Lieberman not free of Ned Lamont and CT critics yet

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

Senate Democrats let Joe Lieberman off the hook Tuesday, allowing him to retain his Senate committee chairmanship over Homeland Security. But Joe is not exactly home free. He still has some pesky Democrats back in Connecticut to contend with. For starters, there's the Democratic primary challenger who beat him in 2006, Ned Lamont.

The Rachel Maddow Show provided Lamont a forum on Tuesday night, where he smiled wickedly and allowed as how "Obama's got bigger fish to fry" than little Joe Lieberman. He also stated the obvious, that Joe's become "more and more comfortable in the Republican camp" over time. Lamont was asked if he is contemplating another run. He replied, beaming, "You never say never!"

Meanwhile, the New Haven Independent is reporting that Connecticut Democratic Party regulars won't be silenced by the U.S. Senate's action or lack thereof. They are still intent on punishing Lieberman for his strong embrace of the McCain/Palin ticket and GOP platform in 2008. Some highlights:

As U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman escapes retribution from his D.C. colleagues, Democrats back home are proceeding with plans to discipline him for abandoning his party.

State Democrats said they will still move forward next month with a resolution to censure the senator and ask him to resign from the party, despite today’s news from Washington. ...

“The Democrats in D.C. have set an example, but that doesn’t mean we have to follow it,” said Jason Bartlett, a state representative from Bethel. Bartlett was an early proponent of stripping Lieberman of his Democratic party membership. Tuesday, he said he still fully supports a measure to censure the Senator.

Since 2006, while he has maneuvered to maintain power in Washington, Lieberman’s support back home has tanked. Polls have consistently shown voters with “buyer’s remorse.” ...

DiNardo said the state central committee plans to vote on the anti-Lieberman resolution, and any substitutes that may be offered, at its meeting on Dec. 17. 

Joe wins for now. Maybe he actually can still find it within himself to sign on to the Obama agenda and help move it forward. But accountability could yet be lurking around the next corner.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

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