The tireless heroes over at Firedoglake continue to hound the pathetic, petulant child posing as the senior senator from Connecticut. What a sad figure. He's rolled over for the GOP so many times he couldn't have remained a Democrat even if he'd gotten the votes to prove it. Now he's just running on empty (or stalking his ex-constituents, as the Daily Show's Samantha Bee called it), a big over-inflated ego sputtering his way into insignificance. It's the screeching noise he's making as he goes that really gets on my nerves.

The question being asked of the de-facto Republican candidate is simple: "What did you get for it, Joe?" I mean, what did they offer you in return for unequivocally backing the Bush administration, cheering when it came time to invade Iraq and remaining in deceptive denial when things went downhill or setting up a torture shop in Gitmo? You were so eager to help out when they wanted to lie about 9/11, you clapped your hands like a good little boy when Kindasleazy Rice got the nod as Secretary of State. You headed the confirmation hearing for "heckuva job" Brownie to lead FEMA; that lasted all of 42 minutes, and consisted largely of a good ol' boys pat on the shoulder. Not much background checking there, Joe. Didn't you think the victims of natural disasters like Katrina deserved better than whatever random, incompetent hack the Administration wanted to hire?

Add to that your vote for rapid neo-con Alito to the Supreme Court, your record of otherwise not showing up for votes that count, and your memorable "short ride" declaration of compassion for rape victims and it's quite clear what the voters of CT and the rest of the country got in you: bubkes. But what did you get, Joe? Some shiny toy for your retirement?

Ned Lamont has taken a clear stance on Iraq, he has some vision for moving ahead on health care and he seems to "get it" and be geniunely likeable and sincere. Joe? Not so much.