1. Anonymous says:

    If Joe were to win as an independent, wouldn’t he lose all democratic senority (to serve as chair on a committee or two)? Or would they make an exception in his case.

    Also, the Bull Moose blog (DLC) is supporting Lieberman as a democrat or independent. Will they support the democratic nominee chosen by the voters in the primary, even if it is not Lieberman?

  2. Anonymous says:

    That Hundt post was the worst professional analysis, on a per-word basis, I’ve ever seen offered anywhere. Thank God it was free!

    It’s only two short paragraphs long, and both of them are crap. The one you hit on is the only one worthy of discussion. The first one, in which he compares Lieberman to party-ditchers Jeffords and Shelby, is so stupid, it’s hard to sit still after you’ve read it.

    Jeffords left the Republicans because he couldn’t abide by their policies anymore. Shelby might possibly make the same argument, though the fact that he actually switched parties rather than go with the big â€I†after his name made his switch smack of opportunism.

    Lieberman’s leaving the party because the rank-and-file can’t abide by his policies.

    There’s a world of difference, and it takes a special kind of chowderhead not to see it instantly.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Shelby also announced his switch a day or so just after the GOP took control of Congress in ’94. Obviously a man of principle.

  4. Anonymous says:

    If Lieberman wins as an independent, they’ll probably let him keep his seniority, as they likely would with anyone who agrees to caucus with them, and as Democrats have been doing for years in the House for Bernie Sanders. For Lieberman to serve as a committee chair, of course, he’d have to be caucusing with the majority, which would provide an early opportunity to demonstrate publicly who he is caucusing with.

    By the way, the Bull Moose blog can barely even be counted as DLC, despite their foolishness in deciding to spend their money on it. Marshall Wittman has been angling for years to set himself up as the blogosphere’s self-hating contrarian, hoping to occupy whatever space it is that he imagines will one day be coveted by a center-right â€independent†presidential candidate who needs to â€understand†the blogosphere, but also have the proper disdain for it.

    My back hurts today, and I am going to take it out on others.

  5. Anonymous says:

    This is a pretty good refutation of my argument, btw, that Lieberman doesn’t get anything out of an I win that looks like an I win.

    For Lieberman to serve as a committee chair, of course, he’d have to be caucusing with the majority, which would provide an early opportunity to demonstrate publicly who he is caucusing with.

    If he wins as an I, he might be able to guarantee himself a chairmanship one way or another.

    Though he really is a lot less useful to the Republicans as an I. Would they take him, to maintain a majority in the Senate? Yes. Would Lieberman caucus with them when he could get a chairmanship either way? I doubt it.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Thanks Kagro X!!!
    For what it’s worth, I once tried doing a running commentary on the bull blatherings under a different psuedenym in a different blog. Needless to say, after the first few days I started repeating myself, much like Wittman does. FortunatelyI had the good sense to quit.

  7. Anonymous says:

    a reminder from the Fix:

    Can’t get enough of the Lieberman-Lamont skirmish? Make sure to watch C-SPAN — The Fix’s favorite channel — this Thursday at 7 p.m. for a live broadcast of the first debate between Lieberman and Lamont.

  8. Anonymous says:

    I was concerned I’d not be able to see the Lieberman-Lamont debate, as I live in Canada. But MSNBC says they’re going to carry the debate live and people can e-mail in who they think the winner of the debate is. I’m pleased I can see this.

  9. Anonymous says:

    A reminder from The Fixx:

    But when one little cross
    Leads to shots, grit your teeth
    You run for cover so discreet
    Why don’t they

    Do what they say, say what you mean
    Oh well, one thing leads to another
    You told me something wrong
    I know I listen too long
    But then one thing leads to another.