The Hartford Courant is noting a change in Joe Lieberman's stance on being John McCain's running mate. Lieberman, who has indicated he won't run with McCain in the past, is now silent on the topic. Here's what he said:

"The rest of us, particularly those of use who are privileged to be his friends, ought to take a temporary vow of silence," Lieberman said. "I don't expect the offer will be extended to me, but I'm going to continue my vow of silence about any hypotheticals."

The conservative punditocracy is abuzz (is it ever anything else?) with talk of how a Joe Lieberman pick might affect John McCain's chances of winning the presidency.

In addition to CQ VP Watch's past observations on a Lieberman candidacy -- bipartisanship, piety (or unctuousness, depending on your bent) and hawkishness vs. liberalism on hot-button social issues such as abortion and gay rights -- McCain and Lieberman have a long history of working together on issues outside the Iraq war.

There's their climate change bill, a measure aimed at implementing the recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission, legislation to establish a commission to curb federal subsidies for corporations, a measure to close the "gun show loophole" that was criticized by both sides, and others.

And there would be no shortage of video clips of Democrats praising Lieberman like the ones of Democrats praising McCain that were spliced together in this recent ad.


There's also no doubt that there would be significant dissatisfaction in the GOP ranks (not to mention revulsion from many Democrats) were McCain to run with the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee.

But here's a sample of what conservatives are saying about the pros of a McCain/Lieberman ticket.

The National Review's Rich Lowry:

"To placate Republicans and maximize the political impact of his selection, Lieberman would have to join the ticket as part of a McCain pledge to serve just one term. Both McCain and Lieberman would promise not to run for president in 2012, removing any possibility of Lieberman becoming a successor or putting his imprint on the Republican Party. Their administration would be above electoral politics, a high-minded exercise in competent governance and bipartisan compromise ...

McCain-Lieberman is a more desperate move than McCain should feel compelled to make right now. But check back after Denver."