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You know, if Joe Lieberman had run with any other Candidate in 2000 besides that robotile pinprick AlGore, I wouldn't have minded seeing him win that election.



If you for some reason haven't seen the text of Joe Lieberman's May 16 speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition (and I can understand why Mainstream Media embarrasingly chucked it under the rug, since it definitely isn't Harry Reid/Heidi Fleiss Nancy Pelosi friendly.) Joe Lieberman explains in terms that even simple Democrats should be able to comprehend, why we should not cut and run from our obligations to finish what we started in Iraq. I'll just hit some of the highlights here; you really should get over there and read the entire thing for yourself.

"We gather at a critical time for the future of our country. The war in Iraq has now become the defining issue for this Congress and for this presidency — although the decisions we will make in the weeks and months ahead about Iraq will have consequences that reach far beyond the terms of anyone now in office.



"Part of the disagreement we face over Iraq comes down to a genuine difference of opinion.



"On the one hand, there are those who believe, as I do, that the struggle against Islamist extremism really is the central challenge of our time, and that, as General David Petraeus — our commander in Iraq — recently said, Iraq is now the central front of the war against Islamist extremism.



"On the other hand, there are those who reject this view — who genuinely believe that the threat of Islamist extremism is overstated, or that Iraq is a distraction from the “real” war on terror, or that the war there is lost, or not worth fighting to win.



"It is my deeply held conviction that these people are not only wrong, they are disastrously wrong — and that the withdrawal they demand would be a moral and security catastrophe for the United States, for Iraq, and for the entire Middle East, including Israel and our moderate Arab allies.



"Let there be no doubt — an American defeat in Iraq would be a victory for Al Qaeda and Iran… the two most threatening enemies we face in the world today. It would vindicate the hope of our enemies that America is weak and that we can be driven to retreat by terrorism, and it would confirm the fear of our friends — not only in Iraq, but throughout the world — that we are unreliable allies who will abandon them in the face of danger."



...



"But too much of the debate we are having today about withdrawal from Iraq has little or nothing to do with principle, or with reality in Iraq.



"It is about politics and partisanship here in Washington.



"For many Democrats, if President Bush is for it, they must be against it. If the war is going badly, it is bad for Republicans and it is good for Democrats. It is as simple as that, and it is as wrong as that.



"For many Republicans, the unpopularity of this war and this President has begun to shake their will. They say that they have no choice but to abandon General Petraeus and his strategy because the American people tell the pollsters they want out. If previous generations of American leaders had allowed their conduct of war to be shaped by partisanship or public opinion polls, we would not be the strong and free nation we are blessed to be today.



"Republicans in Congress delude themselves if they think they will be helping either themselves, their party, or their country if they now attempt to wash their hands of Iraq, out of a sudden sense of political anxiety.



"Democrats in Congress delude themselves if they think they will not be held accountable for the bloody consequences of the retreat from Iraq they seek.



"The fact is, a loss to Al Qaeda and Iran in Iraq would be devastating to our security. These are fateful days and critical decisions we are making about Iraq. We must make them with our eye on the safety of America’s next generation, not the outcome of America’s next election.



"It is to the everlasting credit of President Bush that in the war against Islamist extremism he has shown the courage and steadfastness to stand against the political passions of the moment.



"I have never hesitated to express disagreement with the President on any issue when I felt he was wrong — and I have criticized his administration many times for the serious mistakes I believe it made in prosecuting the war in Iraq.



"But let me tell you this: I believe that each of us should be grateful that we have a commander-in-chief who does not believe that decisions about war should be driven by poll numbers. And each of us should be grateful that we have a commander-in-chief who does not confuse what is popular with what is right for our security as a nation. The public opinion polls may not reflect this today, but I believe history will tomorrow."



...



"My friends, now is not the time for despair. Now is the time for resolve.



"Now is not the time for reflexive partisanship and pandering to public opinion. Now is the time for the kind of patriotism and principle America’s voters have always honored.



"I ask you to plead with every member of Congress you can in the days and weeks ahead —



"Do not surrender to hopelessness.



"Do not succumb to defeat.



"Do not give in to fear.



"Rise above the political pressures of the moment to do what is right for America."

Yes, Joe Lieberman is too good for the Democratic Party. He should be heeded by every American who can think, and comprehend, without having to latch on to a public opinion poll. Americans deserve more than Poll Leadership. Our soldiers deserve more than having to hear continuous bellyaching from pandering politicos who have only their own election results and party line to consider.



Listen to Joe, and if you are a Democrat, try to think for yourself for a minute. Look past your Bush Derangement Syndrome, and put the country first, for a change.



h/t Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler (nice doggie~!)

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