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Jamie Kirchick defends Joe Lieberman:
Obama talks about bipartisanship. And so I find it ironic that his supporters — who tout this talk and his ability to "transcend" this, that, and the other — would denigrate the one guy who’s actually endorsed someone from the other party. Maybe bipartisanship only works in one direction. Agree or disagree with Lieberman, you have to give him points for following his convictions. Should Lieberman really have endorsed the candidate that he considers lesser? Is reflexive partisanship something to applaud?
Ed Kilgore responds:
The fact that Joe Lieberman hasn’t just endorsed McCain, but has actively campaigned with him from New Hampshire to Florida to Iraq, and has also made it clear he’d be happy to speak at the Republican National Convention on his behalf, is an indisputable self-expulsion from the Democratic ranks, certainly made no less definitive by his semi-self-expulsion in 2006, when he chose to run as an independent against the winner of the Democratic primary in Connecticut, Ned Lamont. And no measure of "friendship" for McCain can possibly justify his recent remarks entertaining the possibility that Barack Obama, who endorsed him in that same primary, may be a Marxist.
We can all understand why Harry Reid, whose Majority Leadership depends on Lieberman’s current cooperation, hasn’t already indicated Joe would lose his seniority and committee chairmanship if, as appears almost certain, Democrats pick up at least a few Senate seats in November. And I for one don’t doubt that Lieberman does indeed vote with Democrats on most issues in the Senate. But sorry, no degree of "independence" or "bipartisanship" or "personal friendship" can justify what he’s done in supporting the Republican candidate for president. He’s picked sides in the one choice that most defines party, and those who continue to admire him should accept the consequences.
Just a reminder that Kirchick has been singing this same song, albeit with slightly different lyrics, for some time now. Kirchick doesn’t want the whole world, he just wants your half…
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Harry Reid has to go first in order to strip Lieberman of his chairmanships.
Kirchick is a stupid, self seeking right wing motherfucker who thinks that we, too, are stupid.
I confess myself offended.
Oh, and Joe Lieberman? Fuck him, piss on him.
Giving the leadership job to Chris Dodd (and letting him give Loserman the boot) would be a good start to the next Congress.
Agree or disagree with Lieberman, you have to give him points for following his convictions.
Actually, no I don’t, Jamie. After he lost the Democratic nomination and decided to officially become an opposition party of one to defeat the Democratic candidate, he frequently and with quivering big-eyed sincerity pledged on his honor as a godly kinda guy that if he were elected he would not only cleave unto the Democratic party, he would work his slimy little tail off to elect its candidate for president. Which, you know, people who make campaign promises they have no intention of keeping (he’d already hired McCain’s boy Teddy Bullwinkle by then) and back them up with smarmy pietism just ain’t respectable.
Whatever. Have you read the comments to the big meaniehead liberals won’t date me piece? This is from one of Kirchick’s fellow gay conservatives oppressed by the blank bigotry and intolerance of the left
Asians are one of my prefered dating groups. They’re great in bed, really open minded, tolerant, and don’t get upset if I say something controversail. Especially foreign born asians which been corrupted by the beauty ideals of the American gay community which brainwashes them to desire only skinny and lean men. I also like some brownish latinos.
And if you cough up just a couple extra bucks, sky’s the limit!
Joe is not bipartisan at all; he’s a partisan Republican, now. He’s also a snake, but that’s the same thing.
Is there even a logic to this, beyond as goes Joe Lieberman so goes the Democratic Party? And of course, no Republican would face any sort of censure if he endorsed Barack or Hillary.