We can but hope.

WaPo’s columnist Dana Milbank, a friend of Joe’s, reacts in horror at Lieberman’s latest foray into Beck-land.

The Israeli tabloid Yedioth Ahronoth came out on Wednesday with a shocking report: Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann would join Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) at Glenn Beck’s rally in Israel in August.

It turned out that much of the report was wrong. The three candidates quickly said they had no such plans – a sensible decision. Beck’s hateful shtick encouraged even Fox News to end his show later this month. But, incredibly, another piece of the report was true. “I’d love to participate,” Lieberman confirmed when The Post’s Felicia Sonmez found him in a Capitol hallway. “It’s just going to be a rally to support Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

This nearly caused me to plotz.

Joe Lieberman, first Jew on a presidential ticket, was embracing Beck, the leading purveyor of anti-Semitic memes in the mass media. One of the most visible Jews in America was making common cause with a man who invoked apocalyptic Christian theology in promoting his rally in Israel.

I admire Lieberman, and I’ve defended him over the years when he defied party and faction. But if he shares a stage with this creature, he will surrender the decency that has defined his public life. …WaPo

When questioned, Lieberman began to back off. He may find he’s too busy to go to Israel with Beck, et cetera. I’m not so sure he’ll decide to stay home. Or rather, I hope not. Joe Lieberman has been consistent in two things: his militarism and his unprincipled politics. Anything that finishes his wearying presence on the public stage is fine with me.

Cross posted from the blog Prairie Weather.