Do You Buy into the latest "floater" Repugs putting out? McCain/Lieberman

[KoKo]

or Giuliani/Lieberman that would be the "Coalition Party" running as Independent for '08?

I'm not kidding! This was floated out there over the weekend and Chris Matthews just mentioned it on hardball with John Harwood of the Wall St. Jounal and Harwood verified that it was a thought.

We know that the Repugs get hard on's for Giuliani and Matthews always had him as his #2 GUY WITH THE HARDBALLS after his Chimp has imploded.

So...is this possible? Lots of Dems way back were pushing for Kerry to pick McCain as his VP (to the horror or other of us Dem DU'ers) and with Lieberman making a "run" as an Indie and yet appealing to both Dems and Repugs because of his voting and having the experience of running as VP to Gore....would this NOT make sense in the "Wonderful World of Politics" as brough to you by the "Corporate Whore Multi-National Media?"

Couldn't all the Media get behind a "Bi-Partisan" "Coalition Emperor" to follow Caligula? Lieberman and Giuliana certainly fit the bill and if you throw in McCain...well you get a great Threesome to scrabble to see who comes out on top.

Anyone else seen this...what "THEY" are setting up for us in 2008? Did you hear Matthews on this, even if you missed the earlier "floater?"

[LA lady]

Ha!

I live in a VERY Red area and every Repug I know HATES McCain.

[saltpoint]

1. Between a Giuliani/Lieberman ticket and a Satan/Hitler ticket, I'd

likely go with Satan/Hitler.

[NoPasaran]

48. Yeah, me too. I prefer my evil pure

Unalloyed with the base metal of hypocrisy.

[blm]

2. It was McCain's camp that pushed that lie - and it was Biden who wanted

to see it happen once it was out there.

[KoKo]

9. Yes...I realize that but answer my post about the "CURRENT" situation

I only gave the McCain thing as background and there WERE DU DEMS who were desperate enough to consider McCain because they thought maybe it would be a "coalition" to bring an end to the Partisanship. Some might have been Trolls but there were DU'ers who honestly were sick of all the "Partisanship."

What do you think about the Repug Proposal floated by Matthews and Others? If the Media gets behind it? :shrug:

[blm]

16. If the media gets behind it - it will be a done deal. Alot of people can

be convinced of anything if it's sold just right. And I expect the focus grouping will result in alot of people who will be attracted to the "idea" that it's a real bi-partisan ticket.

That way they have less to have to decide.

[KoKo]

19. Yes...that's my worry and exactly why I posted this ...as an alert. n/t

[Arugula Latte]

3. If Lieberman is a floater, I want him flushed down the toilet NOW.

x(

In all seriousness, I don't think Joe has much national appeal. Let's face it, he is actually quite repulsive and has zero charisma.

[MoonRiver]

4. They may want to spin that to mess with Dems heads,

but it won't happen. They would lose their "base" to some third party nutcase. Then they would lose to Dems in biblical proportions. So I doubt they will actually go there.

[KoKo]

10. What's scary is: What if they don't see us Internet Folks as their BASE?

I still remember Chuck Shumer saying this Spring in answer to a reporter question about how the Dems would deal with those Activists against the War and Schumer said: "When they Push...WE Push Back!" That said what the real Dem Leadership thinks of the internet activists.

Why do you think they wouldn't throw us "Under the Bus" to get crossover Repugs?

[patricia92243]

5. That would be wonderful news for Democrats. Lots of Republicans that are

true Republicans - NOT neocons - would vote for the third party. Real Republicans are sick of their party being usurped.

An enemy of our enemy is our friend.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. This has been floating around for a while

I was just googling around for a web site, but don't know what party name they're actually using ..... coalition? union? unity?

It was discussed here earlier in the year, but again, can't find it cuz I don't recall what it was called.

[KoKo]

11. I haven't seen it before...and I'm a media maven and here on DU all the

time. If you find this...please post. It will be interesting to see.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Lemme send a PM to totally committed ... I think she was in the thread....

.... I'm thinking of.

[KoKo]

20. thanks I'd like to see that. I've seen Giuliani as a Repug Candidate

floated along with McCain...but it was new to me running all three with Lieberman as possible Coalition Third Party. :shrug:

[MasonJar]

7. you are kidding in asking us about this. right?

[KoKo]

13. No....I am not...and I'm one of the "DU" ..us, and that's why I'm

asking about what you think about this latest "ploy" of the Repugs.

We might think it "sucks" but the Powers that Be might just be able with "Total Media Control" to get some traction for it as a "Third Way" that would sabotage our Dem Candidate in 08.

That's why I posted. Just like Ross Perot running allowed Clinton to have some "breathing room" to get elected...a Repug/Dem Coalition Party might just foul the waters for any real Dem...Progressive Dem in 08. :shrug:

[hatrack]

8. "Floater" is right - that's a turd of an idea

:hurts:

[Sparkly]

15. LOL

:rofl:

[KoKo]

17. It's a "turd of an idea" but then I thought "Bush II" was a "turd" of an

idea and who has been in office after stealing an election and other crimes for Six LOOOOONG Years?

That's what worries me. No matter what crazy idea the Repugs and BFEE come up with ....it ends up being our Dem nightmare.

:shrug: That's all I'm saying here... It might sound crazy but then I've lived with "crazy" since Clinton was elected and Carter before him. Whatever is crazy...ends up around our Dem Necks.

[karynnj]

14. Which voters does Lieberman bring to McCain?

With 60% of the people against the war - and McCain wanting to add more soldiers and Lieberman having supported it strongly, they start out already not acceptable to most of the 60%. It would of course be a 3 way race - but I can't see how the Democrat - any Democrat = loses. You would think they would mainly pull from the Republicans.

[KoKo]

18. The Media will invent something and if the alternative is a "weak Dem"

there are many Repugs who disenfranchised with the Bush Co Crime Family are looking for an alternative...and some Dems who are so sick of everything they might just think a "Coaltion" would STOP THE MADNESS.

The rest of us would be out here on the Lefty Internets ...nursing our wounds once again.. :shrug: (this is a dark scenario but then that's what our reality seems to have been these long years)

[mentalsolstice]

31. However...

I think at least 20% of that 60% would back "pro-war" candidates if they "thought" they had a strong team. You need to go back and see how many Americans didn't support the war, ever (30-40%?). Since then that number has risen. It's the newcomers, those that were originally pro-war and then got sick of it, that could probably be swayed back toward McCain/Lieberman with a strong enough ad campaign by the MSM. I would wager that a majority of Americans are unaware of Lieberman's situation in CT, nor do they care at this point. If he wins this year, it will be forgotten by 2008, except by us hardcore progressives.

It really sucks, and it goes to show why it's imperative that holy Joe loses this year. As for Giuliani, hopefully he proves to be just too lightweight for a national election.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. KoKo01 .... here's some background

Thanks go entirely to Totally Committed, who dug all this crap out of the DU garbage can.

Wapo:From the Internet to the White House

From DU:

"Unity08": Political vets work for bipartisan 2008 ticket w/ online vote

UNITY 08.....Take back this country

Unity08: What's this, another way to steal elections?

Unity Candidate? Unify **this**, assholes. (This one was mine!)

As you can see, this was just a couple of months ago.

[KoKo]

23. Many Thanks! Incredible...here's a snip from WaPo Article/Unity Party!

I had missed this whole thing...:eyes: Incredible that they are ramping it up on Matthews. I'll check out the other DU links you gave but am posting this for DU'ers who don't have WaPo Subscription who might want to read this. What's next? "Unity Party" decides we need to Revise the Constitution?" sheesh.

Thanks! :hi:

Political Veterans Work to Organize Bipartisan 2008 Ticket With Online Balloting

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 31, 2006; Page A04

A group of old Washington hands has launched a campaign to remake Internet politics, taking a forum that until now has been associated with ideologues and angry partisans and using it to start a movement culminating in a bipartisan presidential ticket in 2008.

The group is called Unity08, and no one would accuse its founders of thinking small. They include Democrats Hamilton Jordan and Gerald Rafshoon, who gained political fame for their role in electing Jimmy Carter 30 years ago, as well as Doug Bailey, a media adviser to former president and representative Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.). They are being joined by former Maine governor Angus King, an independent.


Their goal is to offer an alternative to the two major party choices -- a unity ticket that will emerge after secure, online balloting that they hope will include millions of Americans. In an announcement statement, Unity08 said its efforts are a reaction to a system that has "polarized and alienated the American people" through partisanship and interest-group politics.

Unity08's organizers estimate that if 20 percent of the voting public signs on -- hardly a modest goal but only slightly more than what independent H. Ross Perot won in his dramatic 1992 presidential campaign -- then "our voters will decide the 2008 elections."

This is different from Perot and his budget charts. Unity08's founders said they do not want to create a third party but, rather, force Democrats and Republicans to revamp themselves by becoming more issue-focused, responsive and candid. These are the same traits millions of Americans say they clamor for each election but never seem to find. "What we are trying to do is to create a forum for people who are in the middle who have been left out of politics," Bailey said.

The 2004 elections proved the Internet can energize politics. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean went from obscurity to front-runner almost overnight as liberals organized -- and contributed money -- over the Internet in ways the political establishment did not anticipate. Now, Internet strategy is central to the campaign plans of both parties. Its potential is unlimited -- if highly uncertain -- in shaping future elections.

Yet the blogosphere is often dominated by voices from the ideological extremes. Jordan, Rafshoon, Bailey and King are betting that the Internet has room for an activist middle, as long as the process is controlled by the people -- especially the young. Their theory is that most Americans are fed up with both parties, a belief backed by recent polling data, and are eager to shake up the political process if they can find an outlet.

Noting that about 85 percent of Americans use the Internet, Rafshoon said that "they can't all be extremists. There has got to be room out there for us."

[KoKo]

24. Another thought on this.....Who are the Ideological extremists on the Left

that Carter's people are talking about? I don't know too many raving nuts on the Left...in fact I can't think of one to name that's as crazy as Anne Coulter, O'Lielly, Limbaugh, the Necons like Kristol, et.al, David Horowitz and the other assorted hate mongers.

I would be very worried this group would see John McCain and Joe Lieberman as that "comfortable middle" that they think could run for the "Unity Party."

Didn't Bush supposedly get "Selected" because he ran as a "Uniter not a Divider?" Look where that got us...A big hole in the ground in NYC, New Orleans in wreckage and endless Wars and threats of more War in the ME.

[Totally Committed]

28. Thanks for the thanks!

We cannot allow this sort of delusional thinking to take hold!

There is no bi-partisanship (and there shouldn't be any, imo) left after the way the Bushies have conducted themselves since taking power. The Neo-Cons have proved themselves to be radical ideological law-breakers willing to do whatever/whenever necessary to add to their own power. They have made a complete and utter mess of this country -- not to mention fostering the complete lack of respect and utter contempt the rest of the world views us ALL with now.

Carter is a good man. He's a man of peace and conciliation. He is ABSOLUTELY WRONG in his opinion that the two Parties working together is what's needed to heal this country. It will only bring a log-jam in the much-needed legislation needed to right the wrongs of the past administrations, and bring to a halt the VERY much-needed investigations into the multitude of illegalities perpetrated on the American people by the Bush administration and the Republican Party.

Say NO to wussy bi-partisanship.

Say NO to any "Unity" Ticket.

TC

[Stinky The Clown]

30. In defense of Jimmy Carter .....

...... conceptually, bipartisanship is a good thing and I support it. So, in the abstract, Jimmy Carter's right.

Now ... the fact is we live in a reality. And the current reality is ***exactly*** as you describe. There is NO room for bipartisanship. The concept of 'WE' is on life support. There is a 'THEM' and an 'US' ... no middle ground anywhere.

In a few years .... or decades .... maybe. But right now? NO FUCKING WAY. Before we get 'bipartisanship' we have to endure a series of criminal trials of the current 'leadership' of this country. They must not only be cast from office, but cast out from anyplace where they might again gain power.

[Totally Committed]

32. As a peacenik, and a hippie-at-heart...

There was a time when I would have been excited about working together with the other side... but that was long, LONG ago... when I was all "peace, love, and understanding", and naive enough to think that those on public service were all about voting the will of the people, or voting their personal integrity.

Never again, at least in MY lifetime, do I see the possibility for finding a renewed taste for bi-partisanship. I can barely tolerate those in my own Party who vote with the Republicans and/or the DLC-ers who are Republican in every important way, anyway. I have no use for them. So, you can imagine how I feel about ANY AND ALL Republicans.

If a DLC Democrat is a no-go on a Presidential Ticket for me, you can only imagine how I would feel about a Republican who actually admits to the title. No effing way. Never.

TC

[windbreeze]

22. Sure, why not????

It would be the stupidest thing they've done yet...but they seem to excel in stupidity...however...I will maintain...it is going to be JEB...forget McCain, Lieberman, and Guiliani...
windbreeze

[CarlVK]

25. Oh it's a FLOATER, alright. The brown kind.

[sknabt]

26. Ah, in a word "No"

Chris Matthews can say anything to stir up a debate and find some talking head wanting the publicity to play along as guest. I think it was just a slow night. MSNBC has a lot of those.

[KoKo]

27. A kick because "Unity Party 08" could be come reality with Carters people

backing it.

[opihimoimoi]

29. Never Happen...Joe has a FACE of a LOSER.,..He has the thoughts of

a LOSER, he walks like one, he LOOKs like one, he is a .....LOSER.

He lost in 2000, he lost in 2006, these things copmes in 3's don't they??

[KoKo]

34. Oh Dear God....I hope you're correct, Opi....

How much longer do we have to put up with these DINO's!

:hi:

[opihimoimoi]

43. Its now changed to IINO...He is an IINO....."I KNOW".....but does he? NO

he doesn't....

Joe got bought out a long time ago....his body language gives us the hint.....message/signs

[KoKo]

33. Kick......still being pushed by Media...this is going to be the BIG THING!

[elperromagico]

35. If they really wanted a "unity" ticket, they'd suggest a liberal

to counterbalance the conservative McCain.

Instead, they suggest Lieberman. They don't want a unity ticket; they want a right-of-center ticket. You can get that with two Republicans. You don't need to throw a Democrat, even Lieberman, into the mix.

McCain's rep as a "moderate" irritates the hell out of me. Why is he a moderate? Because he stood up to the religious right? You don't have to be a Fundie to be a conservative - McCain proves that. Because he opposes torture? That's kind of a no-shit position for an ex-POW, isn't it?

Doesn't he vote with Bush about 90% of the time?

What they want is a Republican ticket with a token center-right Democrat on it. Let them peddle that horseshit somewhere else; nobody's buying it here.

[KoKo]

36. But....what if "MSM" rams it down our throat and C-Span callers get on it

like they did with Ross Perot and it causes a huge "groundswell of opinion" and it takes votes away from any Dem running and favors Bush?

I don't know how yet this could work out. It depends on the choices...but if the MSM Pudits like Matthews are pushing it...I gotta figure it's bad for Dems and good for the MSM whose ratings are falling as folks who are interested in Politics flock to the Intenet and the rest of America "tunes out" and watches HDTV or the other stuff on the cables that are entertainment.

I'm very worried about this....:-(

[SOS]

37. No surprise

This has been in the works for a long time.
It all depends on who wins the nominations.
If Frist and Clinton are the nominees, we will certainly see a McCain/Lieberman "unity" ticket.
If it's Hagel vs. Gore, then McCain and Lieberman are done with presidential politics.

[leesa]

38. They can both go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

[David Zephyr]

39. Gag me. McCain & Lieberman. I don't need an appetite suppressant now.

The two cavemen.

[AX10]

40. The fact that the MSM is pushing this tells me it is bad.

It sounds more like a scam to allow the Neo-Cons to stay in power.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

41. I don't think its possible unless Lieberman does a Zell-like U-turn

on abortion. The core GOP vote as it standards could not tolerate a pro-choice Vice-President. They've spent the last 25 years trying to rid their party of pro-choice candidates.

[dansolo]

42. That would be great

Republicans love having Joe Lieberman as a snivelling Repub-wannabe that they can turn to any time they need a veneer of bipartisansip. But there is no way in hell that read-staters will ever vote for him, no matter how much he shoves his nose up Bush's ass. Putting Lieberman on the ticket will be the kiss of death to any Republican candidate.

[No Exit]

44. A new party: the Despicable Party

[Jed Dilligan]

45. Moderate,

but not so moderate as to refrain from rushing headlong into Armageddon. But we'll keep the discourse civil while killing you all.

[Vidar]

46. Let him damage McCain like he did Gore.

[KoKo]

47. Well...give this a kick if Repugs want to toss Bloomberg into Third Party!

Disgusting..