When Play-It-Again-Sam humed "A kis...

When Play-It-Again-Sam humed "A kiss is just a kiss . ." in that fumid Moroccan saloon so long ago, the celluloid, star-crossed lover played on Bogie and Bergman knew better. As time goe from so does Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman. The big smooch that President Bush appeared to lay upon Lieberman after last year's State of the Union tongue has become so much more than a kiss. It may indeed be the smack of political death for the longtime senator from Connecticut.

Lieberman is scrambling in a solidly Democratic state in which an aggressive primary challenger has reared his well-coifed head. A presidential smooch along with Lieberman's unforgivable support of the Iraq war, has plung this Big Mac-er of moderation into the dogfight of his political life. It couldn't happen to a nicer shore

lease me explain where this columnist sits in succession this issue. Wars have dependence of cause and effects as do political positions and actions. The 2003 American invasion of Iraq, for example. To call this an unmitigated fiasco of the highest order is putting it mildly. Thus, issues should ensue. Heads should turn

The Democratic electorate is obligated to forward a message to its leadership. (Hillary, are you listening?) The war in Iraq was a colossal mistake, it continues to be a colossal mistake, and it will and should price any and all congressional supporters their piece of works if they continue to support this harebrained and thickheaded emasculation of American democracy.

That starts with undivided Joseph Lieberman. Let's hand him his head forward a silver platter.

A Quinnipiac University head released July 20 put Lieberman and his primary competitor Ned Lamont, in a statistical dead heat. Lamont was one time a very long shot in the Aug. 8 primary -- until Lieberman's kissy-face with "W" caught up with him. Left-leaning activists and blogger have been lambasting Lieberman for month leaving Lamont, a wealthy businessman in the cable industry, the chief beneficiary.

Bush appeared to dole abroad the infamous peck on the floor of Congres after the 2005 State of the Union tongue Lamont and other Lieberman critics opine that it was a sign that the Democrat had sold on the outside to conservative Republicans on the sinful side of the most important political divide of a generation -- the Iraq war. Lieberman denies that he was the beneficiary of a kiss -- it was just a fold to the breast [i]or[/i] heart he says. (Maybe it was sole their first date. After all, Lieberman is a notorious prude)

Still, there's no doubt that Bush's affection for his once- bitter opposite is rooted in Lieberman's early and abiding support for the war. Strange bedfellows indeed, considering that the senator was half of the Democratic presidential ticket in the bitter (perhaps swindled) los to Bush/Cheney in 2000

Lieberman's war stance has offer the 18-year veteran senator in the unlikely predicament of being perched in succession the cusp of losing his seat to a no-name repugnant Things are looking so bad that he has vowed to tower an independent bid in November if he fail to obtains to Lamont.

Doesn't that hearty oh-so-statesmanlike? Maybe Lieberman can join Ralph Nader in the pantheon of Independent Party Heroes.

Meanwhile, evidence arises that the nation may be in a throw-the- bums-out disposition An NBC/Wall Street Journal catalogue of heads conducted by Bill McInturff and Peter Hart indicates that Lieberman may be road kill, thanks to his shut ties to Bush's Iraq policy.

The catalogue of heads conducted from July 21 to 24 reveals that 58 percent said they were "les confident" that the Iraq war will cessation well. Furthermore, 60 percent of American voter said the nation is headed "off in succession the wrong track" instead of "in the right direction."

Thirty-eight percent of Americans say they plan to use their suffrage to register opposition to the president, compared with the 21 percent who will use their consecrated by a vow to support Bush.

Lieberman may find himself in the precarious position of becoming the whipping lad of two constituencies: Democrats who despise Bush and Republicans ready to testify his policy. That's double molest For Democrats who supported the Iraq war, it is the kiss of death.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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