Back in a day not too long ago, Bob Schieffer was one of two remaining television journalists with a hint of spine (the other being Keith Olberman). Every other TV news head in America was afraid of making Condoleezza Rice cry on camera and was just plain afraid of Donald Rumsfeld, but not Schieffer. Schieffer once snapped "let me just ask you to answer the question" at Condi and growled at Rummy, "Well, you really have not directly answered that question, if I may say so, Mr. Secretary."

I don't know what ever happened to that Bob Schieffer, but he was nowhere to be found on last Sunday's Face the Nation McCain campaign ad featuring Joe Lieberman. Last Sunday's Bob Schieffer was Tim Russert reincarnate.

Bumped -- GH. Originally posted 2008-06-12 21:07:33 -0500.

In Alchemy, there is a principle called "equivalent exchange" that comes into play in many areas of life, including politics.

If you replace an ethically challenged President with another ethically challenged President, and ensure that they are fairly equal (roughly equivalent) in terms of their foreign policy, defense posture, economic planning and technological (in)competence, you aren't really doing much of anything to change the system.

John McCain insists that a McCain Presidency won't be a third Bush term -- that putting him into the highest office on the land isn't going to be an equivalent exchange.

Hat-tip to USArmyParatrooper.

There's no magic here, folks.

John McCain == George W. Bush == McBush == McSame

This is why John McCain and his right-hand minion man Joe Lieberman have a serious YouTube problem. This is why neither likes reality very much.

This is why, if McCain gets the Presidency, nothing will change. The country will continue on its way to hell in an elephant-shaped handbasket, adorned with a pretty ribbon and note from George W. reading "Smell ya later!"

This is why the GOP must lose both the Presidency and as much of their standing in Congress and in governerships, circuit courts and DA Offices across the land this election season.

They've gotten away with gaming the system for over 8 years. They came dangerously close to a "permanent" Republican majority, which would have permitted their destruction of the nation to continue apace.

This is why we must change the course our nation is on -- because if we don't force change, and a BIG one, then the destruction they've wrought will fester and spread.

Oh, yeah -- this is an Open Thread.

by avahome, greyhawk, luaptifer & roxy

Back on August 8th, 2006 luaptifer brought us the story HACKED! Lies, Lieberman and Message-mongering -- a look at the "hacking" of joe2006.com. Now, the FBI has concluded the same thing the netroots concluded a year and a half ago.

Jeff Huber, at ePM, may want to be careful because the SPCA could come after him for animal abuse with a comparison like this:

It must be a kick in the head to base your claim to the presidency on your savvy in foreign affairs only to have it get out that Joe Lieberman knows more about them than you do. I bet it’s a lot like how I feel when my dog corrects my grammar in front of people.

John McCain, his stepping stone wife
and Chris Shays with their pet neocon and
foreign policy poodle Joe Lieberman

Via TPM:

Marc Ambinder and Mike Allen are both reporting this afternoon that Joe Lieberman will appear in New Hampshire to endorse John McCain's presidential campaign.

Crossposted from DailyKos and to BelowBoston.

There have been plenty of signs along the way -- bright, gaudy, glaring signs to some of us, which only now stand out to others in hindsight. Joe Lieberman is a former Democratic leader, now compromised by his claims of faux bi-partisanship and blatant support of Republican candidates, policies and talking points.

Scott In NJ's diary Harry Reid can't strip Lieberman of his committee assignments and Steve Singiser's diary Senator Reid: Show Me Something. Expel Lieberman Tomorrow. both wrangle with the issue. A brief blurb I put up over on ePluribus Media 2.0 provides a short collection of some of the signs, portents and their meanings.

What does it all mean? Has this all been avoidable, or are we as a nation perpetually stuck watching a Congressional rendition of kabuki theatre in a Potempkin village,¹ hoping in vain for our broken system of government to fix itself and justify our efforts to get our nation back to some semblance of a true Democracy?

It came as no surprise to many of the folks here. Joe Lieberman supporting his buddy John McCain -- a Republican -- for President. Lieberman's "loyalty" to the Democratic Party was already doubted long ago; indeed, his loyalty to the nation, and to anything outside the Bush Regime, is doubtful.

Let's count some of the ways we'd noted Holy Joe's more notable signals of his true allegiance:

1. Sealed with a Kiss: Lieberman's "Roving" Independence?
2. Sealed with a KISS: Strange Bedfellows, Joe Lieberman and the GOP
3. Joe Lieberman Filibusters Our Troops
4. A Canticle for Lieberman
5. Gates, McCain and Lieberman: Praying the Course in Iraq

Joe Lieberman -- the one true "Liebercrat" of faux bipartisan bearing -- holds several key committee assignments within the Democratic structure. As such, he has been able to refuse to investigate, to hold accountable, or even to initiate investigations into some of the most criminal acts and negiglent actions of the current Administration. He claims to use his committee assignments to faithfully execute the duties of his office...but what has actually he ~done~ with those committee assignments? Mmmmm...

USA Kevin Ryan's case dismissed - why?

Connecticut -- you need to put a recall option on your books for the future. In the meantime, pester the Democratic leadership to do something to mitigate, minimize, marginalize or disenchant Mr. Lieberman.

Please.