King is in! Angus King (I-ME) to run for Snowe's seat.

[redcommander]

It would be pretty cool if we consistently had at least 2 independents in the Senate for 12 years (and at least one for 18).

I have often wondered why those two independents don't just start their own caucus. Do the Senate rules contain a provision explicitly stating that you must have x number of members before you found a new caucus?

Because one is a centrist and the other is the most far left guy in the Senate.

Well, yeah, but wouldn't it make a statement about "bipartisanship" and "independent thinking" and all that?

Bernie Sanders isn't an independent because he beleives in bipartisanship. He is an indy because he thinks the Dem are GOP lite. Lieberman is an indy because he was GOP lite and the base got tired of that. Plus they would probably disagree on foreign policy, quite a lot.

^^^^^^^^^^^
This. Plus he realizes it would be catastrophic for the Dems if were representing Vermont as an official member of the Progressive Party. It's more a political statement on Sanders's part for him to be an independent, than trying to harm the Democrats' political image like Lieberman has.

[redcommander]

Leans Democratic to Toss Up.

[redcommander]

Safe Independent.

I doubt the GOP's candidate will be strong enough to win a three-way race like LePage did.

The man hasn't won an election since 1998. It's anything but safe.

[redcommander]

Patty Murray doesn't rule out backing King.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/214425-top-senate-dem-doesnt-rule-out-backing-independent-ex-gov-in-maine

Just what Democrats need. Another Lierberman.

[redcommander]

How is he another Lieberman?

I guess because he's not a real Democrat, which still makes it a stretch to assume that he's a troll whose primary focus is to go out of his way to damage the Democratic Party.

King didn't endorse McCain/Palin either.

He endorsed Bush. That's even worse.

[redcommander]

How is he another Lieberman?

I guess because he's not a real Democrat, which still makes it a stretch to assume that he's a troll whose primary focus is to go out of his way to damage the Democratic Party.

King didn't endorse McCain/Palin either.

He endorsed Bush. That's even worse.

What? No it's not. He endorsed Bush in 2000. A lot of the following political alignment and discourse have been products of Bush's first term. Bush's 2000 run among other things trumpeted a 'humble' foreign policy, for instance...

His foreign policy was only one aspect of his platform though. Bush was still very much a social conservative in 2000.