Yesterday Senator Joe Lieberman announced that he will run as an independent in the fall election if he loses to Ned Lamont in the Connecticut democratic senatorial primary. He made some the usual comforting noises that if elected as an independent, he'd vote with the democratic caucus...which is something of a veiled threat at his colleagues to stay out of Connecticut this fall.
Alas poor Joe, look how the mighty have fallen.
Where was this kind of drive and heedless ambition in November of 2000 when the issue was in doubt during the Florida recount?
Well, of course, back then Lieberman had already secured simultaneous re-election to the US Senate so his position was at least secure.
Humble Elias has tried to steer clear of the whole Blogs v. Lieberman thing, he has friends who are big admirers of the Connecticut Senator and besides the whole mishaugas is an out of state intramural issue in extremis.
However....did Robert Reich run as an independent in 2002? Did Patricia McGovern run as a third party candidate in 1998? Did Paul Tsongas heed the pleas from without his campaign to run as Ross Perot's VP in 1992?
The answer to all that is...no.
These are all democrats who put the needs of the citizenry ahead of their own ambition and personal pride.
Lieberman's rival Ned Lamont has already stated he'll support the ticket no matter who is nominated...Joe on the other hand has mumbled some cliche's about a higher loyalty and started collecting signatures to get on the November ballot.
More importantly, who can say Joe won't switch party's after the election is won? We have but his word on the matter and we've already seen how intense is his dedication to his own ambition. How reliable will that pledge be if the GOP retains control of the senate and can start making beguiling offers?
I mean, think about that.
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