Joe Lieberman as bad as any Bushie.
Not only is Lieberman not a Democrat, he's also not democratic
by John in DC - 7/03/2006 03:34:00 PM
Lieberman is beginning to sound more and more like George Bush every day. To wit:
Lieberman said he will still be running as a Democrat even if he's not the party's nominee and plans to remain part of the Democratic caucus in the Senate if re-elected.
"I want the opportunity to put my case before all the people of Connecticut in November," Lieberman said.
Well, there are a few problems here. First off, you can't run as a Democrat if you think you have to run as an independent because not enough Democrats will vote for you. In a democracy, you get to be the Democratic candidate by winning the Democratic primary. If you have to short circuit the democratic process in order to win the office, you're not a Democrat (or a democrat either).
Secondly, Lieberman has answered the question we've long been asking. Is he a Democrat or has he become little more than a Republican in Democrat clothing? Well, if you can't win the Democratic primary, and have to run as an independent to win the general election, then that means you need lots of non-Democrat voters or you just can't win. That means you're not a Democrat, you're something else. Per se Lieberman has become too conservative for the Connecticut Democratic Party.
It seems that Lieberman has learned a lot from his mentor, George Bush. If you don't like the democratic process, if the voice of the people is against you, just circumvent the process and usurp the people. If Lieberman can't win the Democratic primary, he'll run as a Democrat anyway because he says so, to hell with the people, to hell with the election results come this August.
As Joe notes below, the Connecticut election, and I suspect many elections around the country this November, are referenda on George Bush. Lieberman is not a moderate Democrat, he's a politician who has made his bed with George Bush. Lieberman has repeatedly gone out of his way to provide aid and comfort to a failed Republican presidency even as the majority of the American people say otherwise. And rather than be voting his conscience, it's not clear what Lieberman is voting. He continues to believe the Iraq war is going well. That view isn't conservative, it isn't liberal, and it has nothing to do with the conscience of a rational man - it's out of touch and a little bit crazy.
Lieberman has the right to be out of touch with the majority of the Democratic party and the majority of Connecticut Democrats. He even has the right to be a little bit nutty. What Joe Lieberman does not have is the right to defy the will of the voters in an election that is becoming less and less about the issues, and more and more about Joe Lieberman's ego.
It's time to let it go, Joe. At some point, it's more humane to simply pull the plug.
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Lieberman, a Bush ally, is already a political casualty of the Iraq War
by Joe in DC - 7/03/2006 02:31:00 PM
Today, Joe Lieberman proved he is a political casualty of the Iraq War. Because of his fierce allegiance to the failed Bush Iraq war policy, Lieberman humiliated himself today by saying he'd have to run as an independent this fall if he loses in the Democratic primary. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
One of my very wise political friends in Connecticut explained to me that Connecticut Democrats rarely get a chance to have an impact in national politics. But the Lieberman - Lamont primary is providing them an amazing opportunity to issue a strong rejection of the failed Iraq policy. Joe Lieberman personifies that failure of Bush and the GOP.
Democrats in Connecticut understand that. They know that the Senate primary gives them the chance to make a statement -- one of the first and most important statements -- about the Iraq war in the 2006 cycle.
Clearly, that statement is being heard loud and clear. Joe Lieberman chose Bush and Iraq over the Democratic party. And, today, Lieberman admitted he's losing.
There's still a lot of work to be done both in the August primary and the November general election. But Ned Lamont, the netroots and Connecticut's Democrats had a win today.
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Lieberman abandons Democrats
by Joe in DC - 7/03/2006 01:34:00 PM
UPDATED: It's official...Lieberman made the announcement...
Major news out of Connecticut. Lieberman is jumping from the Democratic ship after he loses the primary:
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman announced today he will petition for a place on the November ballot as an "independent Democrat," giving him a chance to stay alive politically should he lose an Aug. 8 primary for the Democratic nomination.
Lieberman, 64, a three-term senator whose outspoken support of the war in Iraq has brought months of grief and inspired a strong primary challenge from Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, announced his decision this afternoon at a brief press conference at the State Capitol.
What a bastard. He is sooo important, that he can't abide by the decision of his party. Lieberman's arrogance is off the charts. He's addicted to his own power, or sense of power. And, clearly, he's smarter than the rest of the Democrats in Connecticut.
Another UPDATE gives some more insight into Lieberman's decision. According to the Connecticut Post, Lieberman got booed at the Bridgeport street festival (while the Mayor who recently admitted cocaine abuse was cheered):
The only negative shouts seemed directed at Lieberman, who is facing a primary challenge from Ned Lamont of Greenwich.
"Hey, look at that, a Democrat walking with a Republican," came one shout to Lieberman.
"How's the president," shouted another parade watcher, giving Lieberman a thumbs-down sign. |
