The first step in Lieberman’s reunion with the Democrats.

Sunday, March 15th at 1:54PM EST

6 Comments

Not that he was ever really gone, but the formalities must be observed.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said running as a Democrat is up to Lieberman, noting he has not yet had any talks with him about doing so. But Durbin said Lieberman this year has lived up to his promise to be a loyal and reliable vote on Democratic priorities.

“I will tell you this: I think it was a very good and wise decision for us to include Joe Lieberman in the Democratic Conference,” Durbin said. “He has really been valuable to us. On the stimulus package, he was an important part of bringing the negotiations together. He’s been terrific on the floor. I’m just glad to have him on board.”

(H/T: HotMES, who adds a suggestion that I can’t in good conscience endorse).

As I implied above, this was inevitable. Lieberman is not a conservative: he’s merely a guy who couldn’t bear to see us lose in Iraq. Now that the chances of that happening are sufficiently low enough, he can return to the fold of a party that he’s far more comfortable with when it comes to domestic affairs. I’m not forgiving him for doing it – the behavior of the Democratic Party during our last war was nothing short of appalling – but I understand why he’s doing it.

As for why the Democrats will let him… it’s probably because of Senator Dodd (D-Galway), who is apparently still determined to fight it out next year for re-election, bless his heart. Lieberman’s current numbers show that he’s in significantly better odor than Dodd is right now, which would make his help welcome. For that matter, a large part of Lieberman’s unpopularity with CT Democrats is tied up with him being at odds with the party: campaigning for a fellow Democrat, plus a public reconciliation, will probably go a long way towards rehabilitating his image over the next three years. And, of course, if Dodd loses in 2010 his party will suddenly have a vested interest in not putting one of their seats at risk in 2012. So, really, from the Democrats’ point of view this is win-win. Nobody suffers from letting Lieberman back in.

Except the progressive netroots, of course. But what are they going to do? Vote Republican?

Moe Lane

Crossposted to Moe Lane.

6 Comments Leave a comment

Lieberman Pro Israel

Dencal26 Sunday, March 15th at 5:52PM EST (link)

Joe has always been an extreme leftist. His position on Iraq was simply based on his view that it was helpful to Israel.

Showing your paleoconservative colors here?

civil truth (Diary) Sunday, March 15th at 6:08PM EST (link)

1) Liberman is not an “extreme leftist”. He’s a old-fashioned northeast liberal (strong defense/foreign affairs, traditional domestic liberal) in a party that has gone headlong towards socialism and anti-military (against foreign enemies, that is).

2) Just because he’s Jewish doesn’t mean that every foreign policy position of his is run an Israel-purity filter, and to accuse him of such is to raise the old anti-semetic canard to divided loyalty.

3) Besides, the extreme left – Jewish and non-Jewish alike – are uniformly anti-Israel.

So what’s your game?

The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis

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I don't know

Neil Stevens (Diary) Sunday, March 15th at 7:22PM EST (link)

I think Joementum’s an extreme leftist. No he’s not a radical pacifist, but he’s still radically pro-abortion, pro-tax, pro-big government, pro-spending, pro-card check, pro-globowarmism, and just about every other element of the far left agenda.

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When a herd stampedes, it's hard to tell individuals apart

civil truth (Diary) Sunday, March 15th at 9:46PM EST (link)

I’ll suspend further judgment for a few months when Congress finds some kind of new political equilibrium. It’s possible he has cast in his lot for good with the far-left leadership, though he’s under strong pressure to “prove” his loyalty.

However, the lack of nuance by Dencal26 coupled with his Jew-baiting raised my hackles. But you’ve addressed the same points a bit more diplomatically in your other comment, so I’ll see if he responds to either of us.

OT, any chance you could tell me the secret code for contacting other RedStaters by e-mail?

http://www.gmsplace.com/

We unfortunately haven't had email contact forms since RS 2 (nt)

Neil Stevens (Diary) Monday, March 16th at 1:50AM EST (link)

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Can you elaborate on that Dencal26?

Neil Stevens (Diary) Sunday, March 15th at 7:17PM EST (link)

Obviously being pro-Israel is a point in Joementum’s favor, but I’m pretty sure he favors winning the War on Terror for our own security, in addition to that of our ally Israel’s.

Can you elaborate on why you say he only cares about being “helpful” to Israel?

Also, you clearly think this is a bad thing. Why is that?

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