(DEAN BARNETT HERE)

You’ve got more questions, I’ve got more answers.

1) Will Lieberman stay in the race?

Yes, as long as he thinks he has a chance to win which as of this morning he definitely does.

2) But isn’t there a chance that he was just bluffing about running as an independent?.

No. Come on people, work with me here. Why would he make a bluff that would just engender hostility among Democrats, thereby making victory in the Democratic primary less likely, if he considered the Democratic primary the last stop of his campaign?

3) Well, he is after all a Democrat and he did once hitch his wagon to Al Gore’s star.

Good points. But still, he’s running, until hopes of victory become unrealistic.

4) But won’t Harry Reid et al. prevail upon him to drop out for the good of the party?

Has Lieberman struck you as being overly preoccupied with the sentiments of Harry Reid the past two years? By the way, Lieberman, if he’s smart, will try to position himself as an independent maverick who’s just being a patriot – a man who cares more about his country than his party. Sort of a Jewish John McCain if you will.

5) How are the Nutroots this morning?

Very happy. I get the sense that they’re a lot like we Red Sox fans were after the Sox won the World Series; part of them just can’t believe it’s real. The only difference is for the Nutroots, it may not be real. The Red Sox didn’t have to play another World Series three months later to keep their rings. Lamont does.

6) So you think Lamont might lose in November?

No. The Sore-Loserman thing will be too much for Joe to overcome. He’ll be way ahead in the first polls that will come out in the next ten days. By Labor Day, he’ll be losing and by Columbus Day (a really big holiday in Boston – forgive the obscure reference) he’ll drop out.

7) So he’ll move on to become Secretary of Defense?

No. He will join the Bush cabinet, but Lieberman is not qualified to be a wartime Pentagon chief. Rumsfeld served in the military and has been a uniquely insightful decades-long student of military matter. Besides, not that it should matter, but it does – this would be a really lousy time to have a Jewish Secretary of Defense.

8) It sounds like you still really like Rumsfeld?

I do. But let’s try to stay on topic.

9) Has the Lamont campaign and its blogging abettors that Lamont knows nothing about made any mistakes yet?

Yes. I didn’t see Lamont’s victory speech live, being stuck in the emergency room where the TV wasn’t working and all, but thanks to this miraculous collection of tubes and whoosie-whatsies known as the internets, I was able to watch it at Allah’s place. I don’t think the image of the candidate leading a “bring them home” chant, flanked by the “Reverends” Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson while his adoring supporters wave the peace sign is a picture that will resonate with either the Nutmeg State or the nation at large.

Also, I would be remiss if I did not note Kos’ tactical error. Instead of trying to publicly bully Lieberman from the race as he does in this post here, the proper stance for Lamont backers regarding a November rematch should be indifference. They should affect an attitude that says, “We beat him once, we’ll beat him again.” But all the blustering makes it looks like they’re afraid.

Which they are. They shouldn’t be, but they are.

10) What’s the most ridiculous thing Kos wrote about the race so far?

Glad you asked. He wrote, “I will help in whatever way I can the Democratic nominee from the Great State of Connecticut.”

Connecticut is not a great state; it’s a mediocre state at best. No pro sports teams, its largest city is a cultural abyss and it’s got Yale. And what kind of nickname is the Nutmeg State? Nutmeg is a spice, for crying out loud. Are there any other states that have chosen to name themselves after a spice? Would West Virginia consider calling itself the Garlic Powder State or Colorado the Cumin State?

11) How will Ned Lamont fit in with the Democratic caucus?

Let’s see – a multi-zillionaire faux-populist who inherited his money. Sounds like he’ll be a real outlier.

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