One of the convenient campaign-season fictions of the Democrats, especially the Obama camp, is that somehow “change” and “new politics” will lead us to an era of post-partisan sensible centrism. Here’s another little glimpse of the reality: John McCain and Joe Lieberman have a lot in common. Both have been party-line voters for some parts of their party’s agenda, but both have also frequently been a public thorn in the side of their party for their deviations on issues as well as their willingness to open fire on their own side. How are they being treated?

On the Republican side, we’re running McCain for President.

On the Democrat side, having already had a primary campaign to eject Lieberman from the party in 2006, Harry Reid is now moving to strip him of a chairmanship, but wants to keep him around in the caucus just for his vote:

Lieberman, a former Democrat who supports Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president, is likely to lose his gavel on the Homeland Security Committee he has chaired since January 2007, say the sources who see him being replaced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), the committee’s third-ranking Democrat…

One Democratic source said Lieberman is not likely to lose his position in the Democratic caucus, even if the party picks up several seats in next week’s election. While Democrats could approach or exceed the filibuster-proof threshold of 60 votes, they may still need Lieberman’s vote often.

“There’s no sense in cutting off our nose to spite our face,” one source said.

Way to reassure moderate swing voters 6 days before the election what bipartisanship will look like under Obama, guys.