Senate Dems set to screw progressives - again

I think John Cole is right. Much as I appreciate Leahy and Bernie Sanders calling for Lieberman to resign his chair, historically when Leahy fronts for our side with lofty rhetoric, it's a pretty good sign that the Senate 'leadership' is about sell us out. I think they'll let him keep it.

The secret ballot on Tuesday that will decide Joe Lieberman's fate pisses me off. I think they should go on record but I understand how politically delicate that can be and am willing to compromise on that point. I'm even willing to let Joe stay in the caucus, although it's certainly not my preference.

However, if they don't strip him of his gavel on the DHS Committee, it will be too big a betrayal to ignore. Lieberman cast his lot with the GOP two years ago and didn't look back. He actively sought to undermine the Democratic candidate and his public statements about President-elect Obama are unforgiveable. Furthermore he refused to use the power of his chair to exercise oversight over the current administration. He must suffer some consequence in the interests of accountability.

Progressives poured their hearts and their wallets into this election to give the Democrats their majority. To allow Lieberman to carry on as if nothing had happened, especially since we all know had McCain won, Joe would have joined the GOP and never looked back, would not only be a betrayal of the mandate progressives delivered to the Dems, it would be a validation of the GOP tactics that have so divided and ruined this country. Reid and the rest of the Democratic powerbrokers would do well to remember that the knife cuts both ways. What we did to the GOP in 08 can be also be done to the dead wood in our own party in 2010 and beyond.

Update: Of course the 'logic' the insider Democrats will be using is that punishing Lieberman will somehow insult moderate Americans. Glenn debunks that point nicely.

So, to recap: Moderate voters are going to rise up in rebellious outrage if the Democrats don't award a powerful Chairmanship to a Senator who espouses positions which most Americans hate; who spent the last year vigorously campaigning for the political party that, for the second straight election, got crushed; and who is widely disliked even in his own state.

And Jim Henley makes the important point that nobody but us poli-junkies are really going to care. But I would add, we're the ones that cared enough to work the GOTV efforts and pushed back hard on the false narratives. Our contributions made a difference and our influence is still growing. The Democratic establishment ignores that at their own peril.

[More posts daily at The Detroit News.]