Bizarre Speech Gets Low Marks Bipartisan speech lacked red meat for base By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff Posted Sep 3, 2008 11:40 AM CDT Copied Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Joe Lieberman’s speech was certainly noteworthy, but not necessarily in a good way. Here’s what pundits are saying: Lieberman “muddled through” his speech “like a reluctant accomplice,” writes Adam Kushner of Newsweek. Whereas Zell Miller had Republicans whooping, Lieberman gave a languid, golf-clap-worthy address. The Connecticut senator probably “has too many parties to make a coherent argument,” theorizes Mark Halperin of Time. Praise of Bill Clinton particularly confused the crowd. But it was that very understated manner that appealed to Kyle-Anne Shiver of the American Thinker. “He does not need to rely on theatrics,” Shiver raves. Instead, he seemed genuine, endorsing McCain out of “heartfelt belief." Dana Goldstein of the American Prospect thinks Lieberman’s “country matters more than party” line got to the core of the GOP message, but still found his appearance “surreal and a bit sad." (More Joe Lieberman stories.) Report an error