Joe Lieberman's latest obnoxious screed calling for more death and destruction in Iraq as the only acceptable option to bring about "victory" (whatever that means), besides serving as Exhibit Z in the case for Joe as one of the most craven, dishonest political figures of our generation, also functions as a not-too-gentle reminder for the Lieberman apologists last summer who claimed that Joe wasn't that big of a problem because he was such a reliable Democrat on most other matters, and the Iraq war was "just one issue".
Arguing that Iraq is "just one issue", of course, is like arguing that if it weren't for the temperature, Winnipeg's climate would be perfectly suitable for growing sugarcane, or that the sun is just one of many bodies in our solar system, or that arm strength is just one component of a baseball pitcher's abilities.
It's just one issue, after all.
So what has this one issue done to our country?
Because of this one issue, our military has been decimated, and we no longer have the capability to deal with REAL threats to our national security, as Russia, China, and Iran have gleefully noted.
Because of this one issue, more Americans are now dead than those who perished at the unrelated attacks on the World Trade Center five years ago, and countless more have been damaged for life, physically and psychologically.
Because of this one issue, our treasury is essentially depleted, and America has no money to address those other issues supposedly so dear to Mr. Lieberman's heart, those issues in which his apologists claim he's such a wonderful and unassailable Democrat -- health care, poverty, education.
Because of this one issue, America's reputation around the world is in tatters, and we are loathed and vilified even within countries that have been our allies for decades, if not centuries.
Because of this one issue, our government has come up with a panoply of excuses to demolish many of our Constitutional protections against state power, while at the same time claiming to be bringing "freedom" to the Middle East.
Because of this one issue, we have not invested in energy independence, and our addiction to foreign oil has ratcheted up higher than ever, as we are more than ever before slaves to the whims of oil-exporting countries.
Because of this one issue, our Medicare and Social Security benefits (which Joe Lieberman supposedly is such a stalwart defender of) are in danger, as the government licks its chops in anticipation of raiding whatever monies remain available to finance this one issue.
Because of this one issue, environmental protections (another thing Joe's a reliable Democratic rock on, right?) have gone ignored and underfunded, and now we stand at the cusp of a series of global climactic catastrophes.
Because of this one issue, our National Guard was not available to do its job when one of those cliamctic catastrophes hit the state of Louisiana, making a terrible situation even worse.
But not to worry. Joe votes with the Democrats 90% of the time. It's just this one issue he disagrees on.
Relax. He's cool on everything else.
Just one issue. That's all.