Lieberman's Gambit: Health care for readmission into the Democratic Party

[WonderGrunion]

I think I've finally figured out what Lieberman's trying to do with his posturing on the filibuster of health care reform. He wants the ability to run as the Democratic senator from Connecticut next time he is up for election. I didn't realize until reading on DU a couple of weeks ago that his vanity independent party has basically kicked him out and is running without him now. Lieberman could just run as an independent candidate again by creating (another) new party, but he really wants to be able to run with the party apparatus of the Connecticut Democratic party at his back.

I think the last election taught him a valuable lesson. No, not the one we wanted him to learn. The lesson Holy Joe learned is that running for the senate is very expensive when you don't have other people paying your way through. I have read several columnists say that Lieberman is better treated with carrots rather than sticks. That wascally wabbit is looking at the biggest carrot in the garden right now. He wants back into the party. He's just using health care as the blackmail point to let him back in.

If my hypothesis is correct, I say we should give in to his demands. Health care is too important to let get shot down over a vanity fight with Lieberman. And, as the adage goes, it's better to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Lieberman would be more controllable within the party structure than as a rogue independent candidate. He would still be an insufferable douchebag, but he would be our insufferable douchebag. And after he votes "aye" on health care reform, we can always primary his ass next election.