Senator Joe Lieberman has apparently decided that he has irritated Democrats long enough and will announce tomorrow that he won’t seek reelection in 2012. While he did help accomplish some progressive goals, such as the recent repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, it’s difficult to forgive him for the shenanigans he pulled during the Senate debate of the health care bill. The final version of the law probably would have included a strong public option if he hadn’t threatened to take his ball and go home. Then again, he wasn’t the only Democratic senator to extract a pound of flesh in exchange for their vote on the bill. Lieberman just seemed to be motivated by spite more than anything.
Of course, this means that Jon Stewart has only a couple years to refine his Droopy Dog impersonation of the distinguished senator from Connecticut.
Don’t forget though that the insurance industry is the largest industry in Connecticut, which probably factored into his decision on the health care bill. Much like Joe Biden made some pretty anti-Democratic votes when it came to the banking and credit industries.
Lieberman is probably the reason why Bush’s crimes were never very forcefully investigated, however, which I consider pretty unforgivable.