[AbeKrieger]

Has there ever been someone who ascended as high as Lieberman (VP nominee) to defect and cross over so quick (just 8 years?)

[Publius]

Aaron Burr tried making a home in the Federalist Party after Jefferson dumped him as VP. However, his killing of Hamilton in a duel finished off his political career. Even so, the political parties of that era were nothing like our modern parties.

John Calhoun served as VP under both Jake Adams and Jackson, but again that was a different era.

John Tyler started out as a Democrat, switched to the Whigs to run with Harrison, and then upon becoming president began acting like a Democrat again. Henry Clay read him out of the party. His last public effort was to attempt to usurp Lincoln in hosting a peace conference right after the South seceded.

Both Martin van Buren and Millard Fillmore led minor party tickets years after their presidencies were finished.

Theodore Roosevelt attempted to come back to power as a Bull Moose.

It's a very small list.