Lieberman is not the change we need

Can you imagine how nice it would be to hear these words coming from Harry Reid's lips next week?

The American public voted for change, and we think Joe understands that, and we have to respond to that vote. So we hope Joe helps us achieve that change in his new role within the Democratic caucus.

The problem with Joe Lieberman is not just that he spent 2008 trashing Barack Obama and the Democratic Party -- it's that he did so to maintain the status quo, particularly on Iraq and national security policy.

And he lost.

Voters overwhelmingly rejected Lieberman's "stay the course" mantra, not just on the national level, but also in his home state of Connecticut, which Obama won by 23 points, up from Kerry's 10-point margin in 2004.

Now, despite this thorough rejection of Lieberman's ideas, Senate Democrats are asked to reward him with the chairmanship of the homeland security committee.

This should not be a tough decision.

After winning a mandate for change, why in the world would Senate Democrats choose a defender of the old guard to be one of their chief spokesmen and policymakers? Aren't elections supposed to have consequences?

Nobody is saying Joe Lieberman ought to be excommunicated. But the public voted for change, and they deserve to get it.

Next week, Senate Democrats should listen to the voters. The time for change has arrived.