Editor's note: I was sure as hell wrong about Joe Lieberman, wasn't I? He turns out to have a pulse, having found himself in the role of Sweetest and Most Earnest Attack Dog in American Politics. I love the crinkly bit he does around the corners of his eyes -- that Woe Unto the World for it Must Needs Be that Evil Cometh bit -- as he shakes his head, smiles and laments the fact that bands of starving children, bellies distended, roam the streets of Dallas.
> So what's your take on Lieberman? Do you think he was a politically savvy > choice or a politically suicidal choice?
Suicide. The reason Gore picked Joe -- that he's Mr. Clean -- matters to Gore, who feels (incorrectly) that Clinton Fatigue is a liability. Bush will still try to hound him on his association with Slick. But the public doesn't care nearly as much as the pols do; they're sick of it, they're especially sick of the GOP's squawking, and they'd get sick of Bush if Bush squawked overmuch. The only folks suffering from Clinton Fatigue are die-hard Republicans, anyway. So Lieberman's strength doesn't play to Gore's needs.
No: Gore needed someone charismatic. He shouldn't have been afraid to be upstaged; he needs to be upstaged. He needed a firebrand, an upstart, an explosive charismatic barnburning speaker to stump for him and enliven the ticket. He picked someone stiff and moral, straight, square and dull -- someone like himself -- a brilliant, boring man of faith. Won't play well to the public. It's a boom economy and we want entertainment. We want a warm fuzzy like Bill. It's why Bush is doing so well; he's personable. Reagan, Clinton, GW. Gore is out of step.
If Lieberman really shows some color, he might pull it out of the hat. But I suspect he won't. He looked good in high dudgeon, taking Slick to task, but the drama of that moment was situational, not personal.
It is nice to finally have a Jew on the ticket. Too bad it's a losing ticket. Maybe next time. Gore fumbled away a hugely winnable election, just like Bush Sr. did. It's a shame. He's bright and very funny and I wish he'd been more savvy and less arrogant.
