Remember that? The Republican candidate, Alan Schlesinger, was even more incompetent than most Republicans which made it look like an easy pickup the Senate Seat for the Democratic candidate.
Joe did not like that. If he lost his Senate seat he would have to stop palling around with all the rich and powerful in Washington, D.C. where he really preferred to be anyway, so apparently he promised the Republicans that he would become a Republican if they financed his reelection. but since the Republican Party in Connecticut was a recognized joke, he had to stay as a nominal Democrat in order to win reelection over the real Democratic candidate, Ned Lamont.
Since the Republicans (as well as everyone else) thought they only had six weak Senate seats and the Democrats would have to sweep them all to win control of the Senate, it was extremely unlikely that the Republicans would lose the Senate and it would be helpful to them to have a Democrat in name only to help them. They could finance Lieberman's campaign, freeze out their own candidate Alan Schlesinger who wasn't going to win anyway, and have some help from Joe when they passed more legislation to screw the American people and nation over. So that's what they did. They financed Joe instead of the Republican and he carried enough nominal Democrats to squeak back into the Senate for six more years. It all worked as planned, although the Democrats almost swept those Senate races in contention, with the single exception that the Democratic Candidate Harold Ford lost the Senate race in Tennessee.
What no one had counted on was that the Democratic Senate candidate, James H. Webb ran an especially strong race while the incumbent Republican Virginia Senator George Allen self-destructed by exposing his strong racism in front of a camera. The exposure was immediately placed on the Internet had suddenly, the Democrats had control of the Senate as well as the House. At least, as long as Joe Lieberman did not switch parties.
Switch parties? Joe? What could the Republican party offer him that would make him as important as the single swing Senator? Nothing, really. So Joe remains a Republican-talking and -voting self-labeled Independent Democratic Senator who caucuses with the Democrats but votes Republican.
So why am I rehashing all this ancient history? Because Joe is continuing to be Joe. All smiles and "Glad-to-see-you" up front with his well-practiced back-stabbing hand right behind every Democrat he can get near.
Thursday night (tonight) Joe is co-hosting a fund-raiser for the incumbent Senator of Maine. And the problem? The Senator he wants reelected from Maine is Republican Senator Susan Collins.
CNN reports that this kind of perfidy is not going unnoticed.
In an e-mail sent to supporters, the anti-war group MoveOn.org called tonight’s event “absurd,” labeling it “Joe Lieberman’s Republican fundraiser.” The event, which will be held in Washington, is being co-hosted by Lieberman and Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.Moveon.org could use some money to work against these Republicans. Go on over there as consider how much you can contribute.
MoveOn.org is working to counter Lieberman’s efforts by raising money for Collins’ 2008 Senate opponent, Democratic congressman Tom Allen. As of Thursday afternoon, MoveOn had raised over $200,000 for Allen in just over 48 hours. Allen’s campaign said it welcomed the support.
Removing Susan Collins from the Senate in 2008 will take a lot of the power that Joe Lieberman currently has in that body. That will be of benefit to every American who is not stealing the government blind and who is opposed to letting others do it.
But first, send money to Digby.
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