Lamont as governor, then challenging Lieberman for the Senate in 2012 would be sweet. Many fault Lieberman personally as a political opportunist, but he has been quite consistent: a generally liberal philosophy, strong personal ethics, moderate on fiscal issues, but sublimating any issue whatsoever to the policy goals of conservatives in Israel. He knows that any new major domestic spending programs are going to increase pressure on defense spending, at the same time that the American public is growing weary of war and is losing out to globalization of labor markets and inbred ineptness among the management elite of corporate America-- especially in our financial sector. I see his concern about the health care bills in this light (made a bit easier, of course, by his wife's employment in the health insurance oligopoly). In the end, just note, Lieberman has always put Israel first and will never even question whether the policies of conservative Israeli politicians might be detrimental to the long run interests of Israel. I am not a friend or foe of Israel. It is, to me, just one of several hundred other nations, albeit one of only a few operating as a theocracy, which concerns me. But, to Lieberman, Israel is special and unique, and that makes him a bad choice for voting on American policy, in my opinion.

Gotta be a first

A new poll out this morning from Quinnipiac University gives some insight. It shows Rell leading the top Democratic opponent in a hypothetical 2010 gubernatorial matchup by just six points, 46-40.

More from the poll

2010 Governor: General Election (trends) Jodi Rell* 52%, Malloy 33% Rell* 46%, Bysiewicz 40% Rell* 53%, Lamont 33% Job Approval / Disapproval Gov. Rell: 64 / 30 (chart)

Historic all right.

THe first time I believe the "spend more time with the family" excuse