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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Bill Kristol continues his one man campaign for Lieberman

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  August 25th, 2008 at 08:10 AM  | 

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Image description For a long time Bill Kristol has used John McCain as the empty vessel of Kristol’s hopes and desires. John McCain may not be what Kristol wants, but Kristol imagines him so.

Here is his latest. After floating the trial balloon of a Lieberman nomination a while back, it seems clear with today’s column that Kristol was floating the Lieberman nomination on his own, and not in a way to help the McCain campaign.

Putting lipstick on the pig, Kristol writes:

Now as a matter of governance, there’s no reason to think this would much matter. McCain has made clear his will be a pro-life administration. And as a one-off, quasi-national-unity ticket, with Lieberman renouncing any further ambition to run for the presidency, a McCain-Lieberman administration wouldn’t threaten the continuance of the G.O.P. as a pro-life party. In other areas, no one seriously thinks the policies of a McCain-Lieberman administration would be appreciably different from those, say, of a McCain-Pawlenty administration.

Let me be clear: Joe Lieberman is a non-starter for so many parts of the base that it won’t happen. McCain understands this. McCain will not do it. He wanted to, but it won’t happen.

Everyone knows this now, except Bill Kristol.

Bill, give it a rest.

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COMMENTS

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  • Strelnikov

    …by that picture of a pig, given the religion of both Kristol and Liebermann?

    Was somebody not thinking?

    Or am I being politically correct in my reaction? If so, I will cleanse my reaction with some Barry Goldwater speeches.

    If it makes Kristol’s leg tingle to think of the possibility, well goody for him. But consider that Liebermann has already been rejected once 8 years ago, and was swamped in his own presidential bid.

    He is also not a conservative. So let’s just stop it!

  • Erick

    It’s all about putting lipstick on a pig.

    Deal with it.

  • BrianH

    It’s an old saying. “If you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.”

    So yes, your reaction was wrong.

  • blh1976

    I’m sure Bill Kristol means well, but Lieberman would be a disaster as VP nominee. His only redeeming quality (he had more before he became Algore’s running mate) is his stance on national defense. I think Lieberman’s support for Pres. Bush’s war policy clouds Mr. Kristol’s perspective about anything else.

    On life issues, tax issues, and spending issues, among many, many others, Lieberman has not changed in anyway from his Algore days, despite his support for McCain. Do we really believe that if McCain won and then some how was unable to serve, Pres. Lieberman would actually appoint justices to the Supreme Court in the mold of Roberts and Alito? Do we think Pres. Lieberman would reign in spending? Do we think Pres. Lieberman would cut taxes? Do we think Pres. Lieberman would not go McCain-plus on us re: enviro-lunatics plans? An the list of questions continue to grow. Surely, we’re not this naive – at least most of us. Surely, we won’t waste a perfectly good GOP VP nomination on the person who – only 8 years ago – trumpeted Algore’s virtues?

    Say it ain’t so, Mac, please!!!

    Let’s remember, we’re not electing a president and a vice-president on one issues. And Lieberman’s appeal is only one – or maybe two – issues deep. After that, we’re its a conservative wasteland.

  • Strelnikov

    Okay, I will hit my “libarry” for that cleansing and rid myself of the PC infection!

  • streetwise
  • Rod_Patrick

    As a Republican Leader, McCain must stand on his own. He must choose his own VP on his own term as the Leader of our Party. By leadership, he must be the first one to advance our principles and policies.

    Political calculations such as those by BillK are UNACCEPTABLE.

    BillK (without knowing? I doubt) is offering the idea that WINNING is far more important than protecting one of the core Conservative principles that keep reps/cons together.

    Other policies may change, but PRO-LIFE policy will remain the sanest platform ever… its essence is as eternal as the natural laws.

  • wsjreader

    I’m fairly moderate, but Lieberman is the most laughable possible choice for McCain. He’s just another senator. Image wise, two grumpy old white males are the worst contrast with Obama.

    Democrats/Indepedents won’t vote for McCain just because of Lieberman, they will vote for McCain because McCain is McCain.The conservative base will in revolt mode.

    The only good thing coming out of this pick is shooting for Jewish voters. But Florida is not going for Obama anyway. and frankly if McCain loses FL, he has no plausible path to the magic number, 270.

  • aceintx

    This is equivilent to Amorosa, (Don’t ask me how to spell her name), accusing one of her rivals on the apprentice of racism when she used the quote “Pot calling the Kettle Black”.

  • aceintx

    nt

  • olderthangandalf

    The notion that Lieberman would help McCain misses the boat.

    A lot of conservatives not wild about McCain will come home if it is a clear choice between a liberal ticket and a conservative ticket. If that happens, it’s an even money race.

    But, and here’s the catch, it’s not a clear conservative liberal split if McCain picks a liberal Democrat (and, despite his support for the war in Iraq, Lieberman is a full fledged liberal Democrat).

    Any reasonably conservative Republican with one head and no shocking skeletons, and the faithful find their way home. He/She doesn’t have to be perfect on all issues. But he/she does not to be a Republican, and at least reasonably conservative.

    BTW, why am I not hearing Fred Thompson’s name as a serious VP candidate? It seems to me like he would be ready to be President at once if needed.

  • aceintx

    But Kristol and McCain couldn’t play it better if they wanted to feed the KOS Clowns and deflate the gains McCain has made with the base lately.

    Bill, can we put this to bed already. It’s ain’t gonna happen…so give it a rest!

  • aaronbg

    n/t

  • rrpjr

    Interesting how “experts” can be so starggeringly wrong. Why would McCain want a VP whose only appeal to the party base echoes his own? It’s a redundancy with no collateral upside. But wasn’t it just a month ago Kristol was pushing Palin? What happened?

  • olderthangandalf

    It troubles me – not enough to change my vote, not enough to make me stay home, not enough to make me actually do anything, but just enough to have a vague sense of concern – that McCain would even seriously consider putting a liberal a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Yes, they are good friends; yes, he considers Lieberman to be a very good human being who gets the war on terror. And yet – it just seems to me that in an ideal world the Republican candidate wouldn’t need to be talked out of such a transparently bad idea.

  • aaronbg

    …John McCain has not been the one floating the Lieberman rumor….I believe people associated with his staff have mentioned it but McCain himself has not.

    I really don’t think McCain is even considering Lieberman, rather I think he is allowing the rumor to leak in order to help with the independent image he has created.

    My prediction, McCain will give conservatives some red meat on the VP pick. Additionally he is gonna shock everyone over the next four years by governing conservatively.

  • Rod_Patrick

    Anyone but a lib/dem for me. Because if McCain’s main logic in picking a VP is about calculations, then the correct formula would be:

    A nihilistic lesbian young hispanic anti-war pro-choice black woman.

    The result is totally opposed to the Party’s principles but it will cover everything, far more superior than Liebermann. But even the Dems have failed to find such a “Rock-The-Boat” candidate.

    In conclusion, political correctness is a plaque! But political calculations will end up to an irrational All-in-One Party, with no principles at all.

  • olderthangandalf

    than he gets credit for.

    He’s not 100 percent on all issues all the time, but the fact remains that over a 30 year or career he has been pretty consistently conservative, albeit with a bit of maverick flash that obscures the reality.

    I don’t worry that much about his governing. I worry a little – not a lot, so far – about some of his appointments, and would worry more if his VP pick surprises me. Even then, I’m pretty willing to be 100 percent good with anybody who really is anywhere but on the outside row of the big tent.

  • mattplr

    Gen. David Petraeus as VP. I think that would unite the party as much as it’s going to get, as well as bring independents out for them. To quote that windbag Chris Matthews, that would bring a thrill up my leg to see that ticket.

  • Rod_Patrick
  • Next93

    N/T

  • paint_it_red

    But does Petraeus know anything about managing the economy? Is he a fiscal conservative? A social conservative? Does he support the 2nd Amendment? What type of judges would he appoint? Can he debate? I just don’t know anything about him other than he’d be great on the war against terror. Might be better to keep him as a general.

  • tracycoyle

    I suggested Lieberman as McCain’s choice back in March when it was clear that McCain was not worried about the conservative base. He didn’t win it in the primaries, and if the concept that you appeal to the base in the primaries and the middle in the general, what does it say when you ignore the base and still win the primaries?

    He doesn’t need the base, didn’t want the base, thinks the base is a problem. Given that point of view, going for the middle, going for the ‘across the aisle’ makes Lieberman a considered choice.

    Mavrick to mavrick, Lieberman shows concern for the ‘center’, which means the left.

    I still think it is a possibility.

  • Jaded

    OMG if McCain would take him as VP both legs would be thrilled BUT we need him running the best damn military in the world. I suggest Tommy Franks baby oh yeah….that is the ticket!