Senators Pitch Regional Primary Days

John McCain hopes he becomes defense secretary

(NEWSER) - Joe Lieberman today confirmed what everybody knew: He's not running for Senate re-election in 2012. Some quotes from the Connecticut independent's news conference, as collected by the Washington Post :

• "Along the way, I have not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes—maybe you've noticed that—Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. I have always thought that my first responsibility is not to serve a political party but to serve my constituents, my state, and my country, and then to work across party lines to make sure good things get done for them."
• "The politics of President Kennedy—patriotic service to country, support of civil rights and social justice, pro-growth economic and tax policies, and a strong national defense—are still my politics. So maybe that means that JFK wouldn't fit into any of today's partisan political boxes neatly."

Independent will make it official tomorrow

(NEWSER) - Joe Lieberman has decided not to run for re-election in 2012, a slew of media outlets are reporting. The Democrat-turned-independent will announce his plans tomorrow. A spokesman wouldn't confirm the decision to retire: "After many thoughtful conversations with family and friends over the last several months, Senator Lieberman made a decision about his future over the holidays which he plans to announce on Wednesday." More»

Don't expect formal candidates until February at the earliest

(NEWSER) - Five Republicans had filed to run for the presidential nomination at this time four years ago; right now, there isn’t one. We can’t expect any formal declarations until February at the earliest, reports the Wall Street Journal . Why? For one thing, the first primaries won’t happen until a month later than they did in 2008. Plus, an RNC ruling requires any winner-take-all contests to take place later in the calendar year, possibly April. More»

Comment may be dig at Minn. freshman, who shut down Lieberman

(NEWSER) - Chris Dodd battled a perceived lack of decorum in the Senate yesterday with some stern language from the floor. The Connecticut Democrat did not name names but rather cryptically chastised the Senate’s “newer members” for failing “to understand how the Senate has worked for more than two centuries” during the course of the health care debate. Most “newer members” are Democrats. More»

He hasn't changed, DC has; it's way too polarized

(NEWSER) - The standard vitriol against Joe Lieberman goes something like this: He's angry over losing the Democratic primary in 2006 and now is taking it out on liberals by shifting to the right on health care reform. "The narrative is as satisfying as it is pervasive," writes Dana Milbank. "It's also wrong." Lieberman—or "Liebermonster," in the eyes of critics—hasn't changed. "He's the same old Joe who has been sticking it to Democrats on high-profile issues for two decades," writes Milbank in the Washington Post . More»