Ain't happening. Politico just reported that WH has asked Sen. Reid to cut a deal with Lieberman. Spinelessness on display!! Don't you just love your Democratically elected leaders?!

There's not a smaller man on the national stage than Joe himself:

Yup.

If Snowe came to the proPublic Option or Democratic side, would that not nullify Lieberman? Just how did this guy get so much power? Is this is self-perceived last stint as Senator, perhaps getting back at the party for his embarrassing loss in the Con primary?

At this point- looking at the politico report- i think it is clear that Lieberman is not working against the WH's interest.

It was our prescient President who, following a meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu, proudly announced, "We're going to trade our Lieberman for their Lieberman."

Geeez man. Everything we predicted about Lieberman has come true and even worse. There is no light in the tunnel of appeasing this vile creature.

It's time Obama's team and some top leaders start threatening the obstructionist Democrats(unless they have a really good reason they can articulate to oppose something on principle)  with cutting off any of the benefits like fundraising or allocation of funds to the senator's district. It's time they played hardball.

Goddamit. I am sick and tired of this party doing nothing despite controlling every arm of government. They had a year of majority in everything and the Democrats haven't done one significant thing yet for education or the curtailing of the military industrial complex.

Lieberman, go fuck yourself.

While I doubt this will be a popular opinion here I think Joe Lieberman deservers a lot of credit.

Whether you're infuriated by his actions or not, you have to acknowledge the man is true to his convictions and, as an elected Senator he has every right to take this stand. He gains absolutely no political capital by taking this position, only further alienates the base of the party he caucuses with, and sets himself up for another aggressive challenge from the left at his next election, which is the only way he could lose.

It's perfectly reasonable for Lieberman to consider this healthcare plan w/ a government option or expansion of medicare too ambitious fiscally at a time when the national debt is at record levels and congress is struggling to get control of the deficit. It's perfectly reasonable for him to disagree with a government run plan ideologically. His position is legitimate and his responsibility is to his own judgment and values, which were clearly evident when the people of his state elected him again. It seems people are suggesting he's done something wrong, or should be punished, when the reality is he's doing justice to democracy, whether you like what he stands for or not, in ways most other timid politicians wouldn't even consider.

Unless there is some grave scandal about to break, he has nothing to personally gain by taking this action. It may also be the end result, that a more moderate healthcare reform act that is passed will do more to improve people's lives with less chance of sky rocketing premiums and dramatic/unforeseen consequences that we all know are a risk with the public plan's injection into our healthcare system.

I full support healthcare reform, but we should be realistic. Politically, this bill needs to be passed before it engulfs the entire administration to the point that we lose control of congress and potentially set the groundwork for a Republican President in 2012. If that happens, without any significant time for it to accrue support after it has been enacted, a public option would be overturned immediately, anyway.

Let's get what we can now, within the political reality of 60 votes, and move on to other things to substantiate a record to win seats and not lose them next November. Also, let's get a sense of perspective. Democrats have earned this massive majority, but it is not perfect, and moderate Dems and Republicans will always pull legislation to the center. But, if all we do is carp and attack those people nothing will get done. This is our political reality, the most favorable in many years, and we have to do everything we can now, otherwise in just over a year it will be gone, along with a host of opportunities.

Was my comment really deleted? Why? I wasn't trolling but just expressing a valid opinion as someone who cares about healthcare and the Democratic party.

Depressing stuff.

in all its forms. So all this wishful thinking is moot now.