Joe Lieberman's Failings

After spending the day on Joe Lieberman's campaign trail Monday, my opinion of him has never been more mixed. By all accounts, he's done a fine job looking out for the interests of his constituents, and that's why they've sent him to the Senate despite a position or two, especially on world affairs, that are largely out of step with New England Democrats.
Lieberman has spent his career trying to craft the image of a man of principle and conscience. But to me, has come across more as an opportunist.
After two unsucessful national campaigns, Lieberman has, as the New York Times put it in endorsing his opponent Ned Lamont, become the Bush administration's leading Democratic yes man. In my view, he clearly did this not out of principle but in the hopes of, at this late stage in his career, being named director of Homeland Security, the CIA or to the UN post that went to John Bolton. Unfortunately for Joe, Bush decided it would be more fun to leave Joe twisting in the breeze. I'd speculate that the president deliberately kissed Lieberman in front of the cameras after his 2005 state of the union to taint his re-election, but that would be giving too much credit to a man who has shown almost no aptitude for foresight and planning.
Regardless, Lieberman's now left in the position of having given his Democrat opponent enough ammunition to, if not blow Lieberman out of the water, at least leave him listing severely to port(that is, to the right.) In the best scenario, Joe pulls off the nomination, trounces the nobody Republican and goes back to The Hill for another six years. But he's damaged goods, and twice as many sharks, smelling blood, will be circling in 2012 if Joe runs again. Those could well include Ned Lamont in a rubber match.
Lieberman has made history as the first Jew on a major party national ticket, but his best days are behind him. I feel sorry for him because, by all accounts, he has performed admirably in looking out for the interests of his constituents. Too bad he didn't, in the end, prove very adept at looking out for himself.