Lieberman Warns Left With Independent Threat
This might give the Leftist side of the Net something to ponder as they continue to pressure Democrat candidates with primary challenges. Evidently Lieberman isn't ruling out running for Senate with another party if he is defeated in a primary.
LIEBERMAN: Will I always be a member of the Democratic party? I hope there's not a primary. I'm confident if there is one, I'll win it, but I'm not gonna rule out any other option for now because I feel so strongly that I can do better for the State of Connecticut for the next six years in the United States Senate that I want to give all the voters a chance to make that decision on Election day in November. I want to do it as a Democrat. If I didn't want to do it as a Democrat, I would choose to run in some other party, trust me. But I want to do it as a Democrat because I believe in the Democratic party, so really the choice is up to my fellow Democrats...
I emphasized one sentence - there is another party which would likely welcome Senator Liebermann. The better the Dems think are their chances of winning the Senate, currently not very good, all the more important becomes Liebermann's primary result and any subsequent decision.
They already lost Zell Miller. Nationally-minded Democrats like Hillary will not want to give the impression of an ever shrinking tent with a Presidential election in just over two years.
It'd be better if Lieberman was a Republican. Then he wouldn't be offering "bipartisan" cover every time he voted with the GOP. He'd do far less damage as a wolf in wolf's clothing than he does now.
As for Zell Miller, I'm curious. How, precisely, do you imagine that the Democratic party "lost" him?
I mean, we did. But I bet it didn't happen when or how you think.
We "lost" him on the day Lyndon Johnson signed the civil rights act. We "lost" a lot of people that day. And your party happily scooped them up. Good riddance to bad rubbish and you're welcome to them. Miller, however, remained a Democrat in two and only two ways until the day he retired. First, he remained, technically, a Democrat. One who reliably voted Republican, far moreso than Liberman, but still nominally a Democrat. Secondly, he retained some bare shred of party loyalty in that he never crossed the line and voted for Republican leadership in the Senate, even when he could single-handedly have handed control of the Senate back to the GOP.
Neither did Lieberman, to his credit, though that's awfully faint praise.
"Losing" Lieberman to the GOP would be about as damaging as was losing General Lee to the British. You're welcome to him, and you're doing us a favor by taking him. And no, we don't want him back. Thanks.
Posted by: Laertes | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 03:24 AM
Nailed what I wondered some time ago -- read a Feb-06? Rasmuessan (sp - tired) poll that indicated JL ran heartedly over Dem primary challenger. But the kicker was, if he ran as an *independent* he'd still win (and I think the poll indicated he'd do better) because so many Repubs would cross over -- which is funny in a way considering the netroots hard-on to oughst him -- their squealing is actually fundraising and fermenting the dem party hemorrhage/split
Posted by: topsecretk9 | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 04:09 AM
obviously really tired and should go to bed
oughst = oust
and sorry if there are more
Posted by: topsecretk9 | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 04:12 AM
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Howard_Deans_younger_brother_takes_on_0409.html
Posted by: COLUMBO | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 09:41 AM
I don't have a lot problem with Lieberman voting his conscience rather than along party lines...wish more republicans would do that. (You know, like McCain used to before he came down with the 2008 bug). But the hosts comment about "shrinking tent"...I think it is the GOP with the wierd and completely unnatural coalition of robber barons, evangelicals, and rednecks that seems to be coming apart this year. Hating Hillary Clinton and gays just doesn't seem to be enough to keep all you guys together anymore.
Posted by: jeff | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 10:44 AM
Goodbye Joe, and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out! The Dems don't need a GOP plant in their midst.
Anyway, Lamont is gaining solid ground against Joe L. He'll be kicked out of office in November. Good riddance to bad rubbish!
As for Zell, well, ahem, the most charitable thing the Dems can say about him is that he is in serious need of psychotropic medications.
Posted by: Devil's Advocate | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 10:51 AM
Yeah, bummer about losing these guys. I'm not sure Lieberman is "lost", but as for Miller, what difference does it make? You guys had the unhinged cracker vote sewn up a long time ago.
Posted by: Skeptic | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 11:38 AM
The only thing Zig zag Zell "lost" was his mind.
Posted by: countryken | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 12:58 PM
Ooo, I can feel the Joementum already ... go ahead and run, Joe.
Posted by: Alan | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 02:40 PM
A party that has forcefully driven out most of its moderates and 'liberal republicans' - now basically extinct - has advice for the democrats on dealing with its 'DINOs'?
Ha. Save it, we'll be fine without it and without Lieberman.
Posted by: Craig | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 02:47 PM
I just want to say that the comments on this blog are great. Better than the post (no offense -- first time I've read your blog).
I don't think Lieberman is in serious trouble of losing his primary. Running challengers does force "our" politicians to tow the line a little bit though. They've leaned pretty hard to the right over the last few years. I know you imagine that they're moving to the center, but they're not. You've successfully managed to move the goalposts. Enjoy it while it lasts because we are doing everything we can to move them back.
Posted by: chatterbox | Monday, April 10, 2006 at 06:57 PM
Joe threatens "left" that he may leave party.
Left collectively packs Joe's bags and says so-long!
Posted by: Laura Strand | Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 03:19 PM