Beyond McCain's promise of war today, war tomorrow, war forever, his townhall with Lieberman offered some interesting insight into his New Hampshire campaign strategy. Lieberman was not, to be sure, merely an on-stage gladhander, or emcee. McCain asked him to stay on the podium and help answer questions. It became, in effect, a McCain townhall featuring Joe Lieberman.Thats a bit abnormal. But it actually makes sense. In my article yesterday on the tensions in McCain's campaign, I argued that McCain's great challenge is to simultaneously channel the authenticity and independence of his 2000 run with the "good soldier" positions of his 2008 campaign. That's a few multitudes more than one man can comfortably contain. But what became clear yesterday is that two men can achieve that balance just fine.In the townhall, McCain was on the stage to continue his 2008 campaign for president. And Lieberman was on the stage to replay his 2000 campaign for president. So McCain would offer the pat conservative response, and then Lieberman would jump in and wink and nod and nudge and imply that, yes, McCain is conservative, but he loves to listen, and learn, and work across the aisle, and get things done. Were McCain to suggest these character traits in himself, he'd be written off as an insincere apostate. But Lieberman, in his new guise as "sworn enemy of Democrats," can make arguments on McCain's behalf that McCain himself could never get away with. A good example came on health care. McCain offered standard conservative pabulum, darkly arned about the hell that is Canada, and happily promised to ruin our system. Lieberman then jumped in to say the really great thing about McCain is that hed listen to all sides, work with both parties, and actually get something done. If you like Lieberman because he hates Democrats, you understand that to mean he'll bring conservative Democrats over and outflank the liberals, just as Lieberman did. If you're really an independent, you're comforted that McCain can achieve reform. And if you're a hardcore conservative, you're happy he's bashing Canada. Everyone leaves pleased. THE JOE AND JOHN SHOW.
Beyond McCain's promise of war today, war tomorrow, war forever, his townhall with Lieberman offered some interesting insight into his New Hampshire campaign strategy. Lieberman was not, to be sure, merely an on-stage gladhander, or emcee. McCain asked him to stay on the podium and help answer questions. It became, in effect, a McCain townhall featuring Joe Lieberman.Thats a bit abnormal. But it actually makes sense. In my article yesterday on the tensions in McCain's campaign, I argued that McCain's great challenge is to simultaneously channel the authenticity and independence of his 2000 run with the "good soldier" positions of his 2008 campaign. That's a few multitudes more than one man can comfortably contain. But what became clear yesterday is that two men can achieve that balance just fine.In the townhall, McCain was on the stage to continue his 2008 campaign for president. And Lieberman was on the stage to replay his 2000 campaign for president. So McCain would offer the pat conservative response, and then Lieberman would jump in and wink and nod and nudge and imply that, yes, McCain is conservative, but he loves to listen, and learn, and work across the aisle, and get things done. Were McCain to suggest these character traits in himself, he'd be written off as an insincere apostate. But Lieberman, in his new guise as "sworn enemy of Democrats," can make arguments on McCain's behalf that McCain himself could never get away with. A good example came on health care. McCain offered standard conservative pabulum, darkly arned about the hell that is Canada, and happily promised to ruin our system. Lieberman then jumped in to say the really great thing about McCain is that hed listen to all sides, work with both parties, and actually get something done. If you like Lieberman because he hates Democrats, you understand that to mean he'll bring conservative Democrats over and outflank the liberals, just as Lieberman did. If you're really an independent, you're comforted that McCain can achieve reform. And if you're a hardcore conservative, you're happy he's bashing Canada. Everyone leaves pleased. 
