UNCLE TED TO DELIVER HEARTBREAKING SWAN SONG: Ooooh this will be good! We hear that Ted Stevens will be giving his valedictory address to the Senate at 11am Eastern, so we will be liveblogging that. Get yourself a carton of caribou jerkey and we’ll see you back here in an hour. [Washington Post]

Oh ho ho, Joe Lieberman is getting it now! His total divorce with the Democratic party commenced yesterday when his legislative director up and quit on the first working day after the Republican convention, and today we have witnessed SEVERE ESCALATION. In the most “Harry Reidish” move ever, Harry Reid has brutally punished Lieberman by BANNING HIM FROM WEEKLY CAUCUS LUNCHES. Those Democratic leaders, they sure know how to shake a stick. “Now he’ll have to pack his own goddamn lunch,” Reid said, except he didn’t. [Roll Call]