WHO KNEW CONNECTICUT WOULD RULE THE DAY!

Connecticut is a very liberal place. I’ve never been there but by nearly all political standards the place leans left. But today I am thankful for the people of Connecticut. Last year in a hotly contested election where a democrat beat out Joe Lieberman’s nomination for the Senate, Joe went rough and ran as an independent and as you well know, he won handily. Joe is not a democrat, and he is well suited with the label “Independent”. The people saw his character attacked when he left the liberals camp and decided he left them for good reason.


Now Joe Lieberman is the linchpin for healthcare reform and that pin has been pulled.

Appearing for an interview on CBS, Lieberman said of the Medicare proposal: "Though I don't know exactly what's in it, from what I hear, I certainly would have a hard time voting for it because it has some of the same infirmities that the public option did. It will add taxpayer costs. It will add to the deficit. It's unnecessary,"

Lieberman expressed his opposition twice Sunday: first in the CBS interview and more strongly later in a private meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, according to those in ear-shot, which some say could have been football fields away.

Democratic aides said Joe later told Harry Reid he would support a Republican-led filibuster against the bill if it contained the Medicare provision or permitted the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies.

Those same aides added that Lieberman had responded differently last week when Reid asked him privately about the proposed Medicare provision. "He voiced support for the idea," said one official. Lieberman's public comments last week were also generally favorable.

Though this could cause Democrats to oust Joe form his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, a post he holds at the pleasure of the Democratic-controlled Senate, I don't thing Joe is concerned, and indeed they may toss him out. But I have a feeling Joe would be rewarded in a backhanded way. I feel Republicans would be happy to give Joe a chairmanship after the 2010 election. I say that confidently because for two reasons:

1. The Democrats are going to lose the Senate. In a story today in The Washington Times, things are starting to fall apart for liberals. “Not to steal one of President Obama's favorite words, but in Illinois and Delaware, Republicans have a truly historic opportunity to win both the president and vice president's Senate seats, and we're fortunate to have the strongest possible candidates already in the race," said Brian Walsh, chief spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "There is still a long way to go until the election, and we certainly expect polls will fluctuate, but it's clear that even in traditionally blue states, voters are demanding accountability and want to restore checks and balances in Washington," Mr. Walsh said.

In Illinois, where Democrats are still reeling from an explosive "pay to play" corruption scandal that led to the arrest and impeachment of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, five-term Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, the expected Republican nominee, is running for Mr. Obama's seat. The Democratic front-runner is state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, whom an opposing Democratic campaign adviser calls a "deeply flawed" candidate.

Illinois Republican leaders have been pounding Democrats for widespread corruption in the state's government, noting Mr. Giannoulias' ties to real estate developer and Democratic fundraiser Tony Rezko, who was convicted last year of fraud and money laundering.

"His family bank, where Alexi served as an officer, made loans to Tony Rezko, who is now sitting in a penitentiary," Republican state chairman Pat Brady said.

2. Republicans always reward conservative wisdom and leadership. They also have great respect for Joe and would love to coax him to come over to the right side of the isle.

These are not the only seats in deep trouble for liberals, but they are the ones pointed to as bellwethers of what is coming.

And rest assured, change for the better, not change for changes sake, is coming!