The question’s no longer whether Joementum’s going to split with the Democrats. It’s whether he’s going to do it in dramatic fashion during his speech to the Republican convention or whether he’ll leave it to Reid to push him out by stripping him of his committee assignments. After this, I wonder if Reid can afford to wait even a few extra weeks:

Mr. Lieberman, the Connecticut Independent who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, made the remark as he used his introduction of Mr. McCain to deliver a harsh assessment of Mr. Obama without mentioning his name.

“In my opinion, the choice could not be more clear: between one candidate, John McCain, who’s had experience, been tested in war and tried in peace, another candidate who has not,’’ Mr. Lieberman said. “Between one candidate, John McCain, who has always put the country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate who has not. Between one candidate who’s a talker, and the other candidate who’s the leader America needs as our next candidate.’’

Lest you still doubt whether Liebs will in fact be in St. Paul despite the heavy-handed hints he’s been dropping to reporters, the theme of the convention leaked out today right around the time he was accusing Obama of not putting the country first. The theme: “Putting Country First.” Oh, and his wife Hadassah coincidentally will be a guest at a breast cancer fundraiser organized in St. Paul by a Republican group on the first day of the convention.

Can’t wait for his and Obama’s next run-in on the Senate floor. Exit question: If you’re Reid, do you take his assignments away now or chance having him take the stage with a national audience and tell the Democrats, “You can’t fire me, I quit”? You don’t want to antagonize him before he speaks, but since he’s already taken the gloves off, why not cast him out beforehand? Or will that backfire by letting him use his speech to play the victim shunned by a party establishment that can’t tolerate dissent within its own ranks?