I don't remember seeing this level of outrage from movement progressives before, and I wonder if the only possible way to quell it is to secure Snowe's vote for reform and then remove Lieberman from his chairmanship. I'm not necessarily advocating that, but many people (including many on the Hill) believe that he is playing us for chumps (not waiting for the CBO score of the Medicare buy-in, opposing something he advocated a couple of months ago), and there need to be consequences.
Nice to know that they have noticed. This staffer goes on rather weepily and inevitably to genuflect in the direction of how "[i]t's not an easy decision, though, and I don't envy Reid." Boo hoo, screw millions of Americans, kissy kissy Holy Joe, blah blah blah blah.
UPDATE: In a piece I've seen published in several good places, among them here, R.J. Eskow makes a number of very sensible points, one that is especially important to keep in mind given the rage that provoked this particular post of mine, among a bazillion like it I've read today:
I'm no Lieberman defender, but the President and Harry Reid need to be held accountable for the bill. It's too easy to use Lieberman as the "bad cop." You don't get to play that card until you've put real pressure on him.
Progressives should also consider the real-life consequences of caving in to Lieberman's demands. Surrender will embolden Ben Nelson to become the next holdout, so he can slash away at a woman's right to choose. [He's already making noises to this effect, actually -- d] The most practical way to end the threats is to draw the line now. The Senate has a hostage crisis[.]
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