Lieberman gives final speech

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Lieberman has been on the national political stage through most of the past two decades with some incredible ups and downs starting as a card carrying Democrat and becoming in many minds a turn coat. In his final speech today he delivered his prescription to solve the federal government's gridlock.

"It requires reaching across the isle and finding partners from the opposite party. It means ultimately putting the interest of country and constituents ahead of the dictates of party and ideology," Sen. Joe Lieberman said.

"I have to believe that the highlight of your career in politics is running for Vice President with Al Gore," News 8's Mark Davis asked.

"I look back at it honestly with gratitude and a great amount of fondness. It was an incredible experience, I mean, obviously, the way it ended, with the Supreme Court deciding essentially who won was disappointing, was infuriating, but you know, life goes on," Sen. Lieberman said.

Lieberman went on to run for President himself in 2004 with disastrous results and his support for the war in Iraq further alienated him from many Connecticut Democrats.

Greenwich millionaire businessman Ned Lamont challenged Lieberman in the primary in 2006 and won.

"There's no question that the most difficult, I'd say hurtful moment in my political career was the day, the night I lost the Democratic Primary in 2006 to Ned Lamont," Sen. Lieberman said.

But Lieberman had hedged his political bets, qualifying to run as an independent in November and won re-election.

Despite the fact he was rejected by Democrats in Connecticut, Democrats in the U.S. Senate gave him the prestigious position of Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

"Notwithstanding the disagreement among many of my colleagues in the Democratic caucus in the Senate about what I believed about the Iraq War. We had developed working relationships, they had trust in me, the divisions in the Senate Democratic caucus were, frankly, never as deep as they became among Democrats here in Connecticut," Lieberman said.

He further angered Connecticut Democrats by endorsing Republican John McCain for President in 2008, even speaking at the GOP national convention.

"John McCain was and is my dear friend. When he called me and asked me to support him in late 2007, I thought about it and I said, 'you know, I'm an independent, this is my friend, he's got the experience to be a great president and I'm going to support him,' and so, I have no regrets," Sen. Lieberman said.

"McCain really wanted you to be his vice presidential running mate, didn't he," News 8's Davis asked.

"John had a...not only because of our relationship, our friendship...we thought a lot the same about foreign policy, national security but I think he understood that it was going to be a very tough race against Barack Obama and he wanted to say to the public; 'maybe it's time for a bi-partisan ticket and, uh, but I think the party convinced him that if he did it there'd be a walkout of Republican delegates at the convention and all the rest and I would say it's for the best that I didn't have that opportunity," Lieberman said.

Lieberman says he and his wife Hadassah plan to sell their Washington D.C. home and live full time in Stamford.

He says he's had several offers for work and plans to keep his hand in public policy and public service and make a little money.

Here is Blumenthal's floor speech regarding Lieberman's retirement .