I don't know. . .if Reid got Lieberman to promise to not run and an independent, then its a good thing.  As it was looking, Lamont has a slim chance in the primary where Dems vote, and no chance once the Indies and Reps join the fray.  But with this move, Reid keeps Lieberman on the one field, the primary, that is the most problematic for Lieberman. All that for an endorsement by an anti-choice, pro-Establishment Dem that will be ignored by the voters anyway.

since Lieberman has no problem bucking the Dems whenever he feels like it, the only difference if he ran as an independent would be that in the (not-too-unlikely) case of a closely-divided Senate, Lieberman could decide to caucus with the Reeps and keep them in the majority . . . but yeah, Reid's sticking his neck out here and there could be a price to pay.

Pretty much what Treglio said. This actually looks like a pretty smart move on Reid's part. If Lieberman ran on a third-party ticket, the Dems' would lose the seat for sure. Even if we don't get Lamont, half a Democrat is still better than none - and endorsing a challenger (Reid's only option besides endorsing Lieberman or just ignoring him) would have some seriously harmful effects on party unity nationwide, not just in Connecticut. Reid chose the only option he got something in exchange for. I won't deny it's a risk, but I think it's a good one.

Just my $0.02.

I don't say the guy's been stellar as leader. But who else is there who might do a better job? (And how much bloodletting will be entailed in the process of making the change?)

The leadership job isn't exactly a stepping stone to stardom, even if it's leading the majority in the 110th. (Which it could be.)

And Reid's only been in the job since the beginning of the 109th.

Now is the time to be thinking about such things: win or lose, the Dem leadership will have enough on their plate after election day without pondering succession questions!

The DC Dem establishment supports one of their own. That's not news that is what is to be expected.

Joementum will not be constrained by what he agrees to with Reid. He'll do whatever it takes to be in the halls of power.

The CT Dem senate primary is Joe's to lose. He has the power of incumbency, plenty of money, establishment support and of course name recognition. The Dem establishment in DC and CT will claim that supporting Joementum will ensure the Dems have the CT senate seat and defeating Joe will jeapordize the Dem hold on the seat.

Lamont on the other hand is a political unknown but has run a smart campaign so far by trying to mobilize the anti-establishment and progressive activists. I am confident that he is putting together a serious campaign. CT primary voters will be provided a real choice. A Repub-lite incumbent who has only cared about himself or a real Dem candidate that will hold the Repubs accountable and fight for progressive values.

A Lamont win will be a tsunami across the bow of the Dem party establishment. In any case as more Lamont's challenge spineless, weather-vane Dem incumbents and run credible campaigns and offer voters real choices it will do a world of good for the Dem party.

enough already... Harry Reid "did this" because Harry Reid wants to be the Senate majority leader.  And in order for Harry Reid to be the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid needs Democratic votes in the senate.  And in order to have Democratic votes in the senate, there have to be Democratic senators elected... and Lieberman is a Democrat, and as such, is a sure-fire Democratic vote on the VAST majority of Democratic issues (more-so than Harry Reid, even on several)... Lieberman is well-liked by his Connecticut ilk, and Ned Lamont is an "unknown", both to Connecticut residents, and to Harry Reid... and thus... Harry Reid doesn't want to fuck with Lamont and possibly have him fuck up in the General election... That is why he "did this".

I'm seriously sick of hearing about Lieberman as our neighborhood boogeyman.  Fine, have a primary... try to kick him out.  I don't like the guy either, and I think he's a putz.  In fact, "screw Lieberman"... as I used to sign off every post... but this primary-run by Lamont is Quixotic at-best, as today's polling results have shown.  We already know the likely outcome (who here wouldn't honestly bet on it if given the chance?)... Lamont will break 40%, and after hundreds of thousands of dollars sent to his campaign... (largely financed by out-of-state financiers)... the following shit will be spewed by the "blogosphere" which I shall sum up in the following 3 words... "We scared Lieberman". (Which may be true, but he'll forget it 6 years later). So, there, I wrote it.  There's your goal, people... "Scare Lieberman". 'cause that's all we're gonna do with this primary.

but after that rant... on to my main point...

The most annoying quote of the post...
"He's making his bed, and he's going to have to live with it.  I hope it's worth it."

As soon as we in "the blogosphere" demonstrate ONE instance (any instance... anywhere...) where we have made our political leaders live to regret going to the center... where we have had an ACTUAL success in getting one of our pet candidates elected... then maybe we can say such things as "you've made your bed, buddy" with chest-thumping bravado... and not look like an idiot.

If anybody has made a case that the Lamont challenge might somehow throw Lieberman's Senate seat to the Republicans I have not seen it. This is about war.  The Democratic Party should stand against this war.  Politics should be about the big things.  It's not about scaring Joe, it is about making it clear that there is a political price to be paid for supporting discretionary disaster of a war.  

is to get a majority in the senate. That means making sure a democrat gets elected in connecticut. You also have to stop and think that maybe, just maybe, having been there a while, they are friends.

The blogosphere needs to stop thinking that the democrats are wrong on anything that isn't what people on blogs think should happen. If Senator Reid thinks of Lieberman as a friend and knows he can count on him when he needs him, then I'd rather him stand up for him than cowtail to the blogosphere.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/05/02/wo men-unite-against-bushs-favorite-democra t/

Some good news here for foes of Lieberman

He's making his bed, and he's going to have to live with it.

That's nearly a bushism. Ending a hackneyed phrase with a second, unexpected, hackneyed phrase rarely makes it fresh.

Reid is doing his job and doing what he should do. I'd vote for Lamont in the primary if I were a Connecticut voter, but I'm not the Senate minority leader. The job of the Senate minority leader (and of the House minority leader) is to support the actual elected Dems, even the annoying ones, in the service of eventually becoming majority leader of a majority party. True turncoats, fake Dems who vote GOP on everything important, like Henry Cuellar, perhaps don't deserve this kind of support-- but iffy, annoying, "centrist," hypocritical Dems like Lieberman in fact do deserve this kind of support-- it's in Reid's job description. Remember, he was voted Senate minority leader by the Dems in the Senate; that's who he serves. Vote for Lamont, but don't take your frustration out on Reid.

So for an "endorsement" that won't net Joementum a single extra vote in the primary, Reid got Holy Joe to promise not to run as an independent after he loses.

What am I missing?

I have to disagree with your outrage, Matt, though I understand where it comes from.  "Politics make for strange bedfellows," so the saying goes.  Reid has to make deals like this, it's part of the game as a senator as well as the minority leader.  If he has actually traded his endorsement for Lieberman's agreement to not pursue an independent campaign, COOL!  The only way Lieberman can gather petition signatures for an independent campaign in the event that he loses the primary is to collect them while also running in the primary.  If the reported agreement is real, then any effort on his part to begin to collect signatures automatically frees Reid to pull his endorsement.  Reid will feel obligation to support the leading primary candidate Lamont (this is the only reason Lieberman would pursue an independent campaign: Lamont is leading in the polls).  As I write this, I realize that this is GENIUS on Reid's part.  Meanwhile, the real game is not his endorsement but the results of the state convention.  I expect that a strong showing, if not endorsement, for Lamont will spur growing voter interest in him and away from Lieberman.  So let's focus on Connecticutt, the convention, and the primary.  Let Reid be.

There are a lot of people in bed with each other but the alarm sounded a long time ago.  It is past time to getup!

Methinks thou dost protest too much Matt.

Yes it's very disappointing that Alito is on the Supreme Court, but what do you expect when Bush is president and the Republicans have a 10 seat majority in the Senate. They Dems could not block every Bush nominee coming down the pike.

Reid's move looks to be quite Machiavellian to me. It's not like Reid's support will bring many more votes to Lieberman. And now if Lamont pulls off an upset Reid will have to endorse him and the party will too.

PS Your constant black and white framing is tiring. Politicians don't just fit into the 'whores' or 'angels' categories.

Boy, if you are going to get all fired up over Harry freakin Reid endorsing Lieberman, you better start stocking up on the beta blockers. Harry Reid is one of the most conservative members of the Democratic caucus, clearly to the right of Lieberman. Just wait until senators like Kennedy, Feingold, and Boxer show up to endorse Joe. Those kinds of endorsements are the primary currency of Senate power within a caucus. If Joe needs them, they'll come (actually, I seriously doubt he needs them, but you never know).