A Man Without a Home

On IMDB, the plot for the movie The Terminal is described like this:

While Viktor Navorski is en route to the U.S. to fulfill a wish of his late father's, there is a coup in the Eastern European country in which he lives. When he lands at JFK, he learns that his country is no longer recognized by the U.S. so he cannot enter - and he can't go home either, because all planes to his country are canceled. While waiting in this limbo, Viktor takes up residence in JFK Terminal and learns another definition of home.

I haven't seen the movie, but it's pretty easy to imagine.

Thinking about this movie (again, I haven't seen it), makes me think about another man without a home. Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman. Oh how the mighty - or not so mighty - have fallen.

It wasn't so long ago the Lieberman was traveling the country, and the world with his homeboy, J-Mac. Lieberman served a useful purpose for J-Mac. When J-Mac didn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and didn't even know that there was a dispute between the two denominations of Islam, Lieberman was there to help him out. Hey, who could blame J-Mac? Sunnis and Shia's have only been fighting for 1,400 years.

Lieberman also acted as a surrogate and attack dog for J-Mac throughout this campaign. Lieberman questioned Obama and attacked Obama throughout the spring and summer. Who could really blame him? He was J-Mac's biggest supporter. He was the representation of all that was Mavericky about J-Mac. I mean, how many times has J-Mac talked about reaching accross the isle to his friend, Joe "the Senator?" Liberman had the inside track to the VP slot on J-Mac's ticket. They were best friends. Lieberman, however, wasn't selected to be VP (weren't they best friends!?!). J-Mac decided that this person would be a better VP candidated that Lierberman:

Ohhhhh. Joe "the Senator" must be angry. He was there for J-Mac. He had J-Mac's back. He helped him out. He knew the difference between Sunni and Shia. Sarah Palin can't even claim that much.

It wasn't too long ago that Joe "the Senator" was a Democrat (capital 'D'). He was on a Democratic ticket that won the popular vote for the Presidency only 8 years ago. Since then, however, his pro-war, pro-Bush, and pro-J-Mac stance has got him in trouble. In 2006, he lost his primary election, as an incumbent. He ended up winning the election as an Independent (capital 'I').

This fall, for a time, even after he got snubbed by J-Mac, Joe "the Senator" probably thought things would be OK. "J-Mac & Trig's mom" had a nice ring to it. It seemed like they might even win this election. Joe "the Senator" could keep his position as a Senator, or possibly take a cushy appointment in a J-Mac administration. But things took a turn for the worse. That 'unqualified' Obama guy took a lead in the polls. Then he extended that lead. All of a sudden it began to look like he might win the election.

Even worse for Joe "the Senator" was the fact that it doesn't appear that 2006 was the only Democratic landslide that we are going to see this decade. 2008 is shaping up to produce even more gains for the Democratic party. And for Joe "the Senator," this isn't good news. Joe "the Senator" is the chairman of two important committees in the Senate. Sure, the Democrats control the Senate and Joe "the Senator" isn't a Democrat. But he used to be. And, he typically caucuses with Democrats (unless he's chosing a Presidential candidate). Moreover, the Democrats, in the Senate, are clinging to a 51-49 majority in the Senate. This majority includes Joe "the Senator." They need Joe "the Senator" to keep their majority. They wouldn't take away his prized chairmanship positions because they need his vote.

But, the landslide is going to come. The Democrats are going to pick up anywhere between 5 and 9 seats in the Senate next Tuesday. All of a sudden, Joe's vote won't be so important to the Democrats. The Democratic leadership won't need to cajole and masage the ego of Joe "the Senator" anymore. And his chairmanships? Harry Reid can give them to whomever he damn well pleases. Do we think that Joe sees the writing on the wall? Earlier this week, Lieberman couldn't wait any longer to find the nearest news agency to proclaim his new found respect for Sen. Obama:

When I go out, I say, 'I have a lot of respect for Sen. Obama. He's bright. He's eloquent.'

Who is Joe fooling with this act of his? Anyone? He'd have to be a far better actor to pull of this switch-a-roo. He'd have to win an Oscar, just like Tom Hanks has, once or twice in his career. Joe, I know Tom Hanks. And you're no Tom Hanks.