Good Joe or bad Joe?

Democrats are pondering their options with rogue Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent, but the fact that the final results in three Senate races might not be known for weeks has tied their hands.

Sen. Lieberman, you'll recall, incurred the wrath of liberal Democrats for supporting the president on Iraq. His own party apparatus embraced a challenge against him in his 2006 re-election primary. After losing that battle, Sen. Lieberman entered the race as an independent and kept his seat.

Back in Washington, Sen. Lieberman continued to caucus with the Democrats and kept his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. But when the 2008 presidential election hit its stride, he endorsed Republican Sen. John McCain.

Now reveling in their Tuesday triumph, Democrats want their revenge. But ...

With three Senate races still undecided, Democrats hold a 57-40 edge in the upper chamber. If they win all three -- Minnesota, Alaska and Georgia -- they reach a filibuster-proof majority of 60. But that number assumes Sen. Lieberman continues to side with the Democrats.

It's likely that at least one of the three outstanding races, if not all of them, will end up in the GOP category -- meaning Democrats will be free to kick Sen. Lieberman to the curb. But until that happens, don't expect Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to recommend too harsh a punishment for his Connecticut colleague.