my morning radio guys, Bob and Tom. The Quayle people were thrilled - NOT! Let the Countdown musings begin!

Watching Countdown just now, Keith Olbermann asked a key question to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, his guest at the top of the hour.

He pointed out that Reid had said in the past that apostate "Independent Democrat" Joe Lieberman is still a valued member of the caucus, because he "is with us on all but a few issues." Olbermann reminded him that now there is a new issue on which Lieberman and the Democratic caucus diverge:

Who should be the next President of the United States??

And...in response, Harry Reid....punted.

"Having my book deal! What a prosperous way to say how much this gig blows!" I just realized that this is the second night in a row that I've broken into song in my diary intro. I don't know if I'm good enough to make it a nightly thing; that may be difficult! Let the Countdown musings begin!

When I retired last night, it looked like the political equivalent of "Groundhog Day" would finally end.  Like Bill Murray at the end of that movie, I expected that, when I woke up today, it would finally be a different political day.  Tweety, Timmy, KO, Gregory, Robinson, and Buchanan all told me it would be so, w/ Rachel Maddow being the only dissenting voice.

Sadly, I quickly learned after my alarm went off that Rachel was correct and the others were all wrong.  CNN told me that, although this morning's talk show appearances had been canceled, she was going to WV today after all.  As the day proceeded Team Clinton made it clear that it intends to have Groundhog Day continue indefintely.

I've had a lot of thoughts about what last night means for the party and for the race.  Pardon me if I'm all over the place here.  I was hoping and praying for a decisive win because the party has to rally behind a candidate.

I was blown away by how cleverly passive aggressive pol Hairy Reid  controlled the interview last night on the Daily  Show. Ostensibly, Reid was there to push a book, but Jon  was unable to take control of the interview because of the way Harry Reid handled the interaction.

What the heck is wrong with Harry Reid?  

He was on the Daily Show tonight. As Jon Stewart asked him the first couple question, Reid just stared speechless at Stewart. Like weak tea.

Stewart asked the origins of Reid's new book. Reid went on some weird "The people of Nevada don't know me" pre-rehearsed non sequitur. (Only Harry Reid can put himself on the defensive!)

Stewart remarked that Reid was known for strength (he is?) but that he was rather quiet right now. Reid remained quiet. Stewart then asked if he could filibuster Reid (given his quietness), to which Reid haplessly replied, "Everyone else has." (How is he our leader!)

Stewart then asked if we are in a holding pattern in the Senate with the presidential candidate on the campaign trail. Reid said we've been in a holding pattern since Dems took over Congress -- but instead of taking on the Republicans, he whined about how their majority is too slim, how Tim Johnson was sick, etc.

NOT ONCE DID HE SAY ANYTHING AGAINST MCCAIN OR REALLY ON MESSAGE ABOUT WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE DEMOCRATIC THIS YEAR. Harry Reid - why is he such a dud?

Have you read the excerpt from Harry Reid's upcoming book over on Huffington Post? It actually was rather interesting but I couldn't help thinking WTF? While America is crumbling around us, our Majority Leader has evidently been taking time out of his failing efforts to "fight the good fight" to write a book called The Good Fight, about his hardscrabble upbringing in Nevada.

The reaction was 95% negative - comment after comment about how Reid could be spending his time actually standing up to the bush administration instead of waxing nostalgic about his childhood, etc., etc. and that a book like this is exactly the thing to write, once he's retired.

I mean, I thought he's been out of touch, but can he really be this out of touch? Coz if he is it's really time for him to go. I mean, I've thought for a long time anyway as he's been a horrendous disappointment, particularly since 2006, but I didn't think he was actually spending his time writing Memoirs while everything was going to hell. I mean, the timing of this is stunning - talk about fiddling while Rome burned - jeebus!

A call from the Clinton campaign interrupted my Countdown viewing! I let them know in no uncertain term that my house is a Sentor Obama house, and I didn't cuss or anything. When the "nice" lady asked if I'd read much about Senator Obama, I said, "I've read about ALL the candidates - especially yours!" Cursed educated bitter me...

Today has not been a good day for "Hoosiers" in the news! Evan Bayh, Tony Zirkle, but I don't think David Letterman meant anything snarky by calling Keith "enormous". OK..."Hoosiers" to be proud of... "Hoosiers" to be proud of... Um... Cole Porter! Ernie Pyle! Poet James Whitcomb Riley! Tavis Smiley! John Dillinger! Well, maybe not "pride," really, but he made life interesting. And, me, for not going ape $hit to the Clinton person who interrupted Countdown! OK, here we go!

Reid said he would consider writing a joint letter with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) demanding that superdelegates make their endorsements public.

"The three of us, we may write a joint letter [to superdelegates]," said Reid. "We might do individual letters. We are in contact with each other."

Reid's comments suggest that the party’s top three officials are contemplating a high-level intervention if the primary season concludes in June without a nominee and many superdelegates still undecided.

He also implies a big endorsement is in the works. Continued:

First, a bit of ancient Roman history:

Et tu, Brute?

"Et tu, Brute?" ("You too, Brutus?", or "And you, Brutus?" or "Even you, Brutus?) is a Latin phrase often used poetically to represent the last words of Julius Caesar. The quotation is widely used in Western culture as an epitome of betrayal.

On March 15 (the Ides of March), 44 BC, Julius Caesar was attacked by a group of senators, including Marcus Junius Brutus, a senator and Caesar's close friend. Caesar initially resisted his attackers, but when he saw Brutus, he supposedly spoke those words and resigned himself to his fate.

The flat and immediate denial of any action against Senator Lieberman is nothing short of appalling, and it calls into great doubt the leadership of the Democratic Party in the Senate (doubt that has been commonly held here since this Congress was installed in January '07).

Senator Durbin, according to the frontpage diary by Kos, made a statement that needs to be closely scrutinized, for it reveals him either to be (a) disingenuous or (b) a complete fool.

Consider the following:

Those named in the April 13 Sunday Scotsman piece by Chris Stephen, describing a "coup" attempt against Hillary Clinton's candidacy, should either confess, or repudiate the charges.

The Scotsman reported that "former President Jimmy Carter and Al Gore have already held high-level discussions about delivering the message that [Hillary Clinton] must stand down for the good of the Democrats," and that they will act "in sequence, or possibly together" in a joint endorsement of Obama's candidacy.

Further, the article implies that a Carter-Gore visit to Clinton is being considered "by the higher echelons of the Democrats," and is being "masterminded in Congress," where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have called on superdelegates to hold "an unofficial congress in early June to anoint a winner."

From a previous

You was had! GWB pwned everyone in America! This week, members of Congress spent long, long hours questioning generals and administration officials about U.S. strategy in Iraq. According to the top banana in Iraq, the war isn't going to end soon: "We haven't seen any lights at the end of the tunnel," General David Petraeus said. Oh no, it's a long tunnel, if we keep digging we might, just might end up tickling Antipodeans. The general then went on to blame many, if not all of the problems in Iraq on Iran. "President" Bush this morning added his voice to the chorus blaming Iran for Iraq's misery and insisted that Congress should now approve more money for war. Lots more. Like another Trillion. Chump change, it seems.

The "President" also aid Iraq is moving forward on the economic front and is expected eventually to shoulder the full burden of its security costs. Last time I heard this self-financing tripe was from Billy Kristol Klear & his merry band of thieves. In 2002.

h/t David Niewert @ FDL

Independent Lieberman Still Dancing With Democrats
By MARK PAZNIOKAS | Courant Staff Writer
April 3, 2008

What?