Ya gotta love Joe Lieberman.
Unless you're a Democrat. Then you might hate him.
You also might be plotting how to get even with him.
Lieberman, a lifelong Democrat and 2000 Al Gore running mate -- seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? -- pitched for John McCain and declared Barack Obama not ready at the Republican convention last night.
Lieberman was re-elected to the Senate as an independent in 2006 after Connecticut Democrats dumped him in their primary. He was too hawkish and chummy with Republicans for their taste. He showed Dems he didn't need them -- in Connecticut, he's bigger than the party.
Last night, he told Republicans that he puts country ahead of party.
That kind of talk probably burned his last bridge with Democrats, with whom he still caucuses in the Senate.
Some of this is personal, too. McCain and Lieberman are great pals. I was convinced McCain would pick old Joe as his running mate and the two would live out the political version of "The Bucket List."
You know, the Jack Nicholson-Morgan Freeman movie about two old guys with terminal illnesses who decide to have a helluva great time on their way out.
McCain-Lieberman would go down in flames, but they'd have a blast campaigning together.
Now, with McCain hitting the campaign trail with Sarah Palin, Lieberman has to return to the Senate, where he'll be due an unfriendly reception from Democrats.
Well, so what? Republicans and a whole lotta ordinary Americans just gotta love him.
Not all of the newspaper's content appears online.
*There is a fee for downloading some older articles.