Joe Lieberman has these choices if he wishes to retain whatever is left of his credibility: depart from his current position as Senator and be quiet or admit he has been fallacious, especially in his puppy-like support of President Bush on Iraq or demonstrate he possesses what it takes to actually EARN a leadership role in the Democratic Party.
Joe, such a role is not based on age, seniority or previous titles but rather on the positions you, as a Democrat, carve out and defend, plus how you differentiate yourself (talk to Russ Feingold for guidance) from this current cabal of Republicans in charge.
Joe, if you wish to continue to appease and play the patsy Mr. Nice Guy role to those opponents who have yet to find a standard they won't burrow below in attempting to destroy the Democratic Party--supposedly your affiliation--then we'll just have to create official Joe Lieberman "Kick Me" velco attachments for your behind.
oe, your November 29, 2005 Wall Street Journal (about as biased a media entity as possible) editorial is such a prime example:
Wall Street Journal Editorial page
Our Troops Must Stay
America can't abandon 27 million Iraqis to 10,000 terrorists
BY JOE LIEBERMAN
November 29, 2005
"I have just returned from my fourth trip to Iraq in the past 17 months and can report real progress there. More work needs to be done, of course, but the Iraqi people are in reach of a watershed transformation from the primitive, killing tyranny of Saddam to modern, self-governing, self-securing nationhood--unless the great American military that has given them and us this unexpected opportunity is prematurely withdrawn...
...If the terrorists win, they will be emboldened to strike us directly again and to further undermine the growing stability and progress in the Middle East, which has long been a major American national and economic security priority...
...I am disappointed by Democrats who are more focused on how President Bush took America into the war in Iraq almost three years ago, and by Republicans who are more worried about whether the war will bring them down in next November's elections, than they are concerned about how we continue the progress in Iraq in the months and years ahead...
...What a colossal mistake it would be for America's bipartisan political leadership to choose this moment in history to lose its will and, in the famous phrase, to seize defeat from the jaws of the coming victory..."
Joe, your visit to Iraq was five months ago. Please detail the real progress being made in Iraq. How much 'closer' in reach is the watershed transformation you mention?
Joe, your "If the terrorists win..." line is but a blatant lie or you are terribly misinformed for someone in such a high position. 90% or more of the members of the insurgency are native Iraqis. And admit this: Iraq was no haven for terrorists and no threat to the United States PRIOR to our invasion.
Joe, about the mention of "self-governing, self-securing nationhood" in Iraq? By that, do you mean there will be no future United States military bases in Iraq? And are you stating that Lord Viceroy Paul Bremer's 100 Orders, which dictated and instituted capitalistic changes in the Iraqi economic system, are to disappear?
Joe, you express no concern whatsoever for the continuing American and Iraqi casualties of our invasion or for the immorality and the incompetency so profoundly evident in the run-up to the war and beyond. You act as if the current cabal actually has a plan for winning AND, amazingly, the capability of achieving such. Just what is that based on?
Joe, your plea for 'togetherness' aids and abets those who make EVERY decision emanating from the White House a political one. You provide the cover of righteousness to the dividers and destroyers whose FEAR, FEAR AND MORE FEAR motto you seem to carelessly shrug off. These aren't George Herbert Walker Bush's country club Republicans to whom you are singing "Kum-ba-ya." Ronald Reagan supposedly uttered this phrase "trust but verify." Well, we tried trusting and look where this country is now. We could never get to verification because we were snubbed, ignored, double-talked to (as was Congress) and so-called 'uber national security' has resulted in the partitioning off of so much of the information and documentation necessary to substantiate veracity.
Joe, don't try and simply demonize those who are voicing opposition to you. Try listening and learning why they feel this way, before it's too late. For you, for us, for the Democratic Party, for this country.