Is McCain now a Lieberman Democrat? Or is Lieberman a McCain Republican?

… Or, is there any difference? We all know, of course, that Lieberman and McCain are on the same page when it comes to Iraq. And we know many Democrats are in high spirits now that Joe has completely bolted for the Dark Side. But Republicans might be wise to ask themselves: Do you want him? After all, Lieberman’s recent I-didn’t-leave-them-they-left-me speech was a strike at the entire Democratic Party rather than a shot at some weak-kneed foreign policy position. Does Lieberman’s broadside mean he feels more comfortable in the GOP now. And if so, what does that say about the GOP?

“Well, I say that the Democratic Party changed,” Lieberman told ABC’s “This Week” this past Sunday. “The Democratic Party today was not the party it was in 2000. It’s not the Bill Clinton-Al Gore party, which was strong internationalists, strong on defense, pro-trade, pro-reform in our domestic government. It’s been effectively taken over by a small group on the left of the party that is protectionist, isolationist . . . and very, very hyperpartisan.”

Some observations:

–Partisanship only seems “very very hyper” when the rabble is focusing on you. Partisanship is the natural byproduct of joining a party. And if you’re a member of the party why not be hyper about it? If God wanted bipartisanship he wouldn’t have created Lee Atwater or Ragin’ Cajun.

–The Democratic Party has indeed moved left over the past decade, but it certainly hasn’t been hijacked by a “small group”. It’s a huge group. Such a huge group that they can no longer even be considered hijackers.

–Though Lieberman hasn’t been Eugene V. Debs, he’s not been an “internationalist” (whatever that means) or a free-trader or pro-reform, either. On a whole host of issues, he’s been solidly mainstream left. Sidling up to McCain won’t change that history, though it may remind conservatives that the Maverick has reworked his image these past few months … or, actually, his whole life.