I have nothing to add except that Lieberman's ungracious, self-serving, divisive "concession" showed him to be a much smaller man than I thought. His invitation to those of us who live outside CT to get involved in the general campaign had, I'm sure, at least one unintended result. There is now a little more money in Ned Lamont's campaign coffers courtesy of this Seattlite.

Now, demand the same caliber from the rest of the staff...and trim the fluff.

Remember what Salon used to be--it's still within reach.

Good ridance to that sanctimonious, moralizing, Republican ass-licking sack of manure. I hope my Democratic party has the stones to fight the good fight against the bastards currently running our country into the ground, rather than simper on about positioning its candidates to appeal to moderates. The fact is the country is overwhelmingly rejecting Bush and the right wing agenda. The Democrats need to get out front of the trend, not swim against it by hanging on to proven losers like that sad sack that just lost the connecticut primary.

If Joementum goes through with this fratricidal "independent" run, and costs the Democtratic Party a senate seat, and perhaps control of the Senate, he will go down in history as a Quislling of the rankest kind. What this election showed, clearly, is that the Democrats who have the spine to run as actual Democrats, have a superb chance to regain control of at least one House of Congress, and thus begin turning our precious country back toward sanity. It is the most critical election since 1860. Lieberman, if he has one shred of conscience remaining, need to rethink this destructive path, withdraw from the race, and support Lamont. A real man would do that. I fear Joementum is two huevos short of a ranchero. Please prove me wrong, Joe. Remember your passion for civil rights in the 60's, Joe? Find that soul, and do the right thing.

You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned Joe's role in the 2000 election. I didn't understand exactly why he was on the ticket then. Of course it was a way to distract the voters from Clinton. What a bad strategy for the Democrats. I certainly never connnected to him and he did nothing to entice me for voting for Gore.

I don't understand what the Connecticut voters ever saw in this guy. I am encouraged by the results of this election. I have a pulse of optimism, not real strong, but still an optimistic pulse that the voters in this country are slowing turning the ship around.

Joan...nice to see you in the editorials again.....you gotta admit, Giants baseball has only added to the miseries of this summer.

Katie P

His so-called concession speech was beyond hubris. I agree with Joan Walsh (for once): If he can't control himself, then the Democratic National Committee should stage a little intervention. It's high time that those like Lieberman and Zell Miller get expelled from the Democratic party, to send a clear and concise message about who we are, and who we are NOT.

If it weren't for those God damn....people.

This is the mentality of Joe Lieberman and the rest of the Republicans. He might as well have said, "I would have won the Democratic primary if it weren't for those stupid God damn Democrats." This is everyone's fault but his own apparently. He views the concept of "personal accountability" the same way George Bush does; They both take it very personaly when people hold them accountable.

Anyone who doesn't blatantly recognize the fact that Joe views his constituents with utter disdain deserves to be governed by him and his ilk. The constituency owes him everything, and he owes the constituency zilch.

If the prominent Democrats in power don't come down on Joe swiftly and harshly, they will suffer dire consequences nationally. If they conveniently view this sentiment as "an angry web campain" or as "politics of polarization" as opposed to what it really is, they will actually lose seats in both houses. And if they do that, I actually believe Joe Lieberman's name will become synonymous with the collapse of the Democratic party.

Why do you think Republicans are so interested in keeping him around? THEY realize what the Democrat constituents want more than the elected Democrats do. As long as Republicans can continue to form a wedge between elected Democrats and their base, the more they know the party will become irrelevant. And deservedly so if it is allowed to happen.

Joan, you were on a roll right up until you went off the rails with your comments about Clinton and Gore and the 2000 election. Check it: Gore won and Bill Clinton is not the magic that you and others seem to think that he is. Want proof? See Leaverman, Joe and the just finished primary in Connecticut.

Senator Lieberman with his concession speech remarks pretty much

said that because of his incumbency he was entitled to stay on in

the U.S. Senate until HE decided to step off or down. This attitude

that fairly permeates Washington DC is all about the "DC system" and

has very little to do with American Democracy. Where is the humility

in this guy? Does Lieberman really think of himself as having been

given this Senate seat with built-in concession rights? He's had three

terms to show what he's made of. Eighteen years of high paying work with

plenty of perks and post-Senate career options a given. So he can't find

some dignity and move off the stage? Is he nobility? Strangely enough

as Lieberman pursues his ego fulfilment we read about Tom Delay's trying

to weasel out of the Texas race he no longer wants to be in. Here is a

guy who couldn't possibly lay straight in bed at night due to the "pretzel

twists" and crookedness his politics were filled with. Washington DC is

a sick place indeed. The cure will prove painful and the patient may well

not survive. Democracy however is not about staying in office because you

have been there for awhile{too long?}. Its about being accountable to

those who put you there in Washington DC. Of course with all the money

sloshing around in Washington DC these days and the stench of low intellect or

integrity that the place reeks of it must seem so. You "own" your seat and

collect rent and commission on it. Senator, no one forced you to back the

Iraq War. That was your call to make. Sorry,it has proved to be a genuine

disaster with no end in sight as of yet. Many people have died already due

to it and many more likely will. Now you have lost the primary. Summon some

true character and be gracious. Let the rest of us move on. Much remains to

be done. Your support is now enlisted to undo the GOP grip in Washington DC.

Be noble.