Exhibit 1: Joe Lieberman. If/when the Democrats win a majority in the Senate that doesn't depend upon him caucusing with the Democrats, I think you'll find him under the nearest bus. Ditto for Clnton, who, upon running as an independent would be stripped of every important committee membership she has so fast even her head will spin. She will go from an honored member of the Senate to a pariah.

Exhibit 2: Clinton's bank account, currently bouncing checks faster than she can write them.

Exhibit 3: Bill Clinton, who's smart enough to know when enough is enough when it comes to trashing his own reputation, which is currently in serious tatters.

Exhibit 4: The NY Democratic Party, which would throw someone up against her in 2012 election, thereby sealing her fate as a nobody.