First off, the DNC pussy-footed around this issue considering that joe kept his coveted chairmanship. I'm a progressive dem, so this enrages me for a number of reasons.

a) Lieberman wouldn't have gone over the fence, regardless of his threats. He votes with the dems on a majority of issues, its only on important things such as the Iraq war and investigating Katrina that he's been in W's pocket. Any time George wanted to reach across the aisle, there was Joe. Remember? http://blog.reidreport.com/uploaded_...9_o-727655.jpg
Be honest with yourself, if he switched parties, would the repub's put up with him bucking the party line like he has? Not a chance.

b) he's not a democrat. When defeated by Ned Lamont in the democratic primary (no small feat, look it up), he ran as an Independent. Now, when the country is obviously looking for change from the last 8 years, why would you continue to allow a bush stooge to chair one of the most important committees in the senate. Add in point A, and the fact that he has the gall to threaten his supposed party if they don't comply with his demands, and this forms the recipe for compliance.

c) he actively campaigned against the party. When the McCain/Palin rallies were hitting their lowest, most racist moments, there was Joe standing with them on stage lashing out against Obama. Not just did he fight the democrats in the presidential race, he also cast his support for a couple republican senate hopefuls as well. Is that how the democratic party is rewarding betrayal these day?

I'll add a few more when I'm not as inebriated as I am at the moment. Instead, I'll just throw in a fun movie to illustrate my point. *Bonus points anyone who notices the clear respect Joe has for Harry Reid in this clip* [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImwJ8dLAHpU[/YOUTUBE]