Feeds: 
symbol identifies content for paid subscribers only.
THE LIEBERMAN SPEECH.
"I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party."
With that, Joe Lieberman tonight bore down on what is the central message of this Republican National Convention -- it's not about national security, or tax cuts, or social conservatism. And it's certainly not the message of solidarity with working Americans that the Democrats advanced last week in Denver. Rather, the theme is patriotism, honor, and personal sacrifice. It is amorphous, without many policy specifics. It is about private philanthropy and charity, not health care reform or better schools or a revitalized diplomacy. The message has the benefit of being simple to grasp, vague enough to feed one's own notions into. But it has the disadvantage of failing to speak directly to really any of the fundamental challenges facing the nation in a time of war, climate crisis, and looming recession.
The spectacle of Lieberman -- a generally pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-social programs lifelong Democrat -- speaking here tonight is, frankly, surreal and a bit sad. And you get the sense, from his awkward little laughs and rehearsed smiles, that Lieberman himself feels how strange this moment is.
--Dana Goldstein
COMMENTS (6)
Not strange, but pathetic.
As MeCain has so well demonstrated this past week, and as Republicans always do, it is ego above community, it is me above us, it is winning above all else.
Joe Liebermann got his feelings hurt when the Democratic Party took him, rightfully, to task, so now it is all about revenge and the knife in the night.
Pathetic.
Posted by: Dan | September 2, 2008 11:07 PM
Of course, Lieberman is of no party, and bound to no real group. I'd agree the speech was strange... mainly because the kind of connection a politician needs - being of a similar mind, having an emotional link - just wasn't there. Lieberman isn't a Democrat, not at this late date; yet he's not really that interested in the things that animate Republicans. And mostly, I think, he's beenb playing both sides for the middle, expecting or just hoping that time would prove him right. Instead it's left him rudderless and largely friend less... and no matter what happens in the election, he will never have this importance aain.
Posted by: weboy | September 2, 2008 11:15 PM
The man has no self-respect at all. Here it's very public knowledge that he would have been McCain's running mate had he not been vetoed by exactly the kind of fundie fruitcakes occupying the convention floor. And yet he still went and abased himself in front of them? That's beyond pathetic.
Posted by: Steve LaBonne | September 3, 2008 8:49 AM
"any of the fundamental challenges facing the nation in a time of war, climate crisis, and looming recession."
*energy" crisis, not "climate" crisis. The masses don't care about the climate crisis. It's going to have to piggyback quietly on the energy crisis, which the masses do care about. Passionately.
You have to take that away from Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 3, 2008 11:35 AM
It's hard to ignore my own partisan leanings, but from a neutral's perspective I'd have to say Lieberman's speech was a dud. It was a series of backhanded compliments. "John McCain is great...because he's not like you Republicans!"
Just think: he got a hall of Republican die-hards to applaud Bill Clinton! He complimented Obama before making a genric and not particularly forceful claim that he Obama wasn't experienced enough. And at one point, he essentially winked at the TV audience by implying that normally people shouldn't be voting Republican.
The only thing Lieberman could have possibly accomplished for McCain is to get independents thinking twice about voting for the Republican at all.
Posted by: polthereal | September 3, 2008 12:47 PM
Lieberman isn't a Democrat, not at this late date; yet he's not really that interested in the things that animate Republicans. And mostly, I think, he's beenb playing both sides for the middle, expecting or just hoping that time would prove him right. Instead it's left him rudderless and largely friend less.
Posted by: Tower Defense | April 25, 2009 2:13 AM