Lieberman's Democratic ties frayed

[AllyCat]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — Eight years after being nominated for vice president at an exuberant Democratic convention, Joe Lieberman describes himself as so estranged from the party over the Iraq war and national security policy that he is committed to siding with Senate Democrats only "for now" as he campaigns for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

In an interview in his Capitol Hill office, the Connecticut senator tapped by Al Gore as a running mate in 2000 says he hopes to persuade disaffected supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton to back McCain. He's prepared to deliver a speech on his friend's behalf at the GOP convention in September.

Will he also attend the Democratic convention in August? "That could be dangerous," he says with a rueful laugh.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-18-Lieberman_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

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Fine. Stop caucusing with us after the '08 elections then. Frankly, I don't want him around now except for that caucusing bit. But basically, he's already a repuke. What has he sided on with us lately? Not much that I recall.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Awwwwww, no democrat will sit with Joe in the cafeteria.

You brought it on yourself, Joe.

[AndyA]

2. The Democrats need to toss this traitorous fossil out on his bony ass

come 2009. See ya, Joe. Don't let the door hit you dumb f*ck.

Lieberman is a disgrace.

[MurrayDelph]

28. Actually I DO want the door hit him in the ass on the way out!

or have it hit John McCain's ass. Either way, the result is likely to be a busted nose for Joe!

On the other hand, I am still hoping that McCain makes Joe his running mate. That way, at least, Joe's promise to help elect a Democrat to the White House would come true!

[saigon68]

35. Out on his Cheney loving Draft Dodging bony ass

[tanyev]

3. I think we'll do much better with the Joementum in McCain's corner

than we did with it in Gore's corner.

[Inuca]

4. Not to defend him

but objectively speaking he has sided with "us" on almost everything that is not Iraq or national security related.

[Winterblues]

8. To what end though?

What has the Democratic majority in the Senate accomplished? Anything of real importance the Republicans manage to block. Tell me how he has been a help to the nation...

[Plucketeer]

9. EXACTLY!!!

He's playing both sides to HIS benefit. Oh JOE! Just a few more months to your irrelevence! :rofl:

[JerseygirlCT]

10. Joe has always sided with "us" as in Democrats

only when and if it was politically expedient for him to do so.

Anyone remember the C. Thomas nomination battle? Where's Joe? Where's Joe? Why hasn't he voted? We need his vote?

Oh, it's all decided now and over. NOW we see Joe, bravely putting his "no" vote in once it makes no difference.

That encapsulates the man's approach to the office.

[atreides1]

11. Possible Reason

Is that by sticking with the neocon warmongers on Iraq and "national security", he is covertly providing for the protection of Israel.

Not anti-semitic just a possible theory.

[iamjoy]

14. I Used To Feel That Way

I used to respect him because he was progressive and with us on choice, economics, labor and the environment.

But, campaigning for a Republican goes too far. He is enabling their destructive agenda. As for McCain on environmental issues - he's good for a Republican. (note emphasis)

A McSame presidency would be disastrous for so much of what Lieberman has fought for over his career.

[Inuca]

18. I agree n/t

[bvar22]

24. sided with "us".....not true. (Not even close to true)

On the Environment and Choice, Lieberman generally sides with the Democrats, but on Economic Issues, the concentration of Wealth & Power into the hands of the Elite, AND protecting the Lobbyist run Congress, Lieberman consistently dines with the worst of the Republican PIGS.

Remember our recent story about how Enron used stock options to avoid paying taxes in four out of the last five years?

Well, even as we talk, the White House and business lobbies, with Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman as their point man, are working to block reform of stock options.

Bill Moyers
5/3/02
http://www.pbs.org/now/commentary/moyers7.html

Remember the "Gang of 14"? Lieberman was the ringleader.
Don't like Justice Alito?....Thank Lieberman.

NPR.org, January 4, 2006 ·
The prospects of Judge Samuel Alito winning confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court will probably rest with a group of senators known as the Gang of 14.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5080836

Joe Lieberman was an enthusiastic booster for NAFTA, and one of only 10 Democratic Senators joining the Republicans to pass CAFTA.

He (Nader) came to deliver a speech, typed on an old Underwood typewriter, attacking Lieberman for his endorsement by the right-wing U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Nader noted that the group generally supports Republicans, not Democrats. He cited a long list of pro-corporate, anti-consumer positions that Lieberman has supported, from free-trade agreements (CAFTA and NAFTA) and the “Cheney/Exxon energy bill” to lawsuit protection for tobacco companies and manufacturers.
--Ralph Nader

http://newhavenindependent.org/archives/2006/08/nader_rips_lieb.php

"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[Alexander]

30. No, he didn't side with Democrats, not on the morning-after pill, anyway.

From the New Haven Register:

"Lieberman said he believes hospitals that refuse to give contraceptives to rape victims for 'principled reasons" shouldn't be forced to do so. 'In Connecticut, it shouldn't take more than a short ride to get to another hospital,' he said."

[panader0]

5. He still has ties to the Dem party??

[Radical Activist]

6. No more DLC corporate Democrats in the VP slot.

I hope Obama notices this and doesn't pick someone from the conservative DLC crowd to be his VP pick. Imagine if Lieberman had become President? No Bayh. No Warner. Cut them off.

[AllyCat]

13. Lieberman is just one more reason the DLC has little to no place in this party

Uck.

[speedoo]

7. Joeblivion's political career is on life support.

Dems hate him and he's not helping McCain at all.

[NewEnglandGirl]

12. Living in CT

he is a disappointment and an embarassment.

[surf]

15. Hes democratic on every other issue. Why cant he disagree.

We hear all the time about republicans taking stands away from the party line. Joe does it and hes the second coming of satan.

[Newsjock]

16. Because he's actively working to defeat the Democratic nominee for president

If Smokin' Joe were in DU, he'd be tombstoned for that, and rightly so. Would that the party leadership would do likewise.

[cstanleytech]

29. bingo

Its one thing to disagree its an entirely different thing when you campaign for the other party.

[saigon68]

37. He needs a good Tombstoning

Working for Crazy McBush

What a traitor. He's going to do a Zell Miller impersonation at McBush's Coronation in Minnesota in Sept.

[skooooo]

17. welcome to DU!

:hi:

We expect Democrats to support Democrats. Go figure! Joe needs to take flying leap of a high cliff.

[Inuca]

19. I tend to agree

we are partisan. If Hagel came all out for Obama and started campaigning for him, he would be widely applauded here I assume, not so much on republican sites (where he is not exactly popular to sart with).

[Prophet 451]

21. It's not the same

If Joe was disagreeing with the party line on, say, education policies, that would be fine. In fact, if he was disagreeing with the party platform on pretty much any issue, that would be fine. But when he is actively campaigning for the other side, that's not fine.

The Dems might be a broad tent but setting fire to the guyropes is still pretty much a no-no.

[Lochloosa]

23. Doesn't Fly. His support for this war and McCain does make him

the second coming of Satan.

[bvar22]

25. Lieberman is NOT Democratic on every other issue !!

That statement is BOGUS.

See Post #24

[tavalon]

33. Seeing as you just joined,

you probably weren't paying attention during most of his crap. He's been 100% Joe for Joe. It's all about him, not his constituents.

[jzodda]

20. What should happen come Jan 2009

Assuming we win seats in the Senate we don't need him anymore. He should be allowed to caucus with Dems as long as he wants to, but gets no plum committee assignments and is removed from anything that he is chairmen of. If the Senate makeup stays the same we will still need him so the Senate does not go over to the other side, (which means he keeps his chair) but I think we will pick up a few Senate seats this year.

If he supported McCain more quietly I think many of us would be less angered but his public role is disgusting after the honor that was given to him in 2000. Addressing the Republican convention is even worse.

[davidinalameda]

34. you're exactly right!

he needs to be removed from his chairmanship

let him take one of the Repub seats on these committees

[progressoid]

22. Don't let the door hit ya Joe.

bye bye :hi:

[mitchum]

26. What a scumbag he is

[sellitman]

27. I am a Jewish Pro Israel Jew and I say FU Lieberman.

Throw the asshole out now. I live here in CT and the only reason he is still in office is because of the repiggies who voted for him. Every self respecting Dem I know voted for Ned Lamont.

[AndyTiedye]

31. The Connecticut Boll Weevil

[tavalon]

32. That will be the sweetest part of the 2008 election

Being able to unceremoniously kick that jackass out on his ear. Go caucus with the Thugs, fucktard!

[Zachstar]

36. Amen!

[sellitman]

38. I hope your wording gets used officially.

They should actually throw him out sooner. Congress has been worthless anyway.