Good-bye Joe, He Got to Go, Me-o My-o

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-D-Conn.)committed political suicide last night in the most public and unpleasant manner.

I have long been a supporter of the one-time Democrat, who, over the years, amassed a record that any progressive would be proud of. But Lieberman's support of the Bush war in Iraq set him apart from his fellow Dems, who permitted insurgent Ned LaMont to run against him last year in a primary. When LaMont, a one-trick, anti-war pony, won the primary, Lieberman's political friends deserted him. Lieberman bucked the party, ran as an Independent, won, and continued to caucus with the Democrats, who welcomed him in order to maintain their one vote majority in the Senate.

Lieberman has since been a steady and constant presence at McCain's side, traveling with him to the middle east, correcting him when he slipped up on foreign policy issues, and generally holding his coat as needed.

I had suggested that if McCain truly wanted to regain his long discarded mantle as a maverick, he would be wise to choose Lieberman, his friend, confidant, and adviser, as his vice president. But McCain bowed to political and party realities and picked Sarah Palin (more on that move later).

But Lieberman committed political suicide Tuesday night when he appeared at the Republican convention as a featured speaker. He certainly wasn't a Democrat. He wasn't an Independent. He was a Republican.

Joe, you violated Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment. You spoke against a fellow Democrat. Whatever leverage you had with the caucus disappeared last night, and the caucus now has no option but to evict you when the new congress convenes.

What is beyond my understanding is why you would take this action at a time when the Dems are going to take a significant majority in th Senate, where you have served so long and honorably? You could have kept your mouth shut and avoided this unseemly mess. I certainly understand your bitterness when the party quit you after the primary (which reminds me of the old saying that if you want a friend in Washington,get a dog), but they did what they had to do and you did what you had to do. Fair enough. But you're a big boy and you know how the game is played. Last night, though, you just didn't praise your buddy McCain, but you attacked the Democrats and you attacked Obama. Yours was an act of political suicide.

Bye, Joe!