…but it’s hard to argue with Paul Begala who is the latest to call him Traitor Joe:blockquote>
It’s journalistic shorthand to note a politician’s party identification
and state after his or her name. For example: Jane Doe (D-NY). And so
Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman is identified as (I-CT). But the “I”
does not stand for “Independent.” It stands for “Insurance Industry.”
Lieberman says he will join a Republican filibuster against President
Obama’s health-insurance reforms. You could see this coming from a mile
away—actually from 15 years away.
In 1993 and 94, Lieberman consistently opposed President Clinton’s
reform bill—which did not have a public option. In case you’re keeping
score at home, Lieberman will filibuster the Obama plan, which has a
public option, and he opposed the Clinton reform plan, which did not.
Anything that protects consumers, it seems, is a bridge too far for
Sen. Lieberman…
Actually, Holy Joe ran on the Connecticutt for Lieberman line, which sums up how he sees the universe: it’s Joe-centric. He makes your average Senator look modest and self-effacing. Joe is the prima donna’s prima donna. The big question is: what does he want? The same question applies to the Evan Bayhs and Blanche Lincolns of the world. What do they want and is the price too high?
Questions are all I’ve got this morning. The only answer that sounds good right now is: Reconciliation. I’m, of course, talking about the Senate procedural move, not making up with Lieberman. Been there, done that.