How do you stand on Iraq, m'boy?

I've spent my "online time" these past few days questioning a few "Republican" bloggers on their support for Joe Lieberman. It suprised me (but it shouldn't have) that so-called "Conservatives" are trying to bulid that ol' Joementum to get Lieberman back into the United States Senate.

Lieberman is not a conservative. But, then again, neither are most Republican bloggers..

Pat Buchanan, as ever, makes the point:

[..] Rhapsodizes editor William Kristol, "Is it too fanciful to speculate about a 2008 ticket of McCain-Lieberman, or Guiliani-Lieberman ... ?"

In short, The Weekly Standard wishes to see, on a Republican ticket and a heartbeat away from the presidency, a proud liberal Democrat who supports partial-birth abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, gay rights, affirmative action, reparations for slavery, gun control, higher taxes on the top 2 percent, distribution of condoms in public schools and driver's licenses for illegal aliens.

What does Joe oppose? School prayer, the American Legion's flag amendment, Sam Alito, drilling in the ANWAR and any phase-out of death taxes.

Last year, Joe's rating by Americans for Democratic Action was 80. The ACLU gave him an 83, the NAACP an 85, the AFL-CIO a 92, LULAC a perfect 100. In 2004, Joe got a 100 rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League and a zero from National Right to Life. His American Conservative Union rating was zero. His Christian Coalition rating was zero. The National Rifle Association, which grades by letters, gave Joe a big, fat "F."

But as long as you support war in Lebanon, war in Iraq and a "war-fighting Republican Party," in The Weekly Standard's phrase, you get a pass on everything else. Beat the drum for permanent war for global democracy and against Islamo-fascism, and all other sins are forgiven you.

Such is the state of conservatism, 2006.

To the neocons and their useful idiots in the Republican party (including the Republican Blogosphere) Iraq is the sole test. Your position on that misbegotten war determines your loyalty as an American and your standing in the party.

It is a sure sign of a looming Republican crack-up.