Does Leiberman REALLY believe this approach is best?

[vi5]

I'm not a Dean or an anyone supporter. But does Leiberman realy believe that the approach of attacking Dean directly and bluntly and without being directly provoked (whichever camp you are in the fact is that the Dean/Kerry tiffs are pretty much direct call and response sparring between two leading candidates...Dean never said boo to Leiberman to my knowledge).

The only realistic thing I can think of is that Leiberman just decided that at this point his only way to make any momentum is to attempt to energize the moderates. But I dont' see how he could be so deluded as to think that appealing to moderates at this point would win him any primaries or the nomination.

Like I said, even as someone who is not a Dean supporter I watched his interviews and statements about Dean with my jaw on the floor, completely flabergasted.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Which moderates is he trying to energize?

Moderate republicans?

More and more I find myself disliking Lieberman. We liberal and moderate democrats happen to be a big portion of his constituency and he talks down to us. I despise that in a candidate.

[DemLikr]

20. Joe can't even energize HIMSELF...his speaking style is like Valium

to me. I comfort myself in the knowledge that very few people on either side of the political divide, give a shit what he says. Of course republicans will exploit his ramblings as suits them in the prez election, 2004.

What has led me to finally write this nerd off once and for all were his comments yesterday that nominating Dean "was a ticket to nowhere" for the dem party. Even if he believes that, he should keep it to himself in public, and work within the party to get himself or someone else nominated.

But this willingness to trash other dems in public pisses me off. What he should have said is something to the effect that "to leave George W. Bush in office for another four years of economic disaster, war and lying is a ticket to nowhere for this entire country!" (insert raucous cheering of energized crowd here).

But such a statement as that would require lieberman to wake up a bit from his stupor...wonder if he's on xanax or something?

[IndianaGreen]

2. Lieberman is spouting the official DLC party line

My question is whether the other DLC preferred candidates share the same views about the Democratic base and liberalism that Mr. Lieberman has. If that is the case, shouldn't we challenge them as well rather than focus all of our fire on Holy Joe?

[bloom]

5. Holy Joe seems to be the most vocal at the moment n/t

.

[Iverson]

7. yup

Personalizing the issues is too easy and also misleading. We certainly should argue against the whole mentality of accomodating the right wing, and not, as some posters regularly advocate, be silent about the issues for fear of alienating a presumed center.

[Bombtrack]

13. The DLC isn't a party

so it can't have a party line

It's a think tank


and nobody seemed to care when Dean was attacking, and in some cases lying, about the other candidates

[bloom]

15. at least Dean wasn't saying "We should all go along w/Bush..."

"Mr. Lieberman said: "A candidate who was opposed to the war against Saddam, who has called for the repeal of all of the Bush tax cuts ? which would result in an increase in taxes on the middle class ? I believe will not offer the kind of leadership America needs to meet the challenges that we face today."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/05/politics/campaigns/05LIEB.html?th

[Bombtrack]

16. When did he say we should all go along with Bush

A candidate who was opposed to the war against Saddam, who has called for the repeal of all of the Bush tax cuts ? which would result in an increase in taxes on the middle class -- will be defeated by Bush very easily

[bloom]

17. I don't agree

I don't think people want a fiscally irresponsible government increasing spending, cutting taxes, ruining Social Security, amassing deficits.

I also think there are enough lies with the Iraq War to discredit those toeing the line.

[IndianaGreen]

21. Using DLC and "think tank" in the same sentence is an oxymoron!

Sort of "military intelligence"!

[StandWatie]

3. I think he is hoping Bush doesn't get a primary challenge

and making himself as appealing as possible to republicans who cross over during the primary to hedge their bets.

[bloom]

4. The NYTImes also had an article - Lieberman Denounces Tilt to Left

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/05/politics/campaigns/05LIEB.html?th

It inspired me to write to Lieberman to say, among other things...

"Are the Bush people ( or their corporate sponsors) paying you to undermine the Democrats? That is the only explanation that makes sense to me."

[Gringo]

6. Lieberman is still running? I hadn't noticed.

What a non-campaign. No one would even be talking about this jerk if Gore hadn't made the foolish mistake of putting him on the ticket in 2000.

"The only realistic thing I can think of is that Leiberman just decided that at this point his only way to make any momentum is to attempt to energize the moderates."

Energize the moderates. Ha. Moderates are people who don't give a damn enough to get involved until the last minute, if at all, and don't care enough to have a political philosophy.

They just vote for the guy who everybody at the water cooler agreed was best in the debate last night.

I realize that we need moderates to win next year, but they are so irrelevant right now. They're busy planning their vacations to Six Flags, not thinking about Lieberman's non-starter campaign.

[devarsi]

14. Moderates are just those

who are not extremists.

[Gringo]

19. "extremists"

do NOT vote democrat or republican.

They vote socialist, reform or green, and are mad about things like Mumia's imprisonment and Ruby Ridge.

Left-wing democrats are hardly extremists.

[niceypoo]

8. Lieberman thinks smearing Dean will help?

Its the Liebermans and their swing to the right that cost us the midterms. They just dont get it. They let Bushes poll numbers control them rather than their core convictions; sad but true.

[pbeal]

9. energize the moderates?

You cant thats why they are called moderates. Anyway my thoughts on Leiberman, If I wanted to vote for a republican I would not vote for a democrat.

If Leiberman for some reason gets the Democratic nomination well....(I cant lie he has to be better than a republican doesnt he?) I will vote for him but I wont like it.

[Az]

10. This is the problem with playing to the center

The liberal arm of the Democratic party has been hushed into silence because we are told we need the center to win. Thus the Democratic party has set about "Playing" to the center. That is we are told we will get our liberal agenda once we win. This will not happen.

What does happen is that as we move towards the right instead of liberal politicians "Playing" to the center we get real center or even right wing politicians. They have no intention of ever going to the left. Thus we get Lieberman's who truly have little in common with those voting for him. Its only going to get worse unless we apply the breaks and turn this bus around.

[hlthe2b]

11. A very deluded little man.....

enough said.........

[realFedUp]

12. Mark Penn sure isn't helping his case...

.

[truebrit71]

18. Joe just needs to shut up and go away...

I read an article this morning (Possibly MSGOP) that said that Joe had the right message but he was the wrong messenger...

We don't need a GOP-Lite cnadidate...

TB

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

22. Dean was getting all the media attention

J Lie was just attaching himself to Dean's coverage.
nothing more than a cheap PR stunt.

[whoYaCallinAlib]

23. He really believe he has to do this to have any chance of winning.

Whether or not it works is a very wide open question. I have strong doubts that he will be successful.

[samsingh]

24. Leiberman seems poised to bolt

to the Repug party any time now

[whoYaCallinAlib]

25. Maybe, but they would never trust him due to his pro-choice

beliefs. Otherwise, he is very right wing and would fit right in.