IMO Obama has created a long-term strategy for success. Instead of savoring the short-term satisfaction of his newfound power (like a kid eating every piece of candy in his Halloween bag who will only become sick later) Obama has decided to savor one or two pieces of candy and put the rest away, to savor later. Obama understands that he has many enemies out there (and right radio doesn't help the country at all) and knows he needs as many friends as possible, even if it means forgoing instant gratification (banishing Lieberman) at this moment. Obama will need Joe Lieberman in the future. If Lieberman were to be ostracized now then Lieberman would not be of much use to Obama and the Dems in the future. It's a more sophisticated view of politics than the, “Let's reward our friends and hurt those he didn't help us.” We've all seen where that kind of politics lead.

It will be interesting to see if the rest of the Senate Dems decide to keep Lieberman in the caucus, and if they do, what (if any) punishment (such as stripping him of his DHS chair) is meted out.

What good would the U.S. Senate Mossad agent (CODENAME: LIEBERMAN) do in Israel?

So it can be said his soul is for sale. The old saying “keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer” may be what Obama is thinking when he considers keeping Lieberman around?

Of course, compromising one's moral fiber for cash seems to be a common malady around DC. I'd like to see lobbying made illegal. The only pressure brought to bear on Congresspeople should be from the throngs of their constituents and never any special business interest. In case it escaped anyone's attention, we are in the mess we are in today because of special-interest lobbying.

The big offenders? BigOil, BigInsurance, and BigPharmaceuticals. They kept us from developing alternative energy and affordable workers and almost brought our country to an end, effectively..