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The Lieberman Lesson

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The desire to have government do more was expressed in the '92 election but collapsed 12 months after Clinton took office and didn't emerge until after 9/11. George W. Bush campaigned as "a uniter and not a divider," but he squandered the opportunity to bring the country together. Trust in government jumped in the wake of the 9/11 attacks as Americans turned to Washington to keep them safe, but after a few months it was gone and skepticism was back. There is a similar spike today in the willingness of voters to view government as part of the solution, as opposed to part of the problem. Galston says the meltdown of the financial industry is the equivalent of an "economic 9/11," a problem the people want government to solve, and that within broad limits, the voters have given Obama the authority to be bold and innovative and expansive to address the economic crisis.

But Galston warns that other promises, like closing Guantanamo and withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq may not be as popular with the center of the electorate as with the Democratic base. But it is still important for Obama to keep his word. "And if Iraq goes south after U.S. troops leave, he should give a speech that says if stability in Iraq means a permanent American presence of 150,000 troops, it's not worth it," says Galston, a declaration that illustrates the peril ahead and underscores why Obama needs the broadest possible coalition behind the agenda he was elected to fulfill.

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Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 11/23/2008 5:28:18 PM

The Dems need him in the Caucus,especially if Minnesota and Georgia go Democrat. We have been down this road before. In 2000,it was Vermonts ''Jumpin Jim'' Jeffords,who left the GOP becoming an Indpendant and sided with the Democrats handing temporary control of the Senate over to them.[Clift treated him as a hero,however,and did not deal the kind of dross on him that she now metes out to Lieberman]. Ostricize Lieberman,and he goes into the GOP ranks perhaps for good,and will act as a foil to Democrat machinations.
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Posted By: TomTraubert @ 11/23/2008 5:37:07 AM

Isn't it "lay"? As in the lions LAY down with the lambs?
In the strictest grammatical sense, 'lie' is an intransitive verb, whereas 'lay' is transitive. Conceptually, 'lie' is something you do to yourself, and 'lay' is something you do to yourself, and 'lay' is something you do to something/someone else.
Word Example
lie You look tired. Lie down and rest.
lay Lay down the keyboard and step away from the computer!
The past tense, however, gives many people fits. The past tense of 'lie' is 'lay', and the past tense of 'lay' is 'laid'.
Word Example
lay She lay in the shade, remembering her youth.
laid He laid the infant in the crib.
http://www.planetoid.org/grammar_for_geeks/lie_vs_lay_vs_laid.html
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Posted By: herzliebster @ 11/23/2008 1:38:21 AM

The" Democrats" didn't "try to oust" Lieberman. He was challenged in a primary, with the defining issue being Iraq, and lost, fair and square. Normally, when a politician loses the primary and hence the nomination for another term, they accept defeat and go home. Lieberman acted as if he had somehow been deprived of his constitutional right to keep his seat, and ran as an independent. The Republicans then nominated a complete nobody and basically decline to campaign for their own nominee. Ever since, Lieberman has behaved like a Republican.