They used to be "San Francisco Democrats," a phrase coined by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick to describe the party's 1984 convention. But they have now morphed into Taliban Democrats because they are willing to "kill" one of their own, if he does not conform to the narrow and rigid agenda of the party's kook fringe.

Mr. Lieberman's one "sin," in the eyes of the Taliban Democrats, was that he supported the effort to defeat the insurgent-terrorists in Iraq. As a Jew, Mr. Lieberman is particularly sensitive to those who have targeted the Jewish people for extinction. But even if he weren't Jewish, he would still "get it," because he understands what's at stake in the region and has correctly concluded that the consequences of American failure in Iraq would be catastrophic. [...]

Taliban Democrats have effectively issued a political "fatwa" that warns all Democrats not to deviate from their narrow line, or else face the end of their careers through a political jihad. Perhaps the few remaining rational Democrats should put on their burkas now and submit to the will of the party mullahs.

Cal Thomas

This was a new low, even for him. Since when does Cal Thomas care who wins a Democratic primary? Isn't Republican control over the White House and Congress enough for him, or does he want to control the Democratic Party too? Or is he angry that Connecticut Democrats rejected the man George W. Bush smooched in public after the 2005 State of the Union address?

This is the sort of illogical bilge Thomas is known for. But his Taliban Democrats slur and his insinuations of anti-Semitism are downright insulting. In 2000, I proudly joined 51,003,925 other Americans in voting for Joseph Lieberman as vice president. Having seen how loyally Lieberman supports his new make-out buddy, I wouldn't support him for dogcatcher now.

Further, Thomas' Taliban Democrats slur dishonors millions of patriotic Americans whose only crime is unwillingness to cheer like Lieberman does for Bush's disastrous Iraq war. Deeply as I disagree with Bush's remaining supporters, I would never use terms like Taliban to describe them. I realize they too (in their own way) want the best for America. But Thomas's deliberate character assassination sounds just like the shrill, desperate lies Joseph Goebbels spouted about America in spring 1945.

Joe Hughes, Springfield