Lieberman hasn't ruled out party switch!

We love Joe. He's a principled man who stands up for what's right. He actually wants to win in Iraq! Of course, that causes lefties to call him names such as "a cowardly sack of s**t," as read on the message board at The Politico, which broke the story of Lieberman's second thoughts today:

"Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut told the Politico Thursday that he has no immediate plans to switch parties, but suggested Democratic opposition to funding the war in Iraq might change his mind.

... 'I have no desire to change parties,' Lieberman said in a telephone interview. 'If that ever happens, it is because I feel the majority of Democrats have gone in a direction that I don't feel comfortable with.'

Asked whether that hasn't already happened with Iraq, Lieberman said: 'We will see how that plays out in the coming months,' specifically how the party approaches the issue of continued funding for the war.

He suggested, however, that the forthcoming showdown over new funding could be a deciding factor that would lure him to the Republican Party. ..."

And the balance of the Senate tipppppppppssss over...

But it's more about that: the Republican Party could also use a principled leader like Lieberman. One can hardly begin to imagine the pressure he's been under to pull their party line (and votes!) despite the Dems dumping him for some loser in the Connecticut senatorial primary. His triumph over that has pissed off a lot of lefties in the process. Like Time magazine's story today:

"In his 18 years in the U.S. Senate, Joe Lieberman has cultivated an image of himself as a lonely prude among the morally corrupt, that rare Washington official who places principle above politics. But with the Democrats' hold on power dependent on just one vote — in effect, his — and with Republicans courting him to tilt the balance in their favor, Lieberman has been indulging in some fairly immodest political footsie. Early this year he terrified fellow Democrats by skipping several of the weekly caucus lunches that cement party fidelity in the Senate. Recently he was spotted in the Republican cloakroom talking with South Carolina's Lindsey Graham about reforming Social Security. He even says he might vote Republican for President in 2008, a not-so-veiled hint that he would prefer John McCain, his fellow true believer in the Iraq war, to most, perhaps all, Democratic alternatives."

So let me get this straight: Even though the Dems crapped all over him, hanging with the GOP (as an INDEPENDENT, remember that) somehow makes him some unfaithful political whore? What happened to free thought anymore?

Comments

[Richard of Oregon]

I admired Joe as a Democrat. He seemed to stand alone among the pack with a glowing halo of integrity. He alone, seemed to follow his conscience instead of his lust for power. But, as a Republican he would come aboard with a lot of baggage that may cost us dearly. He is a liberal Democrat in most every way except for the war. For the sake of Iraq, we need Joe. We need him badly enough to give him some liberal candy that he will relish and conservatives will get sick tummies over. Right now, the war against terrorists is the most important thing facing us. So, do what we need to do to win the war and keep the Pepo handy.

[Jerry Olek]

I think Joe Lieberman is a principled and good person whose basic leanings are liberal , social democratic and that he will remail a Democrat or become and independent at worst... However , on the Iraq issue what stands out to me is the possiblility that his allegance to Israel because of his ethnicity and religion is driving his political viewpoint. He may honestly feel that American and Israel interests are similar but I for one dont. We cant be a mediator in the middle east if we lean toward Israel on all matters(e.g., Lebanon war).

[Peacekeeper]

Lieberman as GOP VP in 2008?