After all, it would take a political Michael Jordan to pull off what what the Democrats needed to do Wednesday night. Lieberman had to convince the party's left wing that his family-values reputation didn't keep him from being a liberal, without alienating the centrists so crucial to the last two presidential campaigns. He had to emphasize his Jewishness enough to make Al Gore seem brave for choosing him, but not so much to alienate closet anti-Semites. He had to project the folksy warmth that Gore's been trying to fake his entire career.

So, could he do it? Could modest Joe Lieberman come up with the Gore campaign's long-distance, nothing-but-net shot?

No. But he made an honorable attempt. No doubt, Connecticut citizens will look back on his performance with pride when he starts his next term as their senator, a job he wisely decided to keep.

The speech itself was a clumsy hybrid of liberal tenets in conservative clothes. If they listened selectively, conservatives could have found a lot to like in Lieberman's rhetoric: Faith and family were recurring themes, and the Connecticut Democrat at times seemed more in love with the opposition than with his own party members. Lieberman praised Ronald Reagan's commitment to faith, and he twice mentioned reform crusader Sen. John McCain. That was one more mention than President Bill Clinton earned.

Yet behind the conservative window dressing, there was the same old liberal list, with an overwarm embrace of every special interest within earshot. The big wet kiss was reserved for African-Americans, with a Martin Luther King Jr. name drop, a reminder of Lieberman's work in the civil rights movement and an earnest pledge on affirmative action to "mend it, but please don't end it."

After enthusiastically receiving the rah-rahs at the beginning of his speech, Lieberman settled into his sweet and low rhythm, and more than once his quiet voice battled the white noise of the stadium. Though his sincerity shined through, there was little punch to the piety.

At least the crowd did its job. They cheered lustily, interrupted Lieberman more than once with standing ovations, and laughed as long and loud as they could at all his jokes and Bush bashes. Republican viewers should have been pleased as well, as Lieberman helpfully recalled several items in Bush's platform, praising them as well-intentioned but incomplete. Lieberman also assisted the audience by gesturing with his hands and slightly raising his voice toward the end of his remarks so they wouldn't have to guess when to applaud. In a final, cloying touch, "Pride: In the Name of Love," U2's tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., played for the family wave and departure.

At the Clinton conventions, Democrats pretended to be Republicans. At the George W. Bush show in Philadelphia, Republicans pretended to be Democrats. Gore's people went one better: Wednesday night in Los Angeles, Democrats pretended to be Republicans pretending to be Democrats.

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