They're all Democrats. And they've all come to the same conclusion…

With the 2010 election year barely under way, two senators and one governor – all Democrats – ditched plans to run for re-election in the latest signs of trouble for President Barack Obama's party.

Taken together, the decisions by Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota as well as Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter caused another bout of heartburn for Democrats as they struggle to defend themselves in a sour political environment for incumbents, particularly the party in charge.

As 2009 ended, Democrats watched a string of their House members announce retirements and one congressman defect to the GOP.

Now, with Dodd, Dorgan and Ritter out, Republicans have even more to crow about, if not better opportunities to pick up Democratic-held seats.

Trouble? Heartburn? Sour? This is so typical of media spin. Look, these guys aren't "ditching" anything. They're just passing the ball! They know exactly when to pass the ball so the team can win.

[O]n Monday night, Democratic senators emerged from a tense 90-minute closed-door session and suggested that they were on the verge of bowing to Mr. Lieberman's main demands: that they scrap a plan to let people buy into Medicare beginning at age 55, and scotch even a fallback version of a new government-run health insurance plan, or public option.

Yes, but the important thing is that Joe Lieberman is important, and being important is so important to Joe Lieberman…

Mr. Lieberman could not be happier. He is right where he wants to be — at the center of the political aisle, the center of the Democrats' efforts to win 60 votes for their sweeping health care legislation. For the moment, he is at the center of everything — and he loves it.

"My wife said to me, 'Why do you always end up being the point person here?' " he said, flashing a broad grin in an interview on Monday.

"Point person." That must be Connecticutian* for "d-bag."

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^{* Fun fact: There is no actual word for residents of Connecticut, but as soon as they stop electing Joe Lieberman, we can refer to them as "heroes."}

It may be hard to remember, but Lieberman wasn't always the pariah of the Democratic Party. There was a time — back at the beginning of this interminably long decade — when he was one of its more honored sons. But much has happened since then.

Let's follow the rise and fall of Joe Lieberman, through the lens of The Daily Show's video cameras…

Part One, in which our hero is elected the first Jewish vice president of the United States, has the honor unceremoniously ripped from his grasp, and picks up the pieces of his political life to strive for a more august goal. (Part Two is here.)

August 17, 2000: Indecision 2000 – Yiddish Analysis

The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm / 10c.

September 14, 2000: Interview

December 14, 2000: Back in Black – Transition

July 25, 2001: Interview

January 14, 2003: Least Electable Ticket

January 16, 2003: Interview

Read Part Two of The Daily Show Follows the Rise and Fall of Joe Lieberman, in which our hero faces a string of public humiliations, bitterness sets in, and he finds a new set of friends from across the aisle.

Part Two, in which our hero faces a string of public humiliations, is cast aside by his own party, looks for comfort in the arms of a man from the wrong side of the aisle, and ultimately returns home — beaten and broken — with a hardened heart.

December 9, 2003: Gore Endorses Dean

The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm / 10c.

January 28, 2004: Primary Winners and Losers

January 20, 2005: Joe Lieberman

August 9, 2006: No-Mentum

September 3, 2008: John McCain: The Person He Is

November 19, 2008: Does That Get Me Fired?

Senator Joseph Lieberman's (I-Conn) threat to filibuster health care legislation that includes a public option for insurance coverage has sent minor shock-waves throughout Washington…

Fifteen years ago, as a freshman Democrat, Lieberman actually worked to have the filibuster killed. He deemed the parliamentary maneuver "a dinosaur" that had become "a symbol of a lot that ails Washington today."

Fifteen years ago, I thought U2 was one of the best bands in music history. Fifteen years ago, I thought modeling my hair off of Robert Smith from The Cure was a really good idea. Fifteen years ago, I thought the cheeseburgers at McDonald's were not all that bad.

People change their minds about things sometimes over the course of a decade and a half. It happens. Calm down.

That said, Joe Lieberman should fall off a cliff and land in the mouth of an exploding shark and then they should both get sucked into a black hole. I'm just sayin'.

Sounding more like an independent than a Democrat, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., tells ABC News he will campaign for some Republican candidates during the 2010 midterm elections and may not seek the Democratic Senate nomination when he runs for re-election in 2012.

"I probably will support some Republican candidates for Congress or Senate in the election in 2010. I'm going to call them as I see them," Lieberman said.

Great idea.

I think the rest of the world should follow Joe's lead on that and start calling him — what was it again? I know I read it somewhere… oh yes. "Joe Lieberman, milquetoast douchebag."

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday that he'd back a GOP filibuster of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care reform bill…

"We're trying to do too much at once," Lieberman said. "To put this government-created insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayers, for the premium payers and for the national debt. I don't think we need it now."

Lieberman added that he'd vote against a public option plan "even with an opt-out because it still creates a whole new government entitlement program for which taxpayers will be on the line."

I'm really surprised to see Lieberman acting like this after Barack Obama, Harry Reid and all the other Senate Democrats went to all that trouble to show him that he would never, ever have to face any consequences for any of his bad behavior.

I'm just completely flummoxed over this.

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^{* Yes, I know he's technically independent, but he still caucuses with the Democrats. And you'd better believe he's gonna be calling himself a Democrat while campaigning around Connecticut for re-election in 2012.}

Okay, this is funny and all, but I've been to Connecticut. I used to date a girl who lived in Connecticut. And this is literally all there is to do in that state.

That's why I think this is the best news I've heard since Mr. America unmasked himself and revealed that he was actually Hulk Hogan in disguise*…

Linda McMahon, the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment [and wife of Vince McMahon], is weighing a run as a Republican against Sen. Chris Dodd (D) in Connecticut in 2010. A source close to McMahon said that she is "seriously considering" the race and touted her as a serious candidate based on a resume that includes leading a $1 billion publicly traded company based in Stamford, Conn.

The source also noted that McMahon would be willing and able to spend significant sums on the race, an x-factor that could make her competitive in a primary against former representative Rob Simmons, former ambassador Tom Foley and state Sen. Sam Caliguri.

Well, at any rate, this would make the debating process a lot more interesting. And I wouldn't count of Dodd just yet.

I mean, have you seen his head? I'll bet he can withstand a good four or five blows from folding chairs and still pick himself back up again.

_{* Or something. I have no idea what I'm talking about. The last time I watched wrestling, the Iron Sheik was a major player.}

The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm / 10c.

The couple famously let the ex-mayor crash at their luxury $2.37 million three-bedroom Manhattan apartment while he was going through a nasty divorce with Donna Hanover in 2001. Later, Giuliani married the "other woman," Judith Nathan.

"Rudy and Judith were both invited with a beautiful written invitation by mail," said Koeppel. "His secretary called Thursday and said he was not able to come to the wedding and wished us all the best."

All the best… with one small exception…

Giuliani has stated he has no problem with civil unions but told The Post he'd speak out against gay marriage if he runs for governor.

I guess what he really wishes them is a separate but equal best with similar privileges but a distinct, non-threatening definition.

The latest DailyKos/Research 2000 poll in Connecticut finds that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) is the most unpopular politician in the state, with 54% viewing him unfavorably.

It's important to remember, though, that they were only polling for the popularity of politicians.

Where Lieberman's popularity lies amongst fellow Connecticutians, fellow vertibrates and fellow half-human/half-basset hybrid species remains completely up in the air.

Now, if you had to guess, would you say that him being the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs would help or hinder his chances.

You guessed "hinder," right? I'm sure you guessed hinder…

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., trailing by one percentage point (43-42) behind a potential Republican challenger… Dodd also has a low approval rating; at 49 percent approval, he's below the 50 percent threshold where incumbents are no longer considered safe.

Still, poll director Douglas Schwartz said in a release accompanying the results, there was one bright spot for the senator. "The good news for Dodd is that this is the first poll in a long time where Dodd's job approval hasn't dropped. It appears that Dodd's slide may have ended," Schwartz said.

How quickly political fortunes change. It was just a little more than a year ago when Chris Dodd made it almost a full day a viable(ish) presidential candidate.

* The Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes won't do your research for you. Hey, he won't even do his own research for himself!

* If you think the Bernie Madoff scandal makes you sick now, wait till you experience it in musical form.

* Facebook group "1,000,000 Strong to Strip the Mormon Church of its Tax Exempt Status" only short by about 9,995,000 members or so.

* Reason mag looks into President Obama's War on the Economy.

* Joe Lieberman, just as popular in his home state as you'd expect him to be.

* I almost wrote that Governor Schwarzenegger was planning to terminate thousands of jobs, but then I thought better of it.

In a speech at the Brookings Institute on Thursday, Sen. Joseph Lieberman praised the new commander-in-chief for his commitment to deploying more armed forces to Afghanistan, saying he was confident in Obama's position and the team charged with its execution.

"He has made it very clear that this is a war he intends to win and he has moved swiftly to take command of it. He has not wavered in his pledge to deploy more troops to the region. In fact, the first new brigade combat team is deploying there right now," said the Connecticut independent.

Oh, god! It's even worse than I thought.

Lieberman actually approves. That can't be good for anybody.

Forty-two percent of those surveyed said Lieberman's support for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) during the presidential election made them think less favorably of him; 43 percent of voters said it made no difference. 30 percent of those who supported Lieberman in his 2006 general election said they would now vote for someone other than Lieberman if the election were held again today.

Not to worry though. I'm sure Lieberman has a plan to turn things around with the voters. All he's got to do is show off some of his trademark good judgment.

Maybe he'll back Rod Blagojevich for President or support an invasion of Canada or introduce a bill to ban ice cream.

At least I'm assuming that's what happened, because surely there's no way that Dodd heard colleague Joe Lieberman (I-CT) rip Barack Obama, leaving open the question that he might be a Marxist Muslim, while simultaneously burying his face halfway up Sarah Palin's $150,000 miniskirt.

All I'm saying is no one who witnessed all that could possibly be shepherding Lieberman past angry Senate Democrats without incurring so much as a censure or loss of committee chairmanship, right?

No, seriously Roll Call… I said right??

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) acknowledged today that he is working behind the scenes to broker a deal that would keep his home-state colleague, Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.), in the Democratic caucus, and possibly avoid taking away Lieberman’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel.

“I’m working with the leaders, and others, and Joe to see if we can’t come to some agreement or understanding that would allow Joe to come back to our caucus to be an active member,” said Dodd.

What could explain this? Perhaps it's that when Dodd looks hard at his colleague from Connecticut, he sees a lot of himself staring back. And it is true that both men…

* Face widespread disapproval in their home state.

* Moved out of Connecticut as primary election stunts, with Lieberman moving to New Hampshire and Dodd to Iowa.

* Lost said primaries miserably.

* Declared a "three-way split decision for third" despite actually finishing fifth. Oh wait, that was only Lieberman.

* Finished behind "Undecided" in Iowa. Oh wait, that was only Dodd.

Well whatever the reason may be, it's clear that Dodd wants his state-mate at his side when the Democrats re-caucus in January. And it's because Dodd is loyal and sees Lieberman as an ally on economic and social issues.

And also because he doesn't want to inherit the unfortunate distinction of Democrat with the largest jowls.

A 4-year legal battle for same-sex marriage in Connecticut came to an end this morning in a New Haven courtroom when Superior Court Judge Jonathan E. Silbert signed an order paving the way to couples to get their licenses…

"We…think about the heartbreaking vote in California, knowing that a justice movement is not won or lost by one case or one vote," said Bennett Klein, an attorney with the Boston-based Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, which litigated the case. "Today Connecticut sends a message of hope and promise to lesbian and gay people throughout the country who want to be treated as equal citizens by their government."

The crossing trajectories of the two states is puzzling, since California's Proposition 8 vote was clearly the greatest proof of God's existence since he sent His Son to revisit Earth as a Cheeto.

But now we turn around and find that Connecticut has been seized by Lucifer and Bette Midler. Which begs the question: What on earth has gotten into God? Gay marriage is already legal in neighboring Massachusetts. And Vermont and New Hampshire have civil unions. Is the plan to just surround Mitt Romney from all sides until he cries "uncle" and marries Tom Brady?

Actually, ol' Mitt won't get to spend much time staring down gay marriage in New England. His appointment calendar already has him spending most of the next four years in Iowa.

Sen. Joe Lieberman's affiliation with Democrats was in question after a meeting Thursday with Majority Leader Harry Reid, steamed over the Connecticut independent's high-profile support of John McCain for president.

Reid, in a sternly worded statement after the 45-minute meeting, said no official decisions have been made. But an aide to the Nevada Democrat said Reid was leaning toward removing Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential.

"While I understand that Sen. Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our caucus," Reid said.

Imagine Lieberman's humiliation. If he stays with the Democrats, he will be majorly demerited; if he joins the Republicans he will be in a party very much out of power. This must be the most embarrassing moment of his political career.

No, wait — actually that would be when he lost his own party's primary for the Senate seat he had held for 18 years and was forced to run as an independent while all his Democratic colleagues backed his opponent.

Actually, wait — maybe it was when he drove around New Hampshire for months in 2003 and 2004 in a red, white and blue hearse before suffering an embarrassing loss in the state's presidential primary.

OK, last one — the man locked lips with George Bush.

And I'm done.

A. They each feature(d) across-the-board Democratic representation.

The last Republican to fall in New England?  Connecticut's Chris Shays…

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays has lost his bid for an 11th term in Congress.

Shays, who is the last New England Republican in the House of Representatives, lost to former Greenwich businessman Jim Himes.

With 40 percent of votes counted, Himes won 60 percent to 39 percent.

Also Carol Shea-Porter held off her Republican challenger in right-of-center New Hampshire.

To repeat, that gives us a net total of zero Republicans left in New England's Congressional delegation.  Just like the old South.

Now to be fair, a lot has changed; the Southern Democrats hated Abraham Lincoln, not George W. Bush.  And you don't often hear New Englanders muse about "rising again."

But politics makes strange bedfellows.