Kerry Calls Lieberman the New Cheney

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

They are both

because they both aren't super-partisans

[Thorgrim]

He won't even endorse his own party's nominee

and Lieberman is for censorship of music and video games, he wants to impose an outright ban on certain types of media he personally deems to be of no value

yeah, real hardass rihgt there

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

he cares more about the country than he does his politic party, I think he is the only democrat that does it. I also believe that John McCain is the only Republican that thinks that way

that's obvious, but he's the devil for not towing the party lines.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

He won't even endorse his own party's nominee

and Lieberman is for censorship of music and video games, he wants to impose an outright ban on certain types of media he personally deems to be of no value

yeah, real hardass rihgt there

Why would he sponsor someone he's running against. And it's not his own party's nominee. His party kicked him out if I recall correctly. The Republicans have supported him to win over Lamont, but in no way have they embraced him as a Republican. Lieberman is now an independent and running as such. No matter how badly the liberals want him not to. And since he's running independent he's gonna get a lot of the conservative vote and some of his loyal Democratic vote. He has a real chance of winning, and he's leading in the polls.

It's funny despite the media publishing articles like this:
Tahlequah Daily Press - Lieberman’s true color red, not blue

Lieberman’s true color red, not blue
Tahlequah Daily Press

When the mask fell off last week, U.S. voters finally got a glimpse of the real Joe Lieberman.

But after his “trumpeting” in the wake of his Democratic primary defeat by anti-war opponent Ned Lamont, most of us didn’t need to see the veteran senator’s face to understand the man is an elephant who has, for the past 18 years or so, been masquerading in a donkey suit.

And it seems some Connecticut Democrats are finally sick of the sham.

In other words, the election’s aftermath wasn’t so much a loss of office as it was an “outing.”

Connecticut Democrats were proclaiming their disgust with Lieberman’s choice of bedfellows – i.e., President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, the Gollum-ish Karl Rove and the rest of the neocons who have (at least, in most Democrats’ eyes) kicked the country into a downhill slide.

If Lieberman were a “real” Democrat, he would have accepted his defeat gracefully, and walked off the political stage with as much dignity as he could muster.

He would have admitted that, yes, his staunch support of the war in Iraq and unflinching Zionism had probably cost him his seat – and that clearly, his own views weren’t in lockstep with the majority of his constituents’.

He would have then swallowed his pride and jumped on the bandwagon for Lamont.

But instead, Lieberman bolted the party, and pledged to file as an independent, revealing that his only loyalty lies with himself, and with the power he has amassed during his years on Capitol Hill.

Spurned by Democrat voters, he will now be openly courting the Republican constituency whose platform he has been upholding all along.

His “conscience” demands that he refuse to give up, he says; it would be “irresponsible and inconsistent” with his principles if he were to simply “walk off the field.”

Under the circumstances, his comment begs the question, “What principles?”

Over the past week, pundits have had a field day, speculating on just what Lieberman’s fall from grace really means for the country at-large.

It may or may not be a sign that Democrats will regain strength in the Senate, but it certainly is a good indicator that voters have grown weary of the war in Iraq, of the obscene handouts for the rich, and of ever-rising fuel costs.

And when the going gets tough, voters tend to blame the party in power, and anyone else who gets too cozy with its leaders. Lieberman fits the bill.

Lamont’s road to the general election promises to be a bumpy one, because Lieberman has taken a page from the playbook of Cheney and Rove et al, launching vicious attacks against his usurper.

After the aptly timed thwarting of the terrorist airline bombing plot in London, Lieberman warned that Lamont’s call for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq would be “taken as a tremendous victory” by terrorists.

In gratitude, Cheney all but came right out and endorsed Lieberman on television, saying Lamont’s victory might encourage “the al-Qaida types” who want to “break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task.”

No doubt he used his tired old “cut-and-run” label in some forum or another.

Is the vice president delusional? The only polls showing the majority of Americans want to “stay in the fight and complete the task” – however the “task” is being defined this week – are cobbled together by Fox News.

Every other database indicates Americans are becoming increasingly alarmed at the loss of lives, dollars, and international reputation.

Once again, it’s worth noting that Cheney himself has been adept at avoiding military service, a man who considered himself “too busy” to go to Vietnam.

This is a man who hits the bunker at the first sign of trouble – a man who has never risked life, limb or bank account for anyone, yet has no qualms about enriching himself and his cronies on the backs of the young men and women he and buddy Donald Rumsfeld send to the front line.

As for Lieberman, if the independent gambit doesn’t work, perhaps the administration can put him on the payroll.

Then he can give it another shot in a few years as a bonafide Republican, propped up by the formidable war chest that accompanies party alignment. (It might work, but he should talk to Wes Watkins first.)

Either way, though, Lieberman has shown the world he’s a sore loser.

That can be overlooked in a couple of 8-year-olds playing Monopoly, but it’s not a very attractive trait for a 64-year-old man.

And even with politicians like John Kerry, Sharpton, Jackson, etc backing Lamont, Lieberman is still a threat to the Democrats. I personally enjoy watching the extremists pretend like everything is ok with this upcoming election and try to convince us that Lieberman is a conservative.

Lieberman has everything going against him. He lost the Democratic nomination in an ultra-liberal state, the media is having a field day with him and every democrat and extremist in the nation is publicly attacking him. And even through all this, he's leading. It'll be a huge upset to the Democrats if he wins and should teach them a lesson.

[beez]

I think he's leading and will win mainly on name recognition. He's about as big a celebrity as you be being a Senator.

[thomez]

Originally Posted by beez

I think he's leading and will win mainly on name recognition. He's about as big a celebrity as you be being a Senator.

Dude, he's half of Sore-Loserman - can't get any more infamous than that

[motivez]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

that's obvious, but he's the devil for not towing the party lines.

It's more like he's actively working against the Democratic party and their goals by towing the Republican/GOP line.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by motivez

towing the Republican/GOP line.

[motivez]

Originally Posted by JaJae

Why would he sponsor someone he's running against. And it's not his own party's nominee. His party kicked him out if I recall correctly. The Republicans have supported him to win over Lamont, but in no way have they embraced him as a Republican. Lieberman is now an independent and running as such. No matter how badly the liberals want him not to. And since he's running independent he's gonna get a lot of the conservative vote and some of his loyal Democratic vote. He has a real chance of winning, and he's leading in the polls.

You're deluding yourself.

Republicans are supporting him because they view this as a chance to hold on to a seat in a state they'd normally never have a chance in. Despite the fact that Lieberman votes with Democrats on some issues, on many of the major ones, he helps Bush by not working actively against his agendas.

The Democratic establishment backed Lieberman in the primary, even Clinton campaigned for him.. but when he lost, they respected the will of the Democratic voters in CT..

Joe refused to do that, and I'm not saying he shouldn't run, that's his right.. but it's pretty obvious he cares more about himself and his position than he does moving the country in the direction he said he'd help take it.

The Republicans are using him, maybe successfully, to build a campaign against Democrats.. and if he thinks that doesn't matter, and that the country wouldn't be better off with a Democratic majority than it is now, he didn't deserve to win the primary.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by motivez

The Republicans are using him, maybe successfully, to build a campaign against Democrats..

isn't that all we've been saying this whole time?

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by motivez

You're deluding yourself.

Republicans are supporting him because they view this as a chance to hold on to a seat in a state they'd normally never have a chance in. Despite the fact that Lieberman votes with Democrats on some issues, on many of the major ones, he helps Bush by not working actively against his agendas.

Name the many major issues he votes in line with Bush on?

Joe refused to do that, and I'm not saying he shouldn't run, that's his right.. but it's pretty obvious he cares more about himself and his position than he does moving the country in the direction he said he'd help take it.

How is it obvious? Are you saying his position to move the country in the direction he said he would take it in includes allowing a defeat by a left wing puppet?

The Republicans are using him, maybe successfully, to build a campaign against Democrats.. and if he thinks that doesn't matter, and that the country wouldn't be better off with a Democratic majority than it is now, he didn't deserve to win the primary.

Lieberman is a Senator. It's his job to represent his state. Obviously if he has the majority support his state wants him. The opposite would be to say "If Lamont can't see the people of his state want Lieberman more, then he should drop out. And if he thinks the country would be better off with a puppet to the Democratic party then he doesn't deserve to win the seat."

[motivez]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

isn't that all we've been saying this whole time?

I don't know, have you?

I'm making the point that he's so far out of touch with Democratic voters that he'd rather maintain his position of power because he's a self important jackass than he would see his party succeed in fixing some of what they feel is going wrong with the country.

[motivez]

Originally Posted by JaJae

Name the many major issues he votes in line with Bush on?

Thorgrim posted it in another thread and I've pointed it out many times.. votes mean nothing and are worth nothing if he waits until it's politically convienent to toss his hat in with the rest of the Democrats (ie: After a Bush initiative has already lost majority support nation wide)

Originally Posted by JaJae

How is it obvious? Are you saying his position to move the country in the direction he said he would take it in includes allowing a defeat by a left wing puppet?

What? I also don't think Lamont is a 'puppet'. He came out of no where, he's not beholden to lobbies or some establishment.. he was elected by the power of ordinary politically active people.

Originally Posted by JaJae

Lieberman is a Senator. It's his job to represent his state. Obviously if he has the majority support his state wants him. The opposite would be to say "If Lamont can't see the people of his state want Lieberman more, then he should drop out. And if he thinks the country would be better off with a puppet to the Democratic party then he doesn't deserve to win the seat."

You know as well as I do that most people are pretty stupid and easy to manipulate when it comes to politics. He doesn't represent the majority of voters in very blue, very liberal CT.. but his Republican supporters, by getting him to use Republican tactics, can muddy the waters about what's what easily enough that people will cotinue supporting him regardless of their core values and how he's no longer in touch with them.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by motivez

I don't know, have you?

I'm making the point that he's so far out of touch with Democratic voters that he'd rather maintain his position of power because he's a self important jackass than he would see his party succeed in fixing some of what they feel is going wrong with the country.

absolutely. the republicans haven't embraced him as their own. he hasn't become a republican. the republicans calling him aren't doing so because they're buddy buddy now. the republicans are only using him to make the democratic party look foolish.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by motivez

Thorgrim posted it in another thread and I've pointed it out many times.. votes mean nothing and are worth nothing if he waits until it's politically convienent to toss his hat in with the rest of the Democrats (ie: After a Bush initiative has already lost majority support nation wide)

The only things I can think of are Iraq and Social Security. You're the one who mentioned votes. And don't forget the majority of Democrats supported Bush at one point. They just all changed their minds before Leiberman. So because Leiberman didn't change his position fast enough to keep up with the Democrats he's looking out for himself? No offense, but being a Democrat supporting Bush in CT doesn't seem like a very politically intelligent thing to do.

What? I also don't think Lamont is a 'puppet'. He came out of no where, he's not beholden to lobbies or some establishment.. he was elected by the power of ordinary politically active people.

You mean nominated. It's very likely he won't be elected by the power of ordinary politically active people.

You know as well as I do that most people are pretty stupid and easy to manipulate when it comes to politics. He doesn't represent the majority of voters in very blue, very liberal CT.. but his Republican supporters, by getting him to use Republican tactics, can muddy the waters about what's what easily enough that people will cotinue supporting him regardless of their core values and how he's no longer in touch with them.

I haven't seen Lieberman use many Republican tactics. I mean he's been bombarded by hate media and every Democrat in the nation as far as I can tell. The only thing I've seen is Cheney came out and said something not nice about voting for Lamont (which in CT probably helped him anyway).

[beez]

Originally Posted by thomez

Dude, he's half of Sore-Loserman - can't get any more infamous than that

Yeah, my dad had the sign from FreeRepublic in his rear window during the whole debacle (they live in FL). I'm looking forward to fucking with him for his newfound support of the man now.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by JaJae

I haven't seen Lieberman use many Republican tactics. I mean he's been bombarded by hate media and every Democrat in the nation as far as I can tell. The only thing I've seen is Cheney came out and said something not nice about voting for Lamont (which in CT probably helped him anyway).

Not nice?!? He called them terrorists.

and @ calling Lamont a puppet of the democratic party. The guy won the nomination without their support.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Not nice?!? He called them terrorists.

Show me this? I missed it.