Senator Joe Lieberman, once the vice-presidential nominee for the Democrat party, is joining Repbulican efforts to block a public option provision in the senate's version of healthcare reform. Republicans need 41 votes to keep the healthcare reform bill from being voted on in the senate. They have 40. Lieberman would be 41.

Considering support for the public option is over 60% in Lieberman's home state of Connecticut, his decision to not allow the bill to be voted on can only be seen as political.

However, Considering Joe's wife is a lobbyist for Hill & Knowlton, health insurance giant CIGNA has it's corporate offices in Bloomfield, CT and Joseph Lieberman is one of the biggest whores for health industry money, his decision should also be seen as financial.

Also of note is Senator Lieberman's previous stance on fillibusters - He didn't like them. So much in fact that he voted to end the practice permanently.

I think Lieberman can kiss his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee goodbye.