As part of the New Republic’s Veeptacular, in which they write about all of the horrible people that might have the job of waiting patiently for Barack, or impatiently for McCain, to die, they discuss Joe Leiberman.  I’m guessing they’re discussing him as a potential stubborn, hawkish, idealogue to serve under Olds McCain (the Thinking Man’s Joe Lieberman!).

Jonathan Chait’s point in the piece is that, while Joe Lieberman paints himself as a Democrat of the Old School who provides a levelheaded alternative to the Kossified Democrats who now run the party, he is actually a crazy old man whose opinions are hostage to the tendentious windbags of right wing radio.  Perhaps he would be perfect as McCain’s understudy.

Here’s Chait’s argument for why Lieberman’s only real independenc is from the Democrat Party:

And, just as Lieberman casts himself as the sole surviving heir to the liberal internationalist tradition, he likewise presents himself as one of the few–or possibly the only–independent-minded souls remaining in a party now controlled by rabid partisan bloggers. “Instead of challenging their opinions,” says Lieberman with characteristic disappointment, “far too many Democratic leaders have kowtowed to them.” In a previous speech, he urged an audience of international-studies graduates to remain independent like him. It may hurt your popularity, he explained, but, “far more important, you will not lose your convictions about what you believe is best for the security of our great country.”

There’s hardly any sense in which Lieberman is an independent figure. He’s become a cog in the Republican message machine. He may be independent from liberal bloggers, but the conservative equivalent–partisan shouters like Sean Hannity–are his treasured pals. Lieberman even continues to embrace lunatic preacher John Hagee–whose many daft ideas include his belief that the Holocaust fulfilled God’s will–even after John McCain repudiated him.

Also, he’s a little worm of a man and when he talks, he sounds like he’s speaking around a big spoonful of oatmeal. Which is why. . .

Lieberman seems to think Democrats lost faith in America. No, Joe, just in you.

Yeah, suck it Joey!

Irregular Joe [The New Republic]