According to a new poll, Independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman is suffering from a 38% approval rating in his home state, the lowest rating Zell Miller 2.0 has ever received.

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.

Ten thousand independently-minded Virginians have had their say, and it has come to pass that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Texas Representative Ron Paul will appear on the presidential ballot in their state (which, last time I checked, falls only 257 electoral votes short of those needed for a candidate to win).

Somebody should probably get around to telling Bloomberg and Paul…

This past week, however, a small but potentially significant ripple was introduced to that equation. On Friday, under the radar, the Independent Green Party of Virginia successfully gathered enough signatures to put New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's name on the presidential ballot.

They did it all without the mayor's knowledge or consent. Moreover, they wrote in as his number two Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a hero to an impassioned group of libertarians, online activists, and U.S. foreign policy critics…

"Indy Greens started the presidential petition drive on January 1, 2008 in Independence, Virginia," explained Carey Campbell, chairman of the party. "Eight months, 15 days later, the cake is baked. The deed is done. We're happy hillbillies."

Isn't this just typical?

I mean, what is the deal with hillbillies and their obsession with short, femmey, disgustingly rich New York Jews?

In 1992, multi-gazillionaire H. Ross Perot bought his way into mainstream politics, running as an independent against incumbent Republican George H.W. Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton, and purchasing half-hour blocks of time on television to air his campaign infomercials.

Because Perot's platform was fiscally conservative and socially liberal, he managed to woo voters who were disgusted with both major parties. Despite receiving no electoral votes, he took in nearly 19% of the popular vote, though it's not known what percentage actually believed they were purchasing rotisserie ovens.

Perot tried again in 1996 for the Reform Party, to less spectacular results. Today, he is mostly remembered for the size of his ears.