Senator Lieberman's Wise Words on the Beauty of the Sabbath

Senator Joseph Lieberman, the first Jew in American history to run for national office, has written a book instructing the rest of us, basically, to chill the F out. In The Gift of Rest, Lieberman recounts how observing the Sabbath changed his life, and how it might change yours, too.
 
“This is a book I’ve been wanting to write for a long time to answer the question a lot of people ask me: ‘What do you do on that day? How can you be a Senator and still observe the Sabbath?’” he told Imus.
 
To Lieberman, spending the time in between sundown on Friday and sundown on Saturday with his family and friends has always been the perfect way to recharge his spirit. “It helps me work harder and feel better the other six days of the week,” he said.
 
Observing the Sabbath, and accepting the gift of rest, is not an activity Lieberman recommends only for Jewish people. “I have great respect for people of any religion—or no religion—who try to live an ethical life,” he said.
 
Unlike “that dope” Mike Huckabee, a Baptist Christian, Lieberman does not believe there’s only one route to heaven. And for the record, Lieberman clarified for Imus, “You’re the one who used the word ‘dope.’”
 
Moving over to politics, Lieberman, an Independent whose 2006 victory in Connecticut was largely Imus’s doing, is taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether he’ll support President Obama or the Republican nominee in 2012.
 
“I like Romney some, and I think he’s got a good record,” Lieberman said. “I liked Pawlenty, but he’s out of it now. I don’t know Governor Perry, but first impression: he landed pretty strong over the weekend, and planted some big flags there.”
 
Regardless of which Republican takes on Obama, the winner in 2012 will be faced with the task of balancing the federal budget. Lieberman chalked the nearly $15 trillion deficit up to a bunch of lawmakers acting “irresponsibly” by increasing spending without increasing revenue.
 
“Eventually, after we get out of this economic hole we’re in, we’ve got to raise some taxes,” Lieberman said. “It’s tough, it’s not politically popular, but I actually think the public wants us to do some things that are not politically popular, that are in the interests of the country now.”
 
Departing slightly from the serene message he imparted earlier, Lieberman added, “The country’s hurtling toward a cliff, and the question is whether we’ve got the brains and the courage to put the breaks on, and turn away from the cliff before we’re over the cliff.”
 
Before leaving, the Senator and longtime friend of this program passed this blessing on to Imus: “May all your Sabbaths be peaceful.”
 
Right. Because that’s the way things work around here.
 
-Julie Kanfer