Q: When is a "Democrat" not a Democrat?

A: When he's a "petitioning Democrat."

From the Hartford [CT] Courant's web site, although you can read steady updates at AmericaBlog, FireDogLake, Eschaton, and DailyKOS, among many many other places:

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman announced today he will petition for a place on the November ballot as an "independent Democrat," giving him a chance to stay alive politically should he lose an Aug. 8 primary for the Democratic nomination.

Lieberman, 64, a three-term senator whose outspoken support of the war in Iraq has brought months of grief and inspired a strong primary challenge from Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, announced his decision this afternoon at a brief press conference at the State Capitol.

I'll admit it; I was pissed at Al Gore for a long time after the 2000 election. I thought he ran a wavering campaign, I thought he should have exploited Bill Clinton's popularity and fund-raising prowess for everthing it was worth, and I thought his recount endgame seemed to indicate he didn't want the Presidency all that badly.

I've mellowed since then. It's hard to remember it now, but Nader's Green Party candidacy brought some value to the campaign--although his "no difference between Republicans and Democrats" finish was deplorably foolish, and bought him the obscurity he now so richly deserves. Also, after 6 years of having my head held underwater by Bob Somerby, I get it that I greatly underappreciated how much of Gore's problem was a hostile and dismissive media.

And Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" penance has also gone a long way toward clearing his slate.

But there's still one thing Al has yet to atone for: He elevated Joe Lieberman to national notice, largely because--oh, how he began as he planned to continue--Joe was the first Democrat to publicly attack Clinton during Monicagate. If not for Gore, Lieberman would have no national cred that he could barter with the Bush Administration to play his self-flattering role as "moderate" "deal maker."

Sorry, Al--but you still have to answer for Joe.

A good start might be a heart-to-heart with your erstwhile running mate on the virtues of party loyalty and the dignity of accepting the will of one's constituents.