I'm looking back at Stuart Rothenberg's article from Roll Call, titled "Challenge to Lieberman Shows What's Wrong With Politics," where he laments Ned Lamont's primary challenge to Joe Lieberman. Here's a bit from the middle, to give you an idea of the flavor of the piece:
Lieberman's crime is that he hasn't always toed the party line.He's decided for himself what's right and wrong, even — and here is themost shocking thing — used his own values, judgment and intellect todecide where he stands on issues and how he'll vote.
It's a typical sentiment among inside-the-beltway journalists like Rothenberg who make their living providing nonpartisan political commentary. These are the same people who adore John McCain for his infrequent but high-profile departures from Republican orthodoxy and shower positive attention on any politician who criticizes his own party.
