DURBIN sez he's DOWN for Joementum (ThisWeak)

[UTUSN]

STEPANOPOULIS tried pinning him down on supporting WHOEVER wins the Dem primary. DURBIN said he is supporting Joementum no matter what. Georgie tried a couple of more times, saying, "That's not what I asked." DURBIN said, "I know, but despite that we disagree about the war I know (Joementum) and am confident he will win the primary so (no need to go the other route of the question)."

[blm]

1. No senator is going to come out against a fellow Dem senator - they won't

and every talking head knows it.

Durbin already battled Reid and the others all week when he sided and argued for the Kerry-Feingold amendment at their Dem senate meeting. He should be lauded for stepping up.

[saltpoint]

2. Agree totally. The tv pundits know the score and are trying only

to generate controversy. Connecticut voters know their role and will play it ably in August.

Durbin has had a great week in the Senate. George should have framed questions about how Durbin and others have advanced public discourse against Bush's horrendous war.

[Vinca]

3. I'm mad as hell about this performance. Here's my email to Durbin:

Dear Senator Durbin - I'm a big fan of yours, but this morning, on the Stephanopoulos show, you infuriated me. When asked who you would support in the Democratic Senate race in Connecticut, you said "Lieberman." When pressed by Stephanopoulos, you continued to say "Lieberman." This is why Democrats lose. You are being "crony" faithful rather than faithful to the party. When Senator McConnell was asked who he would support, he said "the Republican candidate." Now I can't vote in Connecticut - it's up to them who they want - but I think all Democrats should support the candidate the Connecticut Democrats decide they want. Should Lieberman lose the primary and run as an Independent AND receive the support of the Democratic Party over Lamont it will signal the beginning of a new era in politics. There will be a third party. And I will be a member of it. Sincerely,

[kevsand]

10. "Should Lieberman lose the primary ..."

"... and run as an Independent AND receive the support of the Democratic Party over Lamont it will signal the beginning of a new era in politics."

I haven't checked directly, but I'm guessing that scenario is illegal, and therefore not even possible. Once Lieberman loses in the primary, I think he's done: no possibility of an independent campaign. He would have to pull out of the dem primary now in order to run as an independent.

Also, if I'm reading the quotes right, Durbin never said he would fail to support the winner of the Dem primary; he merely asserted his collegial belief that Joe will be that winner.

[Vinca]

12. If Lieberman loses he has about a day to submit 7,500 signatures

to run as an independent. Durbin should have responded the way Feingold responded to Tim Russert - "I'll support the Democratic candidate."

[kevsand]

13. That seems a very bizarre arrangement.

Here in Illinois, anyone who runs in the primary is ineligible to run as an independent. The idea is to avoid sour grapes guys from having a second chance. I had no idea any state allowed that.

[KharmaTrain]

4. The Senate Refers To Itself As A "Club"

Not excuse for my Senator dodging this issue. I'm fully on board for Ned Lamont...and just trying to figure what I believe Durbin and other Senate Democrats are doing.

I keep hearing Senators refering to the Senate as a "club"...where they attempt to play nice with one another. They use the term "my colleuge" or always want to show they have someone across the aisle whose their friend...call it lambs lying down with wolves. As long as one's in the club, there's the unwritten rule of not trashing a member.

Part of that "club" also is not taking sides in their own partisan battles and bringing the party's "dirty laundry" into the front. Some of it is honest friendship...Liebermann has helped Durbin and others in the past and as the minority whip, Durbin needs Liebermann's respect (not always his vote) and by picking sides in the primary he could push Joementum further into the Repugnicans coven than he is right now.

Here's hoping the voters of the Nutmeg state are looking closely at this race and are the ones who can and will determine Liebermann's fate. I see this type of questioning of Durbin or Reid or even Schummer at this point as being fodder for the Repugnicans to use to attempt to portray Democrats as unloyal and not unified...not the image a party leader wants to portray in a corporate media world where the cards are already stacked against you.

Let's see how the primary unfolds...I recall Repugnicans still calling Jim Jeffords one of their own up until the moment he bolted...now they don't even know he exists. I suspect we could see the same game play out with the Democrats...hedging their bets to see who wins the primary.

The sad question that beg for asking here...but few want to even go there...is if Liebermann were to stay a Democrat and win the primary, will Lamont and his supporters work for his re-election, or will they urge Ned to run as an independent.

[kohodog]

11. Lamont has clearly stated that he will support the Dem nominee

And has urged Lieberman to do the same. Lieberman will not commit to supporting Lamont should Ned win in August. And Lieberman will need 15,000 signatures the day after the primary in order to run as an independent. In the next few weeks he will need to start a signature drive which wouldn't surprise me as he believes he is more important than the voters. Don't forget, he ran for the Senate and Vice President at the same time in 2000.

He thinks lots more of himself than many CT Dems.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Feingold made point on MPT that altho Lamont was closer to him on issues,

he would support no one in the primary, and would support whoever won the August primary.

[skipos]

6. Thank you for pointing this out. Maybe it will help DU keep out of the

circular firing squad.

[UTUSN]

7. FEINGOLD's integrity is getting hard for me to resist n/t

[derby378]

8. I'm convinced we just saw our next President in action

He recognizes the will of the people and is cool like that. Go Russ!

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. That's usually how they respond to those dumbass questions.

I'm surprised Durbin didn't.

[AlCzervik]

14. the fact that he didn't come out with a ringing endorsement says more

than he didn't say, were i being asked that puts him in a difficult position and who knows what he says behind closed doors.