October 6, 2008
A PARTY HACK.... The last time we heard Joe Lieberman talking about Sarah Palin, he sounded like a reluctant supporter. Asked if he believes Palin is prepared to lead if something should happen to John McCain, Lieberman told NBC, "Well, you know, let's assume the best. John's in great shape, he's going to be the president, and let's assume that nothing bad will happen."
It was hardly a ringing endorsement.
But that was a few weeks ago. Now that he's seen her flub a series of interviews, lie repeatedly, and commit a series of humiliating errors, Lieberman loves Palin.
Via CNN streaming video, I watched Sarah Palin's event in Clearwater, Florida, this morning. She was heartily introduced there by John McCain's pal Joe Lieberman. The former Democrat is a very strange figure these days, far from his moorings in the Democratic Party. But you can see how his personal friendship with McCain, and his genuine support for the Iraq war, might cause him to help out his buddy on the stump.
It was jarring, however, to hear Lieberman's full-throated endorsement of Sarah Palin, a woman with whom he has no prior relationship, and whose policy credentials you have to think the wonky 20-year Senator would find suspect in any other context.
"She's so strong, she's so capable, she's so competent," Lieberman told the cheering crowd. Emphasizing her "faith," he added that she is someone who "with your help -- and God's help -- will be the next vice president of the United States." More big cheers.
I suppose one's take on this depends on how ridiculous one finds Joe Lieberman. He either seriously believes Palin is extremely "capable" and "competent" -- in which case Lieberman is breathtakingly foolish -- or he doesn't believe this nonsense and he's just repeating what the Republican handlers are telling him to say. If so, Lieberman is, as he proved at the Republican convention, little more than a party hack.
When the central focus of the campaign was foreign policy and national security, Lieberman's support for McCain was at least coherent. The two seem to genuinely share a conservative foreign policy worldview, no matter how bankrupt and discredited their approach is.
But today, Lieberman was offering his full support to Sarah Palin, who bases her foreign policy expertise on her home state's physical proximity to Russia.
Lieberman formally endorsed McCain in December 2007, saying he found McCain trustworthy on combating "Islamic extremism." This morning, A.L. raised a very good point in response: "I wonder what Lieberman would have thought that day if he had been told that less than a year later, he would be stumping in Florida for a half-term Alaskan governor with no foreign policy experience (or knowledge) and far right views on social issues, and that he would be doing so in an environment in which differences over economic policy have become far more significant and pronounced than differences over foreign policy."
—Steve Benen 11:00 AM
Permalink
| Trackbacks
| Comments (26)
Gee, I wonder what Lieberman thinks about Palin's preacher who said Israel got what it deserved for not believing in Jesus.
Joe is just a power whore who picked the wrong horse in the race. I'm sure he'll fade away into nonexistence soon, which is great, because as far as I can tell it's his greatest fear.
Posted by: doubtful on October 6, 2008 at 11:05 AM | PERMALINK
Lieberman wants a future and the only way he's going to have one is if McCain wins.
He's desperate. He'll do whatever McCain's handlers tell him to do.
Posted by: Erik in Maine on October 6, 2008 at 11:06 AM | PERMALINK
well, no one can recall him, and it's damnably hard to impeach a sitting US Senator---so I guess the only solution to the Lieberman Crisis is to:
1.) Allow Connecticut to secede from the Union, thereby eliminating Lieberman's position as a US Senator.
2.) Immediately re-admit Connecticut to the Union, and fully fund an emergency election for them, so that they can elect a new Congressional delegation.
3.) remind Connecticut that if they re-elect Lieberman, we will immediately sell them into eternal servitude---to the Russians.
There. Problem solved. And it'll only take what---maybe a week to implement and carry out?
Posted by: Steve on October 6, 2008 at 11:10 AM | PERMALINK
Steve - Can you research and write about what Lieberman's chances are like for re-election when his time comes? It would be comforting to know his political days are truly numbered.
Posted by: JC on October 6, 2008 at 11:10 AM | PERMALINK
We all need to be vigilant in reminding CT voters precisely how much of an assclown Lieberman has become. Particularly when he's up for reelection and tries to pretend none of this ever happened. You watch, he'll be like a new man.
Posted by: Jake on October 6, 2008 at 11:12 AM | PERMALINK
Lets see how interested everyone is in the McLame slander and fairy tales now the Dow has gone south of 10,000 The markets in Europe are tanking and you know that McCain's free market cronies have absolutely no idea how to deal with it. I want adults running this country. Obama just needs to keep hitting Gramps and Cariboo Barbie on the economy
Posted by: John R on October 6, 2008 at 11:12 AM | PERMALINK
Lieberman was offering his full support to Sarah Palin because she has a little Israeli flag in her office. Somebody ought to tell Joe in her first campaign for mayor she ran on the slogan "Wasilla's first Christian mayor!" The incumbent's name was Stein. Of course Palin even lied about that anti semite innuendo. Stein is Lutheran.
Posted by: markg8 on October 6, 2008 at 11:14 AM | PERMALINK
Sarah Palin launched her political career by running to be the 1st Christian mayor of Wasilla. She was running against a man named Stein. (Who was actually a Lutheran and not Jewish. Go figure.) Lieberman should be ashamed of himself for posing as man who takes his Jewishness seriously.
Posted by: Jeffrey Davis on October 6, 2008 at 11:17 AM | PERMALINK
Obviously, this is aimed at Jewish voters in Florida, who are way, way too smart to fall for this shit.
Meanwhile, Lieberman has finally sunk even lower than his buddy McShitty. Which is lower than I realized anyone could go.
Posted by: K on October 6, 2008 at 11:19 AM | PERMALINK
Joe wants to be loved. He was profoundly hurt by his loss to Ned Lamont and feels like an outcast. Instead of mending fences and coming home, he cast himself further out seeking a new home. He found one where he is welcomed. He bowed before the fundamentalists hoping to receive their blessings for he wanted to be McCain's vice-pick. But he is not truly accepted into the family. He keeps trying for he has no where else to go.
Posted by: tomb on October 6, 2008 at 11:19 AM | PERMALINK
Just think - in 2000 this man was himself a few chads away from being a heartbeat away...
... as the *Democrats'* VP.
Posted by: Chris on October 6, 2008 at 11:21 AM | PERMALINK
Lieberman wants a future and the only way he's going to have one is if McCain wins.
The irony of this is that once Lieberman's usefulness has expired (either way--whether McCain wins or loses), the Republicans will notice his 'unacceptable' views on a bunch of other issues. In the end, Lieberman won't be any more welcome among the Republicans than he is in the Democratic party. And I will laugh.
Posted by: Tom Hilton on October 6, 2008 at 11:23 AM | PERMALINK
We've got 4 more years, and then maybe Connecticut will get rid of this embarrassment to the US Senate.
Posted by: Daryl McCullough on October 6, 2008 at 11:33 AM | PERMALINK
>"full support to Sarah Palin because she has a little Israeli flag in her office."
Bingo. Ditto his support for McCain himself.
Israel is deathly afraid that mideast policies under Obama will be more even-handed... and for Lieberman, it's all about serving Israeli interests.
Posted by: Buford on October 6, 2008 at 11:40 AM | PERMALINK
I'm not sure much of anything Lieberman has to say in this campaign matters. I think he's seen, when paid attention to at all, as a turncoat. He's certainly not going to lure any Dems to McCain, and I think his obvious break with them is unlikely to sway independents as well.
Lieberman has become a sort of one note campaign of two parts - terrorism and pro war.
Posted by: Jeff II on October 6, 2008 at 11:41 AM | PERMALINK
Orthodox Jews and Discompensationalist Christians
make for strange but solid bedfellows.
Course, if you don't convert to Christianity in time, the Palin's of the world believe all Jews--Lieberman included-- will burn to a crisp.
Posted by: on October 6, 2008 at 11:42 AM | PERMALINK
Liberman has been promised State or Defense in return for doing the necessary. We know Joe, he will do whatever they tell him to do. He has and willcontinue to betray just about everything he once claimed to believe. His behavior now is important evidence of McCain's zero commitment to political integrity.
Posted by: robert on October 6, 2008 at 11:53 AM | PERMALINK
I defeinitely do not mind those that disagree with a view or policy of one candidate or the other. JoeyL can endorse McShame all he wants and talk favorably about those stances he agrees with. The problem I have is that it is all polictics and a sham when he goes and endorses McPain - that is disgusting. He will never get my support in anything he talks about - JoeyL has just shamed himself so badly he is done....done.
Posted by: wom67 on October 6, 2008 at 11:54 AM | PERMALINK
"with your help -- and God's help -- will be the next vice president of the United States."
Does Smokin' Joe have ANY idea the combination of blasphemy and arrogance he just uttered here?
If Palin is NOT the next VP, God failed?
Does he want to come right out and say as much?
I'll bring the popcorn.
Posted by: toowearyforoutrage on October 6, 2008 at 12:01 PM | PERMALINK
You quote regarding Lieberman: Emphasizing her "faith," he added that she is someone who "with your help -- and God's help..."
Is he still a Democrat?
Is he still Jewish?
Posted by: CMcC on October 6, 2008 at 12:19 PM | PERMALINK
Joe's decided that the loonies are right (they are, far right) and we are indeed in the end times. He's going to be one of the 144,000 who proclaims Jesus the Messiah upon return.
Joe Lieberman would have made a great Kapo back in 1944.
Posted by: TCinLA on October 6, 2008 at 12:31 PM | PERMALINK
@robert said
Liberman has been promised State or Defense in return for doing the necessary
That's what I figure. The Democrats will have a solide majority in the Senate this year and unless Lieberman is needed to give them a filibuster proof 60 votes he will be kicked to the curb in the Senate.
His political future now lies in a McCain adminstration and he knows it.
Posted by: thorin-1 on October 6, 2008 at 12:53 PM | PERMALINK
I'm rather hoping Obama will over Joe a job that will tempt him to give up the Senate. My suggestion is ambassador to Israel. He already is its de facto Senator.
Posted by: Nick Nayme on October 6, 2008 at 1:04 PM | PERMALINK
Palin Loves Israel so Lieberman Loves Palin. Both are lying of course.
Posted by: Squeaky McCrinkle on October 6, 2008 at 2:37 PM | PERMALINK
The eternal question: fool or knave?
Posted by: Ross Best on October 6, 2008 at 7:55 PM | PERMALINK
Someone should ask Lieberman which God he refers too. Jesus?
Posted by: JWK on October 6, 2008 at 8:46 PM | PERMALINK