In 1988 he was the outside upstart. In 2000, he was Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, and robbed of the job. In 2004, he was shunned Presidential candidate, out of touch with the base. In 2006, he was beaten in the primary and shunned from the party. In 2007 and 2008, he was cheerleader for, and potential Vice-Presidential running mate for Republican Presidential nominee John McCain, even speaking at his convention. In 2009 and part of 2010, he was one of the hold-ups on Health Care Reform, possibly helping to demoralize the Democratic base enough to lose the 2010 mid-terms. By the end of 2010, he was the Senator most responsible for achieving a major liberal victory, ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
All of that describes Senator Joe Lieberman,
who is expected to call it a career today. The truth is, Lieberman would probably have lost his Senate race in 2012, and in fact would have only been a spoiler. By not running, he gives his former party, the Democratic Party, a very strong opportunity to replace him. If he had run and lost, it would have been the end of a stunning fall from grace, from the "new kid," to the nearly Vice-President, to failed Presidential candidate, to losing a primary, to losing his seat. Lieberman's decision to not run allows for a fair hearing of his credentials, and in fact his entire career.
For me at least, his Senate career has several very key points in it. First off, the fact that he won a Republican seat in a Presidential year that his party lost in 1988. Second off, that he was considered a solid Democratic vote at the time, but gained national recognition for his 1998 criticism of President Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal. Third, that he very nearly became President of the Senate (to be read Vice-President of the United States), but instead had to sit on the floor of the Senate and go through the agony of narrowly watching the electoral votes go against him and Al Gore in 2000. Fourth, and probably his most damnable career point, his leadership on pushing the Iraq War Resolution through Congress in 2002. Fifth, his pushing the repeal of DADT through the Congress in 2010. Oh yeah, and don't forget, prior to 2000, his career was best known for his opposition to violent video games.
There are several things unknown to most about Lieberman. First, he was the State Senate's Majority Leader from 1975-1980 in Connecticut. Second, he was an Attorney General for his state from 1983-1989. Senator Lieberman was also the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Oversight Committee in the U.S. Senate as the Department of Homeland Security was being designed after 9/11.
It's hard to assign a grade to Lieberman's career. On the one hand, you have a Senator with wonderful achievements for progress in this nation. On the other hand, you have the guy who pushed through the Iraq War in the Senate. On the one hand, you have the guy who was the popular vote winner for Vice-President in 2000, and on the other hand you have the guy who tried to get "Swift Boat Veteran's for Truth" major donor Sam Fox the Ambassador to Belgium job. On the one hand, you have the guy who fought against violent video games for our youth, on the other hand you have the guy who threatened to filibuster Health Care Reform to stop the Public Option. He's a walking contradiction of a Senator.
Lieberman essentially traded in his political popularity and respect in his later years for increased influence in the Senate, and he got it. I don't know why, but he seemed to grow bitter towards his former party after 2004 Primary defeat for President. He used that bitterness to broker better deals for his positions. Even more interesting though is his choice to retire just days after becoming the senior U.S. Senator from Connecticut.
I suppose my final assessment of Lieberman is a bit harsh. Lieberman's overall performance as a U.S. Senator was very good, and very representative of his state. Amongst his achievements for his state included his saving of the New London Submarine base. With that said, you cannot overlook his weakness in the most important moments. His Iraq War advocacy, and his fight against the Public Option stand out. A young man who went to the south during the Civil Rights movement supported John McCain instead of the African-American candidate making history, Barack Obama, with whom he shared probably 75% of policy positions. Lieberman was as smart, and capable of a U.S. Senator as there is anywhere in America over the past 30 years, his tone deafness at the great moral moments of his day are disappointing though, to say the least.
First Susan Bysiewicz, the Connecticut Secretary of State, got in the U.S. Senate race there against Joe Lieberman. Then Lieberman called it a career. Then Congressman Chris Murphy got in the race. With talk of still others having interest, this was shaping up as one of the most exciting races of the next election cycle. Now, a giant of a name is looking at the race.
