Joe Lieberman (I) Conn.

Politician, statesman, patriot. Here is an excerpt from a speech given last nite on the floor of the Senate as the majority tried to ramrod their "resolution" on the war.

The non-binding measure before us, by contrast, is an accumulation of ambiguities and inconsistencies. It is at once for the war but also against the war. It pledges its support to the troops in the field but also washes its hands of what they are doing. It approves more troops for Anbar but not for Baghdad.We cannot have it both ways. We cannot vote full confidence in General Petraeus, but no confidence in his strategy.

We cannot say that the troops have our full support, but disavow their mission on the eve of battle. This is what happens when you try to wage war by committee. That is why the Constitution gave that authority to the President as Commander in Chief.

The man is a class act. He knows the course is ready to lean to it. The rest of the speech is spot on.