The reason that conservatives stick up for Lieberman is because his criticisms of the anti-war left are more likely to pursuade democrats then the republicans are. Since he stands up for a lot of the principles of the democratic party his credibility in the eyes of many democrats should be higher. As a republican I would like to see Lieberman in office because he points out how looney his party is getting. Its just like how Zell Miller was constantly cited by republicans. When the democrats have members of their own party strongly dissenting on an issue as important as national security it just makes them look ridiculous.