Lieberman facing tough questions (The Herald Press)

[norml]

Lieberman facing tough questions

By ELISABETH STRILLACCI, The Herald Press
04/09/2006


NEWINGTON -- Sen. Joseph Lieberman, seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate, may face some difficult questions at a meeting today at the Knights of Columbus hall.


Lieberman has invited area Democratic town committee members, delegates and elected officials to a private meeting to talk about his campaign, garner support and answer questions about his recent choices as a senator.


"He is aware there are questions out there about some of the recent decisions he’s made," said Sean Smith, Lieberman’s campaign manager. "He welcomes this opportunity to have a dialogue with people, hear what the local concerns are, and to have a chance to explain his perspectives more fully."

Lieberman is facing a primary challenge from within his own party from Ned Lamont, a Fairfield county resident.

Lieberman has faced increasing criticism of late from what many in the Democratic party see as tendencies that are too Republican and too supportive of President George W. Bush.

Included in that group is New Britain’s Democratic town chairman, John McNamara, who said his personal opinion and sense is that "a significant portion of New Britain’s 31 delegates will support Lamont as I will do."

He said he believes voters are hungry for an honest discussion on issues of war, peace and the domestic agenda.


snip


http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16453353&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6

[wake.up.america]

1. Goodbye Joe. Liebermann , you are no longer dear to me.

[wtmusic]

2. One thing I'll say for Joe Lieberman

is that he stands his ground.

IMO he honestly believes that starting a war in Iraq was the right thing to do, and he's sticking by it.

Compare to HR Clinton and other Dem pantywaists who wouldn't know conviction if it smacked 'em upside the head.

[shenmue]

3. Yeah, but...

it's conviction on a really dumb idea.

[lolly]

28. Well, as Emerson said

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

"Short Ride" Lieberman surely has one of the smallest minds in politics.

Sticking to a bad policy is surely much worse than changing one's mind and abandoning a bad policy.

[saltpoint]

5. He does stand his ground, true, but I think history has left Joe

behind.

Iraq has not been a success, and so his well-beyond-the-call-of-duty support of Bush and Rumsfeld in waging the war throws doubt on Joe's judgment.

Progressives were trying to bring pressure to bear on the Democratic Party to more vigorously oppose the war and there were Sens. Lieberman and Bayh and Congressman Gephardt in the Rose Garden cozying up to Bush and endorsing the assault on Iraq.

From that angle, Lieberman is a war enabler. I think that's one part of why he's held in such low esteem on DU.

I've been especially rough on Lieberman from pre-Gore days because Joe was so "anti-Hollywood."

[wtmusic]

6. There seems to be a mutant gene in some people

People who, despite being very intelligent and compassionate in other areas, are completely oblivious to the fundamental moral problem with invading another country outside of self-defense.

Joe is genuinely mystified why the country isn't rallying behind the President and why our little excursion isn't shaping up as planned.

I agree--in any case it's poor judgement. Not the kind of guy you want making important decisions.

[saltpoint]

7. I wish Joe Lieberman had decided to run for governor in CT, instead

of deciding to seek re-election to the Senate.

Lamont would have had a much better shot without having to unseat an incumbent, and Lieberman would actually make a darn good governor.

[wtmusic]

8. That's what I hear from others in CT

On domestic issues, especially on his own turf, he's highly respected...on foreign policy, he's without a clue.

[lolly]

31. Domestic Issues?

You mean, like telling rape victims they should be willing to take a "short ride" to another hospital if they want to get emergency contraception and find out the hospital they've been taken to won't administer it? Sure, that's a winner.

[wtmusic]

46. please elaborate

Is Joe in charge of providing emergency contraception, or giving them the ride?

[lolly]

47. Legislation regarding Emergency Contraception

"Short Ride" Lieberman supports the "right" of hospitals to refuse emergency contraception to rape victims, callously noting that it should be only a "short ride" for a rape victim to go to another hospital.

Sure,you've been raped and beaten, we've taken your clothing for evidence so all you have on is a hospital gown, and you may have no money, but if you want to make sure you don't get pregnant with your rapist's child, just flag down a taxi and take a "short ride" to another hospital--and hope they'll have the decency to give you the medical treatment you need.

Whatever respect I had for the SOB before that comment--and it wasn't much--flew out the door.

[David in Canada]

9. Ned Lamont

Lamont has a decent chance of winning the primary. Primaries usually are low turnout. That means the party faithful decide the winners. Since most party faithful in CT are progressives, that means Lieberman will either lose or win the primary with VERY lacklustre numbers.

[saltpoint]

10. I hear the same from several folks. Lamont sounds like a

pretty capable soul to me.

Not in Connecticut myself, but I'd support Lamont in that primary.

[skipos]

20. I agree that primaries are decided by a small number of people but

Lieberman's approval numbers are still pretty darn high. DU doesn't like him very much but CT does.

[Canuckistanian]

24. Hello, David 1981

Welcome to DU!

I'm in Ottawa.

:toast: :hi:

[oasis]

11. As governor, Joe can't vote in favor of Bush's foreign policies. So he

nixed that idea.

[saltpoint]

16. Didn't know the link was that direct. Hi, oasis. Well, I would rather

have a conversation with Joe Lieberman than with Jeff Sessions or Mel Martinez, but overall, I think Lowell Weicker was more progressive, at least when it comes to supporting the GOP. Weicker was his own man as much as a politician could be. I miss him, especially when Lieberman blunts the opposition to a terrible war.

[oasis]

30. Hi Old Crusoe. The link dealt with the senate primary. My comment

was in response to a sub-thread about Joe not running for governor.

Let me be plain. Joe most likely knows that he could run and win as governor of CT. IMO,his desire to remain on the national stage has a lot to do with his ability to influence foreign policy.

edit for spelling

[saltpoint]

32. I gotcha. Do you feel it might also be about his hoping to replace

Don Rumsfeld at Defense? There was some talk about it over the last year or so.

[oasis]

37. Rummy's job or Sec. Of State if Condi gets moved up to VP because of

Cheney's failing health.

[saltpoint]

38. It's true. Cheney's health might actually be a bigger issue than

anybody thinks right now. He's got to be under some serious pressure.

[oasis]

40. A Cheney exit would fit both Joe's plan and the recent WH shakeup.

A media coup that would focus on WH positives and divert attention from Libby, Abramoff and Delay in2007.

[saltpoint]

41. Yep. And isn't the Gov. of CT a Republican? Seems like she'd

appoint a Republican to fill the seat, and that would make Dems' take-over chances there that much steeper.

[oasis]

43. Joe's not worried about who gets his seat. Gov. Rell isn't a rabid

right winger. She said she doesn't want Chimpy's help in campaigning.

anyway, I gotta go for now. Nice talking with you. :hi:

[LiberalFighter]

19. That doesn't mean he couldn't do photo ops when the dip is in state

[rpannier]

17. And that's unfortunate

Lieberman running for governor would probably be an easy slam dunk. He and Lamont could rally the CT Dems behind the full party and make November in CT totally rock.

[saltpoint]

39. It makes me wonder what Lamont's chances are. I'm not in CT so I

can't cast any votes.

But I'm drawn to Lamont's candidacy and hope he prevails in that primary.

[formercia]

15. I agree,'KAPO' Joe should be convicted with the rest of the gang.

Let his convictions convict him....

[LiberalFighter]

18. It takes a better man to admit their mistake when they are wrong

Whose interest was starting a war in Iraq? It wasn't in the interest of the USA.

[formercia]

21. It was in the interest of people wanting to control the Iraq oil fields

who now hold high positions in this Administration.

[Liberal Veteran]

26. Don't confuse pigheaded stubborness as "courage of conviction"

Bush stands by his decisions too, but it doesn't mean they are GOOD decisions and only idiot continues to repeat the same mistake hoping for a better outcome.

[VegasWolf]

44. Zell Miller stands his ground too. nt

[joeunderdog]

48. My question to Joe:

So, Joe, how did you get W's DNA stain on the back of your suit?

[William Seger]

50. Sorry, I have more respect for people who can admit that they were wrong

That takes much more courage.

[Golden Raisin]

4. Boo friggin' hoo hoo.

Tough questions don't cut it. Lieberman should be thrown out of Congress and out of the Democratic party.

[movonne]

25. My thoughts exactly...I cannot stand turncoat joe and just because

he does some things that are progressive does not make a progressive..he has been up bush's ass like any good repug...

[rpannier]

12. They need to be careful what kind of questions they ask

Because Joe may label them as angry questions.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[YDogg]

23. Agreed. End of story.

[saigon68]

14. Joementum is a DINO like Biden, the 2 of them dance

To the Neocon and pampered Corporate tune

[Rose Siding]

22. Today, in Windsor, he faces a more open crowd

At first it looked private too. Then, a change-

snip>
Lieberman's office sent a staffer to stand-in for Joe at the DTC meeting tonight. He spoke after Ned. When he was through, the DTC chair announced the Sunday meeting with Joe, which was for DTC members, elected officials, and delegates. There were at least 20 non-DTC Lamontistas present, and on the spur of the moment, the Lieberman staffer said the Sunday meeting was open to everyone! I wonder if he'll regret that. Sunday-11:30 at Windsor Town Hall

http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=823

[Arugula Latte]

27. Question for Joe: Why are you such a tremendous ass?

And when will you be declaring your switch to your beloved Republican party to your good friends at Fox News like Sean Hannity? :shrug:

[DanCa]

29. Joemomentum is working in reverse. (nt)

[norml]

36. Joementum has become Liebinertia.

[yurbud]

33. dilemma about what to bring to Lieberman town hall meeting...

rotten fruit or tar and feathers?

[yurbud]

35. ANIMATION: how Joe holds the GOP accountable (by grabbing his ankles)

[dolstein]

49. How about serious questions?

If you REALLY want your views to be taken seriously, why not behave like a responsible citizen? Instead of pulling a Cindy Sheehan and getting yourself dragged out of the venue by security, why not simply ask a serious question?

[stepnw1f]

34. Buh Bye you Sleazeball Prick!

I have no respect for your kind.

[KittyWampus]

42. Senator, Did The WH Consult W/ You Re:Invading Iraq And Iran?

[Name removed]

45. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.