Joe Lieberman: Traitor or Mole?

Senator Lieberman's speech at the Republican National Convention, video and transcript, are in today's New York Times, among other places.

Some memorable lines.

Our first president, George Washington, in his farewell address, warned that the spirit of party [that is, partisanship] could be the worst enemy of our democracy and enfeeble our government's ability to do its job. ...Today we are living through his worst nightmare in the capital city that bears his name. And that brings me directly to why I am here tonight. What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?

If John McCain is just another partisan Republican, then I'm Michael Moore's favorite Democrat. And I'm not. And I think you know that I'm not.

I have had the privilege and I'd say the pleasure of traveling the world with John McCain, even with Lindsey Graham it was a pleasure.

I ask those of you who are watching or listening, vote for the leader who, since the age of 17, when he first raised his hand and took an oath to defend and protect our Constitution, has always put America first.

My reaction to the speech?

I felt that it was very intriguing. Quite a balancing act! I still feel that his super-sized ego has more to do with this than anything else. Two points: The phrase "Put America First." Now there's a blast from the past. And did Obama really vote against funding our troops on the battlefield, as Lieberman said? My recollection is that he voted for funding them, but with conditions attached, conditions that Bush didn't like.

Given the way McCain has tacked to the right, I'm not sure that all of Lieberman's comments apply to McCain's current political persona. And did he have to endorse Sarah Palin, McCain's choice for a running mate? Many of her right-wing social views must be anathema to him. (And as more of them come out, she is beginning to make me long for Mike Huckabee.) Only a "loyal Republican" would feel obligated to endorse her. Some say that Lieberman acts like a Republican, but a loyal Republican? Say it ain't so, Joe!

I think that a lot of Lieberman's comments about partisanship were straight out of Obama's playbook. So who are you going to believe? Given Obama's choice of Biden for Veep, the people he has surrounded himself with, and his ability to listen to them, I'm sticking with him. Especially now that Palin is on McCain's ticket.

OK, so vice-presidents usually don't matter too much, but given McCain's age and cancer history, there's a small chance she would become President. Now that's a lot scarier than any of the mud they keep trying to sling at Obama.

When Biden and Palin are factored in, I'd say Lieberman's speech gave a convincing argument to vote for Obama. Does that mean that Lieberman might be a "mole", rather than a traitor?