What do people think about the prospect of Lieberman "Nadering" the dems

[CTLawGuy]

meaning, his refusal to pledge to support the dem nominee and the implicit prospect that he will run as an independent should he lose the primary.


1. Is it the action of a petulant whiner who cares only about himself and doesn't care about the people of the Democratic Party?

or

2. Is this a valid exercise of a politican trying to save his seat, and he's doing what everyone else in his position would do?

or

3. other

[Fovea]

1. I have to go with number 1.

n/t

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. It will be a victory if Joe has to go that route!

eom

[snowbear]

12. I agree with Vinnie because.........

If Lieberman loses the Democratic primary, GOODBYE "JOEMENTUM" -- It will be Lamont by a landslide with both Democrats and Independents in Connecticut.

Lamont will have all the (( MOJO!! ))

Buh bye Joe >

[LSparkle]

3. 3. It is the action of a Republican who doesn't want to call himself one

He needs to face up to the fact that he IS a Republican and run in THEIR primary. ENOUGH!

[Deep13]

4. I think he would "Nader" the Rs since that is who mostly support him.

[madmom]

5. I agree

[Dhalgren]

7. Right! The Republics would lose more votes to Joltin' Joe than

the Democratic candidate would. I say send him to the minor leagues...we don't need him...

[electropop]

9. I agree. If he drops out of the Dem race,

it's because he knows he has no Dem support, so he won't attract Dems as an independent. He will attract Repugs.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. 3) udderly riddickewloss other

In order to pull a Nader, in order to carry any weight at the ballot box, in order to have substance that translates into a leadership role, you have to have a strong following. You also have to have a believable message and you have to be able to convince others of your abilities.

Lieberman can do none of those. He is embarrassing himself each day. He finds EVEN Newt Gingrich to the left of him, at least on immigration, Iraq, Iran and the White House. When a democrat finds himself outsmarted and outmoved and out-lefted by the guy who started the neocon revolution, you know he is worthless as a dem.

Frankly, the lack of his endorsement would be worn like a Badge of Honor.

[NoPasaran]

8. If he runs in the primary and loses

He should accept that defeat and not run as an independent in the same election. If he wants to run independent, he should make that decision clear and pull out of the primary. I would apply this to any politician, not just Joe Lieberman.

[Dogmudgeon]

10. Joementum has only three constituencies

1. Slightly more than 50% of the voting Democrats in Connecticut.

2. Predominantly Jewish folks who are hawkish on "the Muslims" but liberal elsewise.

3. Insurance companies, their lobbyists, and their stockholders.

Most Democrats who pay any attention to politics can't stand Lieberman; he's not conservative enough for Republicans (he's actually pretty liberal on most points -- just not the ones that count).

--p!

[PATRICK]

11. The Smell of Fear

This should be confronted. Why will Lieberman NOT back the nominee of his party by popular election? If he is so beholden to other interests he should be confronted for two things: one for the bad grace of threatening and blackmailing his own party, intention to deny the will of the people in his party.

If he has truly come to that radical conclusion, let him become an Independent. Or else, publicly toying with notion is stupid and scurrilous or downright unprofessional. God forbid he would ever use that cynical sense of political hardball against REAL enemies. No, Joe who gives away the party store, saves his wiseguy trumps in his own special interest. What is at least savvy smart in real politicians is mere spite and fear considering his record. That is certainly how it appears.

A kinder slant would come to the conclusion that he is gaffe-ishly flailing about trying to quell primary revolt, nerves of butter.

Independent or just free from responsibility and loyalty?

In NYS we had one disastrous Senatorial election that gave us Sen. Buckley, a truculent conservative do-nothing, simply because two liberals thought they each had a chance in a three way. Stupid then and stupid now but neither was depending more upon his "GOP base" than their own party.

[regnaD kciN]

13. It just shows me...

...that Holy Joe has never really been a Democrat -- he only chose that party because it would give him an advantage in Connecticut politics.

I mean, can you imagine what people here would have been saying about Dean if he had decided to run as an independent in 2004 after failing to win the Democratic nomination? :eyes:

[Skinner]

14. I highly doubt that Lieberman would "Nader" the Dems.

Lieberman ain't perfect, but when it comes to elections he has been a loyal Democrat.

Has Lieberman said or done anything to suggest that he would not support the Democrats if he lost in the Democratic Senate primary?

[CTLawGuy]

16. he refuses to commit to supporting the dem nominee

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctlieberman0411.artapr11,0,5224704.story?coll=hc-headlines-local


Lieberman Considers All Options
Won't Rule Out Running As An Independent
April 11, 2006
By MARK PAZNIOKAS, Courant Staff Writer

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman refused Monday to rule out an independent candidacy if he loses the Democratic nomination, saying his re-election to a fourth term is too important for Connecticut.

"The definitive answer is that I am not foreclosing the option," Lieberman said. "If I wanted to run as an independent I would do it today. I don't. I am a Democrat. I want to run as a Democrat."


Lieberman's campaign staff has tried repeatedly to tamp down speculation about an independent candidacy, most recently after the question arose Sunday at a campaign stop in Windsor. But the candidate said Monday he feels obliged to keep his options open.

"You know, I feel very strongly that I can do more for the state of Connecticut in the coming six years than any of the Democratic or Republican candidates against me," Lieberman said. "I hope I don't have to make that choice as it goes on."
-----------------

More at link

also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2561465

[Skinner]

23. Thanks for that info.

I am surprised and disappointed to hear it.

[CTLawGuy]

25. not as surprised as Im sure many CT dems are

Joe seems to be in this for Joe. I hope he proves that is not true and makes the pledge.

[CTLawGuy]

26. dupe

dupe

[davidwparker]

15. He needs to go. Period. If he looses in the primary and runs as an

independent, he can be marginalized the way Nader was in '04. He could be bluffing about running as an independent as a tactic. His contribution is to a democratic majority, not by his votes, which are republican and provide that oft-used "bipartisan support."

So long DINO, however it goes.

[Jacobin]

17. He'll do anything to keep the neocons in power

[Totally Committed]

18. Par for the course...

He's a big enough a**hole to do it.

TC

[dolstein]

19. Interestingly enough, this happened once before with Chris Dodd's father

Here's an excerpt from the Connecticut Post:

<<In 1970, the Rev. Joe Duffey, who led the progressive, antiwar Caucus of Connecticut Democrats, challenged sitting Sen. Thomas Dodd, a moderate Democrat, for the party's nomination. Lieberman was a founding member of that caucus.

Duffey won the Democratic primary and Dodd ran in the general election as an independent. The pair split the Democratic vote, and Republican Lowell P. Weicker Jr. was elected.>>

http://www.connpost.com/ci_3697052

Personally, I doubt that Lieberman running as an independent would cost Democrats the seat, because as far as I can tell, the Republicans haven't fielded a viable candidate. But I think Lieberman's making a big tactical error by refusing to rule out an independent bid. It will be perceived as a sign of weakness and will simply give Lamont additional grounds for questioning Lieberman's party loyalty.

[IndianaGreen]

31. The issue is not Lieberman's "party loyalty" the issue is his support

of Bush's criminal wars, torture, concentration camps, and subversion of the Constitution. Lieberman is to Bush what Marshall Petain was to Hitler.

[leesa]

20. Nobody would vote for him.

[LittleClarkie]

21. Why do I get the feeling that those who would vote for Joementum

were pretty close to going dark side anyway.

[saltpoint]

22. I'm not for Liebrman Nadering but AM for neutering Liebrman.

Having said that, I liked the post, and snce I hope Lamont wins that primary, I think your No. 1 choice is closer to the truth.

If I were in CT, I think I'd vote for Lamont because I don't like a pro-Bush Democrat, and not because I hate Lieberman's guts for pure sport.

I'm just for some new blood in the Senate.

[Don1]

24. I don't know.

Good question, but is it possible? I know Lieberman had a good approval rating before among the mainstream. Many (maybe even most) activists don't like him though for his positions. So, what are the polls saying now for Lieberman versus Lamont in a Dem primary? How likely is it that this issue might actually come up?

Then, Lamont has some things stacked up against him. Namely, the establishment likes to support incumbents. Barak Obama recently showed up in CT and vouched for Lieberman for example. Then, Nancy DiNardo, the chair of the state DP, also backs Lieberman and I hear she can be controlling.

While I would like Lamont to win, what if Lieberman wins the primary? Should Lamont refuse to drop out? I think he should refuse, but then would people accuse him of being Nader? I think many people would accuse him of that, but I would still support him.

How about you?

[CTLawGuy]

27. Lamont would not run as an Indy for 3 reasons

1. He is a Democrat and he is running to hold Joe accountable to Dems by providing a progressive alternative to him, not to hamper the Dem party in the general election.

2. He would have one day after the primary to fil 7,500 signatures to get on the ballot as an independent, which would be impossible.

3. If Ned lost the primary he would probably lose the general, because Republicans sure wouldn't vote for him.

[Don1]

29. Some of these reasons seem solid.

So what are we supposed to do in the general election if Lamont loses the primary? Vote for Joe, vote Green, or not vote at all?

[CTLawGuy]

30. I'll vote for Joe

and hope he got the message.

We gotta keep that seat.

[IndianaGreen]

32. Lamont is more of a Democrat than Lieberman

Vote Lieberman out and sent Lamont to the Senate. Lamont will vote for censure and even impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Lieberman will support Bush and Cheney against censure and impeachment. This is a no brainer!

[AtomicKitten]

34. I agree with you

except the part about Lamont being more of a Democrat than Lieberman; rather he's a different kind of Democrat then Lieberman.

I think Joementum tied his wagon to the wrong crew and will pay for it, and I hope he's man enough to accept defeat if that's in the cards for him.

[CTLawGuy]

36. if Lamont doesn't win the primary

only then will I vote for Joe, you misunderstand what I wrote.

[Don1]

35. Isn't this risky?

Why take a risk on someone who time and time again, sold us out?

Also, getting to the whole keep the seat thing. Lieberman voted with Democrats about 83% of the time this past year. That means 1 out of 6 votes he went Republican. It's not too bad, but then many of these votes have to do with issues like civil liberties and the war. If he wins the primary, then how exactly will this convince him that he is wrong? Especially when he has to then take part in a general election, appealing to Republicans and moderates?

[kentuck]

28. He would get more Repub votes than Democratic votes...

Let him go for it.

[depakid]

33. He did it before

when he ran for his Senate seat and Vice President. He no integrity at all- and hopefully, Connecticut voters will see that and send him packing.