Lieberman declines

I think that this was the right thing to do.

(CNN) -- Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman has twice in recent days said "no" when approached about the possibility of a major job in the second Bush administration, CNN has learned.

The Cabinet vacancy at the Department of Homeland Security was the subject of the latest overture, according to congressional and other government sources. Those sources said the earlier overture was to see whether Lieberman might be interested in becoming the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

I'm in favor of some moderate Democrats in the Cabinet. But if Lieberman took a post, a Republican governor in Connecticut would appoint a Republican to take his spot in the Senate, and, in my judgment, the powers of government are unbalanced enough already. The Senate and, in particular, the filibuster are the only things that really stand in the way of any Republican efforts at cramdown legislation.