MyDD :: Lieberman for VP

Lieberman for VP

by Josh Orton, Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 12:01:51 PM EST

At the Politico, Jonathan Martin pokes around a bit to examine a VP choice floated this weekend by Novak himself:

It remains a longshot, but Lieberman's name has been popping up as a veep prospect. It almost has a Cheney-esque quality to it: you look around and then pick the guy who has been right in front of you all along. And people who know McCain say that if he were liberated to pick whoever he wanted, politics aside, he'd love to tap his pal Joe.

The problem, of course, is that there would be blowback.

"The political consensus is that McCain couldn't get away with either, and he knows it," wrote Bob Novak in his Saturday column about McCain's inclination to look at both Lieberman and the pro-choice Tom Ridge.

When I floated the prospect to another prominent conservative, he didn't waste a moment before telling me what the reaction would be from the right-wing: harsh.

We can dream, right?

If McCain did choose Lieberman, it would be Joe's second run as a VP candidate in eight yars - albeit for different parties. And it would validate even further the netroots' work to bump Joe out of the party in Connecticut.

But besides the karmic appropriateness, Joe-as-VP would also be a terrible idea for Republicans: it weakens their party's brand, it further alienates their socially conservative base, and it shows desperation. They couldn't find a single eligible candidate from within their party? They had to go with a pro-choice former dem?

Lieberman's conservative position on the Iraq war is both his most vocal and least popular. Advertising your "moderate" bona fides through continued war hawkishness no longer helps him or his Republican allies.

Tags: John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Election 08 (all tags)

Permalink :: 11 Comments :: Post a Comment

please pick Joe Lieberman!!!! (none / 0)

by slinkerwink on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 12:07:27 PM EST

Re: Lieberman for VP (none / 0)

Those of you in the younger demographic, please reread the last line of the first paragaph, was that intentional snark or what?

by Dog Chains on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 12:07:31 PM EST

Im agnostic (2.00 / 1)

but I will be praying for this to happen.

Poor Harry Reid, he is afraid of big bad joe, too afraid to strip him of his unearned committee spots.

Maybe, just maybe Harry will use his last vertebrae left and kick him out.

God I can't wait till we are rid of Harry Reid.

http://www.truepat.org/

by CrushTheGOP2008 on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 12:48:27 PM EST

Jesus, let this happen (none / 0)

AMEN.

by Lakrosse on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 12:52:05 PM EST

Re: Lieberman for VP (2.00 / 1)

He's just trying so hard to outdo Zell Miller. That's no small task.

by Reaper0Bot0 on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 01:06:25 PM EST

He already outdid Zell. (none / 0)

Zell's nadir was speaking at the Gooper Convention. Traitor Joe already plans to do that.

AFIK, even Zell didn't go arm-in-arm with Bush to multiple campaign appearances, earning a reputation as the Feeble Right Arm of the GOP leader.

by admiralnaismith on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 01:11:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Lieberman for VP (none / 0)

And what would this do to get rid of Traitor Joe?

It's not as if he'd give up his Senate seat to run for VP, or would be required to.

Heck, he didn't even do that in 2000, when his senate seat was up for re-election at the same time, and even though the fact that he ran for two offices at the same time was seen as bet-hedging and a lack of confidence in Gore/Lieberman to win, possibly hurting the national ticket. Why on earth would he step down in mid-term knowing he'd never, ever get his foot in the door in Connecticut again?

Seems to me the Senate is stuck with him until 2012, unless President McCain makes him Secretary of Wankers, or unless he accepts President Obama's appointment as ambassador to Kvetchnya.

by admiralnaismith on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 01:09:14 PM EST

Re: Lieberman for VP (2.00 / 1)

I think Barack and Hillary should unite to endorse Joe Lieberman as

"Self-righteous, not-understanding-how-the- world-works Jackass in Chief."

On this all can agree.

by NY Writer on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 01:28:09 PM EST

It's almost definitely Lieberman on ticket! (none / 0)

I've been diarying and commenting on this for weeks.

The writing's all but on the wall. The GOPer's are going to walk right over "the age thing," and do it.

This quote all but seals the deal, IMHO, too! Rove is giving it his blessing.

Rove said he preferred Mitt Romney, but said Lieberman would be "the choice way out of left field -- you know, the real excitement."

I'm not sure how much excitement the famously genial and mild-mannered Lieberman would bring to the ticket, but it would make a statement.

Especially if McCain finds his chances for victory to be increasingly distant as the summer wears on, Lieberman could be the man he turns to.

Not enough to see the writing on the wall...well consider the reality that Wittman, Lieberman's communications director was McCain's communications director; and before that he was Legislative Director for the Christian Evangelical right!

In fact, Wittman's a big force behind the triangulation going on behind the scenes over the past few weeks and months, too. (See press release link from Lieberman on his appt. to Joe's staff.)

It's all but a done deal...stiil doubt me?

Read these stories...they're in chronological order...it all adds up to some huge telegraphing on the GOP's part, too...all playing out like ducks in a row, as it were.

I think the only real negative for Lieberman, as far as being on the GOP ticket's concerned, is his age. And, the age thing looks like it's still not be enough of a reason to keep him off the ticket, IMHO.

That being said, if youth is going to win the day on the GOP side, as far as a veep choice is concerned, Crist and/or Jindal make a lot of sense. Huckabee is certainly still on the short list, IMHO, too.

Here's some solid reasons why I think (and many others do, too) Lieberman's still perceived by McCain as a/the top pick to appease the evangelicals, etc. Note, I'm listing them in chronological order, oldest story first. And, when you remember there's some really serious and intensive press/communications coordination and triangulation occurring between the evangelical community and the Lieberman and McCain camps right now, a scary and clear picture is beginning to emerge:

--Glenn Greenwald's piece from Salon.com, about 10-1/2 months ago: "The mainstream, sane, serious Joe Lieberman."

--At the very end of 2007, James Kirchick, the Assistant Editor at the New Republic published the following in the NY Daily News: [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007 12/27/2007-12-27_yes_lieberman_helps_mc cain_but_not_how.html
Yes, Lieberman helps McCain - but not how you think.]

Cut to the past 7-10 days, again in chronological order:

--Lieberman's on the agenda now for the GOP Convention in St. Paul, pretty much confirming this story, which ran earlier in the Spring: Lieberman may speak during GOP Convention. This is going to be a lot more than just "pulling a Zell Miller," IMHO.

--This from the Conservative Jewish rag, the Daily Observer just last week: "Conservative Jewish Paper Pans Obama for Not Being Like Hagee."

--And, then there's this in today's news: [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/9926 24.html " U.S. pastor apologizes to Jews for 'God sent Hitler' comments."

It's McCain/Lieberman versus Obama?????.

Take it to the bank. (If there are any left come November, anyhow!)

by bobswern on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 01:40:40 PM EST

I would rather see Ann Coulter (none / 0)

or Marsha Blackburn, but Lieberman will do.

We shall overcome. Yes we can.

by Sam Wise Gingy on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 04:25:27 PM EST

Re: Lieberman for VP (none / 0)

We don't have to worry about that. McCain doesn't have enough backbone, I think they removed in the POW Camp, to nominate Lieberman as VP.He owes too many favors for getting this nomination. He's gonna need a new pair of knee pads soon.

John McCain: Everyones nowhere man

by johnny sexton on Mon Jun 16, 2008 at 07:26:05 PM EST

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