Threedonia’s Word of the Day

Principled — “1. Instructed in, imbued with, holding, or motivated by certain principles; taking a position on principle; that is so or such on principle.”
“4. Based on principles or rules; (esp. of a system, method, etc.) guided by technical principles; not arbitrary or ad hoc.” (OED 2d ed. Draft Revision 2009)

Today’s example is Senator Joseph Lieberman — Independent from Connecticut. Joe Lieberman is a liberal. As such I probably disagree with him 90% of the time. But oh what an important 10% agreement it is. Rising like a phoenix from the globally warmed ashes of Gore-Lieberman 2000 Joe has had a stalwart 2000s. I believe history will look kindly on Lieberman when the wheat is finally separated from the chaff by historians on exactly what the hell happened this decade. Sen. John McCain who tried to wear the mantle of “independent” is not principled — he’s “self-interested” (and yes I know he’s a hero, but hero does not equal “perfect” or even “correct”). Mercurial is not the same as principled. One changes at the drop of a hat while the other is an anchor during stormy times.

Iraq? While Lieberman’s party was openly rooting for defeat or its evil twin appeasement (aka “defeat”)… Lieberman supported President Bush and General Petraeus in calling for more troops in Iraq and in supporting the surge. Likewise Lieberman supports victory in Afghanistan — not defeat, not stalemate — victory. I’m sure Lieberman is, at heart, a peacenik. Who doesn’t love peace? His principles, however, lead him to support things he may find distasteful, but nevertheless necessary. That is the very essence of being principled.

He supports more government intervention in the economy than I do — he’s a liberal after all and I’m conservative. But his principle is liberty above all meaning he has an external limit — a higher standard than what he “feels” might be good. He knows that too much government is bad. He’s a liberal — not an ideologue. In addition to his stands on Iraq and Afghanistan he is also standing athwart the Pelosi/Obama/Reid/Baucus/Conrad health care debacle. He’s going to filibuster a public option health care plan. I know he wants more government oversight than I do of our health care system, but he knows that a complete takeover is a bad thing and he bucks his own party to do it. There will be consequences for him for doing this. While I know he says he will support some Republicans in 2010 and beyond he truly is a man without a party. He’s too principled to caucus with Democrats in lockstep and he’s too liberal to fully join the GOP either. Does he care? I’m sure he does — he’s human and unlike so many others on Capitol Hill — principled.

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