Letters to the Editor
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I wouldn't hang Reid based on what he said on the Daily Show
Well, yes, but Reid (and all of the democrats) do still have to work with the guy. Lieberman's quite conscious of his status, and has offered more than once to take his ball and go home. The numbers in the senate are such that pandering to him results in some greater goods happening, and the alternative (him becoming an independent who conferences with the republicans) would have much worse results. So they would be stupid not to publicly treat him like a friend with whom they have a minor disagreement.
Were Reid to say that Lieberman's vote for torture and lifting habeas corpus were an abomination, Lieberman would have still voted the same way. Were Lieberman to leave the Dems, they wouldn't have control of the senate.
It's a political position that Dems have to take. And now I feel dirty for standing up for Reid.
I think the true test will be what happens after November, since it's likely Lieberman won't be the deciding vote anymore, one way or the other, and that pesky minor issue of the war will be dealt with somewhat differently.