Ben Franklin, card carrying Founding Father and real life dad knows the answer to that.
William Franklin, Bens’ son was anything but a chip off the old block. As his father became one of the leaders of the American Revolution for American Independence, William remained a steadfast Loyalist even during wartime. William took up arms and oversaw guerilla raids in service to His Majesty. William chose his loyalty poorly, but was resolute to the end.
In 1782, William Franklin abandoned his native land and left for England, never to return to the new nation that his father loved so much had spent his life creating.
And how did Ben deal with his turncoat son? After the Revolutionary War had ended, he went out of his way to make sure that those who had taken up arms against the new nation be shown little mercy. And when Ben died, he left none of his considerable wealth to William, saying had his son's side been victorious there would be no wealth to give anyway.
Today Democratic Senators will ponder the fate of another rogue who chose his loyalty poorly and they would do well to remember Ben.
Suppose the map had gone the other way on November 4th, and Joe Lieberman and his new 'friends' had triumphed. Would the 'Independent' have been a tenth as gracious as the Democratic Caucus will likely be today? Would he have grown reflective on his disgusting campaign vitriol and venom (and booing) he directed at Barack Obama? Would he ponder the real value of the 'nonpartisanship' he gives so much lip service to?
Nope. Lieberman would have strutted around with his acute case of tunnel vision and self importance. He would punish Democrats for being on the losing side even though Democrats never lost their dignity the way he has. Lieberman would chastise them for refusing to escalate his disastrous foreign policy which includes “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb, bomb Iran”. He’d be making it crystal clear that even more extreme and wrongheaded actions in the Middle East will keep his country, sorry, countries safe?
The future cannot afford him the opportunity or the authority to derail our forward course that moves right past him.
On November 4th, voters gave the Revolutionaries’ their victory over the King. With that comes a generous wealth of power. As that wealth is willed, Joe Lieberman should get none just like William Franklin who chose poorly.
