By Mark David Blum, Esq.

Senator Joe Lieberman was the best thing to happen to the Republican party since Karl Rove learned how to count votes. Today, finally, he is no longer a voice for the Democrats in Connecticut.

If you have been following the media, it has been the right wing religious fundamentalists who have been Joe’s biggest supporters. Republicans have splattered the airwaves with their hate spittle “warning” Democrats that a shift to the left is going to be disasterous. Neo cons everywhere painted Lieberman as a stable moderate voice for the progressives and libertarians amongst us. Democrats needed Lieberman – so we were told by all the Republicans.

That, my friends, is the great lie. Joseph Lieberman was no representative of Democrat and Progressive and Libertarian values. Not only was he a supporter of an immoral and unjust war, but he was also among those who insisted Terry Schiavo languish and suffer longer. Lieberman stood shoulder to shoulder with the White House on all issues security … from invasions of American’s privacy, to stripping down the constitutional wall between religion and state, to backing the trillion dollar boondoggle known as Iraq, to cowering and remaining silent on the reactionary appointments and Dominionist takeover of the federal judiciary.

My mother and her friends told me back in 2004 I should support Lieberman because “he was a Jew”. Apparently, to some, the anointment of being one of God’s chosen people was to give Lieberman a special status in my nationalist agenda. I cannot imagine anything more ignorant than to select a candidate based on their religious upbringing. (For the record: to a Jew, Lieberman is no Jew). In fact, I can almost envision Senator Joe being among those standing there at the train stations telling their friends and neighbors it is OK to get on the trains because the Nazis are taking them to a better place.

The message sent by the Connecticut voters yesterday was not just that America is sick of the war. We are a war-weary nation. Iraq has not only drained our national treasury, but it has drained our national pride, sapped our spirit, and emptied our international trove of moral platitudes. The message was that not only do we want our soldiers home NOW, but that we still have not forgotten that Iraq was illegal at the start, was based on a lie, and someone has to answer for it.

But I read the vote yesterday as being more than just a referendum on Iraq. Americans on whole are sick and tired of politicians who have no testicles. We want our leaders, especially those in the opposition, to stand tall and speak loudly against the policies of the majority. Joe Lieberman was a “yes boy” and went along with the Republicans on every move. If he did disagree with them or was against one of their policies, I never heard it. Joe was a quiet and insignificant Senator who never took the lead or risked his career on an issue. He was in the Senate for the pension and perks; to the exclusion of the rights and protections he owed those for whom he spoke.

America has had it with the Republicans and their policies. We have seen them as the party of war, the party of big spending, the party who cannot protect us from attack, the party of GOD and religious fundamentalism, the party of big government, big welfare, economic incompetence, and the party of patronage. They have mastered the art of mediocrity and made greed the symbol of the American way.

From the new crop of candidates, we seek leaders who even though they may not carry the day, will at least step up and do what is expected of them. Rubberstamping illegal wars and advancing God as the American agenda is no longer acceptable. We want opposition who can lead and guide America to Her better ideals.

If you are looking for a Jew with the balls to do his job, then vote for Senator Russ Feingold.

Otherwise, be thankful Lieberman is now out of office. America is a better nation for it.