Ground Game

Joe Lieberman is probably the most despised lawmaker in the progressive blogosphere, aside from George Bush. The netroots' most tangible campaign victory was in shepherding Lieberman’s defeat to Ned Lamont last year in the Connecticut Democratic primary. Of course, Lieberman lives on, and continues to haunt liberals with his continued support for the Iraq war, his hawkish comments on Iran and now his endorsement of John McCain.

Firedoglake says:

Obama and Edwards have got to be chuckling right now. They both knew that there was no way in the world that Short Ride Joe would ever endorse either of them, but it was pretty much assumed that Lieberman, who painted himself as a good friend of the Clintons despite his calculated and self-serving betrayal of them, was going to be in Hillary's camp.

But they also note that a Clinton campaign free of Lieberman’s visage may in fact give her a boost with those very same progressive bloggers.

Meanwhile, an open thread on DailyKos includes a YouTube video link to a Lieberman/Lamont debate, in which Lieberman declares:

Lieberman: "I want Democrats to be back in the majority in Washington and elect a Democratic president in 2008. This man [Ned Lamont] and his supporters will frustrate and defeat our hopes of doing that."

On a disappointing note, Eschaton offers this doctored photo of Lieberman and McCain. Reminds me of when John Edwards and John Kerry brought up the sexuality of Dick Cheney’s daughter during the 2004 vice presidential debate, showing that while Democrats are certainly the more supportive party of LGBT rights, some are still not above gutter politics when looking for an opening to attack their opponents. And if you think that’s hyperbole, check out the comment thread.