Lieberman channels Bush

After watching the debate last night, Huffington Post contributor Ari Melber can't tell the difference between Joe Lieberman and George Bush.

"I believe it was the right thing for us to overthrow Saddam Hussein," said Senator Joe Lieberman last night, explaining his support for the Iraq War during the heated primary debate with Ned Lamont. Lieberman's stubborn defense sounded eerily similar to another unpopular politician under pressure for the war. Last night President Bush assured Larry King "the decision to remove Saddam Hussein was the right decision."

Lieberman actually channeled Bush throughout the debate. He echoed the White House spin on Iraq, arguing the only "choice is between helping the Iraqis achieve a free and independent Iraq or abandoning them and letting the terrorists take over." He trotted out baseless flip-flop charges, accusing Lamont of taking five different positions on the war. And when all else failed, Lieberman deployed the classic Bush-Rove tactic: project your own weakness on to your opponent. So he accused Lamont of the top grievances voters have against Lieberman: voting too often with Republicans, acting out of touch and prioritizing power over principle. (He claimed Lamont's war position only changed when he decided there was an "opportunity to become a United States senator").

No wonder Lieberman is President Bush's favorite "cut and run" Democrat...they sound and act exactly alike.

Lieberman can keep cheering and channeling Bush, but the hammering will continue. And as luck would have it, Bush is no longer cheering (or kissing) back. Last night, when Larry King pressed him on whether he supports Lieberman, Bush said he would not give Lieberman "a political kiss, which could be his death." But as Connecticut voters know, that kiss was already planted a long time ago.

Not only is that "kiss" cemented in the minds of the voters in Connecticut, a button and parade float was created as a constant reminder of the love shared between the two neo-cons.