Jumpin' Joe Lieberman

(Newser) - William F. Buckley Jr. was a titan on the political scene, carving out his own brand of conservatism. But one day after his death, writers differ on his legacy: At Slate, Timothy Noah notes Buckley’s more noxious stances—defending segregationists and Joe McCarthy—and says it’s good fortune “Buckley’s man Ronald Reagan” didn’t accomplish goals of turning back civil-rights law and shrinking government. George W. Bush’s ascendance thankfully marked a return to Republicanism at peace with the New Deal. More »

(Newser) - Chris Dodd endorsed Barack Obama today in Cleveland, praising his ex-opponent for his "ability to reach and touch the hearts and souls of Americans," the Plain Dealer reports. The first former candidate to make an endorsement in the race, Dodd told the Hartford Courant he was "back and forth" between Obama and Hillary Clinton ahead of Connecticut's February 5 primary. More »

(Newser) - Grasping for good news on the eve of the Florida primary, Rudy Giuliani released a video today touting his failure to win endorsements from the Tampa Tribune , Orlando Sentinel , South Florida Sun-Sentinel , and New York Times . “He’s not endorsed by any of the liberal newspapers,” the voice-over boasts. But a couple of those publications aren’t known for their leftism, the St. Petersburg Times notes. More »

(Newser) - John McCain, whose candidacy barely registered in polls a few months ago, is enjoying a momentum surge in New Hampshire. “I am obviously going to try to capitalize” on three key newspaper endorsements and Joe Lieberman’s support, McCain said. He's seeking the same independents who gave him the 2000 primary win, the New York Times reports. More »

(Newser) - Democratic Connecticut senator and one-time vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman is expected today to announce his support of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, reports the Washington Post . The newly "Independent Democrat" agrees with McCain's hawkish Iraq stance, and his backing is thought to hold some sway with moderate and independent voters in the primaries. More »

(Newser) - Senate Democrats wouldn’t be in the majority if Joe Lieberman didn’t caucus with them, but maybe they’d be better off, the New York Observer’ s Steve Kornacki argues. Kornacki says the Independent senator embarrasses Dems by siding with the enemy  and accusing them of being terrorist coddlers. He's a bully who likes to taunt them with the possibility of defection. But he has more to lose from a divorce than they do. More »

(Newser) - The Senate voted last night to temporarily extend the government's controversial surveillance program, the Washington Post reports. The contentious 60-28 vote, a  concession to the White House by Democrats, will allow for the continued interception of electronic communication between Americans and overseas parties without  a court order. The measures will be reconsidered in 6 months. More »

(Newser) - Three senators—a Democrat, an Independent and a Republican—have proposed a radical reinvention of the now-hopelessly-congested presidential primary system. To avoid states racing to the top of the calendar, it would establish four regions, each assigned its own voting day. Drafted by Amy Klobuchar, Joe Lieberman, and Lamar Alexander, the legislation would be in effect for the 2012 elections, the Hill reports. More »

(Newser) - Senate Democrats failed to collect enough votes this morning to pass a bill that would force President Bush to begin pulling troops out of Iraq within 120 days. After a spirited all-night debate, 52 voted in favor of the measure and 47 against, but rules require 60 "yes" votes to avert a Republican filibuster. More »

(Newser) - Mitt Romney is still having to explain and defend his religion on the campaign trail. In recent weeks, staffers for two GOP rivals sent out e-mails questioning Mormon beliefs (the candidates later apologized), notes ABC News. And Romney himself has had to battle misconceptions about his faith, especially with regard to polygamy, which the church banned in 1890. More »

(Newser) - The cancellation of the Don Imus' show creates a vacuum for Democratic pols  who've used it to reach the white, politically independent men that were Imus's prime audience, the LA Times reports. Democratic candidates like Joe Lieberman,  Chris Dodd, John Kerry, and Harold E. Ford were among those who availed themselves of Imus' s sympathetic ear. More »