Blog Buzz: The Iranian Evolution and the Cross-Party Veep-Stakes

Our daily look at stories and topics lighting up the Internets today:

Appeasement watch: Richardson, history and the evolutionary parse

Hot Air's Ed Morrissey and RedState's Soren Dayton love Bill Richardson's Fox News appearance ("You don't talk to Ahmadinejad, you talk to some of the moderate clerics"). NRO's Jim Geraghty wonders if the Obama camp will now start calling Richardson Judas, too. Barron YoungSmith, at TNR's The Plank, says that Obama's position has been evolving and becoming more practical. Matthew Yglesias says that a look at U.S. history doesn't reflect well upon the McC-Bush don't-talk-to-em style of diplomacy. Atlantic colleague Marc Ambinder does a full parse on Obama's position.

Veep-swap

Joe Lieberman's Wall Street Journal op-ed has sent Internet libs into new heights of outrage, with Ed Kilgore at the Democratic Strategist suggesting the Connecticut "Independent Democrat" might need psychological help and Think Progress's Matt noting that Bill Kristol has touted Lieberman as a possible Republican VP choice. Marc Ambinder also wonders about Joementum appearing on a McC short list. Buzz wonders if a (second) Lieberman veep-bid wouldn't become more likely if Obama crosses party lines first, with Chuck Hagel suddenly a popular figure in progressive/Democratic circles. CarpetBagger's Steve Benen wonders if Hagel might be the Dem's Lieberman, as does HuffPo's Sam Stein. Hagel was musing Tuesday night about impeaching Bush if he bombs Iran. At a minimum, Comments From Left Field's Kyle Moore would like to see Hagel get a prime-time speaking gig at the Dem convo.

— Robert Schlesinger