Reply #51: That (and the fact that he's new enough not to be part of the "keep the powder dry" brigade)...

[JHB]

...is why I'm not openly moaning and groaning over his picks. I'll keep pushing for progressive action, but not outright criticize.

But I won't BELEIVE he's such a shrewd operator until he actually pulls it off (or more to the point, pulls it off against the Republicans and conservatives; beating Clinton was no small beans, but the Big Fight still remains to be fought). When Lieberman either behaves or gets booted, when we get policy changes that provide concrete measures to support the middle and working classes and the poor (not just token measures to disguise bigger giveaways to the rich), THEN I'll buy you a drink and say "well, you were right."

Yes, I know I'm cynical, but I heard some of the very same words you've written before, often repeatedly. Suffice to say the talk has always been bigger than the action.