William F. Buckley, Joe Lieberman, and George Soros

William F. Buckley has an interesting column in National Review in which he describes his reasoning for supporting Joe Lieberman. Being a resident of Connecticut, Buckley's perspective on the state's U.S. Senate race was of great interest to the media.

A newsman approached Buckley and asked for whom he was going to vote on Tuesday. Normally Buckley resists answering such questions out of his staunch belief that voter choices should be private and by secret ballot. In this case, however, he quickly decided to suspend his self-imposed silence and simply answered, 'Lieberman.'

The newsman was surprised. A second question followed, 'But why?'

Buckley then gave the newsman the sound reasoning which I have been positing on The Liberty Sphere for weeks. The Republican candidate in Connecticut has about as much a chance of winning as Kennedy would in Yazoo City, Mississippi. The Democrats threw their support behind a Leftist, anti-war candidate in order to punish Lieberman's defiance of the Party leadership by following his conscience.

The result has been only two viable candidates--Lieberman and Lamont. Buckley's view is that the choice becomes abundantly clear. Lieberman believed that it was imperative that we go into Iraq, and he has stood by his decision in spite of widespread public discontent in Connecticut over the war. Lamont, who is endorsed by Democrat billionaire George Soros, wants to embarrass the U.S. by withdrawing immediately and 'admitting our defeat.'

Buckley was one of the classic conservatives who believed that going into Iraq was a mistake. But, like Goldwater and Reagan before him, he also believes that if we are going to fight a war we must do so to win. Cutting and running is not an option, for that would send a signal of defeat to Jihadists who would be emboldened by such a move.

Lieberman shares that point of view. His opponent would immediately withdraw troops, leaving Iraq at the mercy of insurgents and waving the white flag of defeat to the world. It is no accident that the Lamont campaign is heavily endorsed and bankrolled by George Soros and Moveon.org. The mere fact that Soros opposes Lieberman is in itself indicative of the Senator's impeccable character.