God bless Joe Lieberman

As I noted here, I'm a fan of sincere, intellectually honest politicians. Regardless of their positions, they invite everyone to engages ideas on their merits, as opposed to engaging in childish demogoguery.

I mention this because I have tremendous admiration for Joe Lieberman. He has been possibly the most important U.S. senator since I began following politics (circa 2000). He has stuck his neck out with his support of the global war on Islamic terrorists (or whatever your preferred nomenclature is), and he nearly got his head chopped off for it. He has become a man without a party.

He truly believes the war in Iraq is vitally important to the future of the United States, and he proclaims his beliefs in strong, unambiguous language. Today, in the Washington Post:

I've just spent 10 days traveling in the Middle East and speaking to leaders there, all of which has made one thing clearer to me than ever: While we are naturally focused on Iraq, a larger war is emerging. On one side are extremists and terrorists led and sponsored by Iran, on the other moderates and democrats supported by the United States. Iraq is the most deadly battlefield on which that conflict is being fought. How we end the struggle there will affect not only the region but the worldwide war against the extremists who attacked us on Sept. 11, 2001.

God bless Joe Lieberman. Both Republicans and Democrats could use more men and women like him. But one party needs him more: the party that elects these guys.