Can we draft Lowell W. to run against Lieberman?

[DODI]

Anyone know how to do this. CT Dems won't dump him -- he brings too much money into the state! I want Lowell!

[feminazi]

1. lowell weicker????

[Rowdyboy]

2. There are literally thousands of Democrats in Connecticut that can

take on Liebermman, and you want an elderly ex-Republican? If we can't do better than that, why bother even trying...

[DODI]

4. Lowell is a man of integrity. I don't think anyone could do better than

Lowell. He won gov. here as an independent. The dems won't get rid of Joe and where are we going to find a dem that is going to buck the system?

[saltpoint]

5. You said a mouthful, DODI. Lowell Weicker IS a man of integrity.

He was the first Republican senator on the senate Watergate committee to tell Nixon's White House that no, they could NOT count on his support in this matter, and that no, they could NOT assume he was in the president's camp.

He told the president's legal emissary at the time, Charles Colson, to "kiss my ass and get the hell out of my office."

After listening to Lieberman lick Bush's butthole for so long, including today on Dr. Rice's nomination, I would MOVE to Connecticut to work for Lowell Weicker.

[DODI]

6. You haven't heard him lately -- he rips this administration on a

fairly regular basis on a local liberal talk radio show. Lowell was/is the only repuke that ever got a vote from our house. He is still out there telling it like it is. He was very funny about Rowland. He keeps asking John where the money went. Lowell sacrificed his political career brining as state income tax here that we desperately needed. He saved out state and gets no credit for it.
He did an unpopular thing that needed to be done. He will always have my respect. Oh, and he HATES *.

[saltpoint]

7. Yes, you're right -- he's no Bush Republican.

He's a Lincoln Republican.

It wouldn't bother me one bit to see Joe Lieberman shown the door.

[Eric J in MN]

21. Is he the host, or just a frequent guest? nt

nt

[DODI]

23. He has been a guest on the Colin McEnroe show on WTIC

Colin comes on right after Rush.

[paineinthearse]

11. Thank you for the perspective

Lowell Weicker and Elliot Richardson were the two republicans who, during the Watergate scandal, to demonstrate fortitude and an understanding and respect for the Constitution.

I'd take Weicker (as a dem or independent) over Leibercon. Any day.

p.s. In the new "Democrats" forum, I started a unified thread to discuss all democrat senators up for election in 2006. CT people may wish to do the same here; list all the possibilities as first-level replies.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

25. Bingo! Weicker helped to bring down Nixon!

My parents voted for him in 70', 76', 82', and 1988 against Holy Joe! Yes, they are Democrats.

[Rowdyboy]

8. It's your state, not mine....If you want to add another vote to Bill Frist

then knock yourself out. You New Englanders and your adoration of liberal Republicans is simply beyond me. Snowe, Collins, Chafee, and Spector guarantee that the Republicans control the senate. Pataki, Guiliani, Weld, Douglas in Vermont, and your governor Rell all stand ready to back their putrid party and would wade though cow manure to kiss George Bush's butt. I'm a Democrat, I have very little use for "liberal" Republicans.

I remember Lowell Weiker from his senate years on the Watergate panel. I admire him tremendously. He was a hero then (1973-1974) and I respect his service. His senate record was decidedly mixed. As to his service as governor-you're certainly a better judge than me since its your home and I've never even visited.

But if you want to work on beating Lieberman with an ex-Republican, feel free to do so. Keep in mind, though, that:

"Democratic Underground may not be used for political organizing activity by supporters of any political party other than the Democratic party. Supporters of certain other political parties may use Democratic Underground for limited partisan activities in political races where there is no Democratic candidate".

I'm not trying to be an asshole and I thoroughly detest Lieberman. I'll back you to the hilt on fighting him in the Democratic primary. I'll even donate to his Democratic opponent but I will not vote for a Republican to replace a Democrat in the Senate. Even Lowell Weiker.

on edit: Let me add that if Weiker were to officially switch parties and become a Democrat, then run against Lieberman, I'd vote for him in a heartbeat.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I'm pretty sure Weicker is now a registered independent

and, when Lieberman ran against him, Lieberman ran to his right. I think in '88 when Lieberman beat Weicker, I voted Lieberman just to get another Democrat in the Senate.

However, I don't think any Democrat in the state has the guts to challenge Lieberman. Our Dems are too nice.

[JerseygirlCT]

16. I've heard Weicker say many times that he's done

I doubt he'd get back into it -- what's in it for him?

But I did vote for him in '88. I remember feeling conflicted about voting Republican, but I'm still proud of that vote. Lieberman was touting his environmental record, but other than that, he was definitely to the right of Weicker.

He is still an Independent, I believe. I think he pretty much cut his ties to the GOP when he formed A CT Party. He's dead to them now, I'd guess.

I doubt there's anyone who could and would seriously challenge Lieberman right now. He's got a lot of money; lots of corporate types love him to pieces. I've done some spot-checking of some wealthier individuals' giving history around CT -- and there are lot of folks who I think identify as GOP giving to Lieberman.

[ProgressiveConn]

14. No. No. No.

1) Mr. Weiker is more liberal than Mr. Lieberman.
2) Mr. Weiker left the Republican party and then was elected Gov here.
3) Mr. Weiker spoke out against Nixon, against Reagan, and against Bush Jr.

I would vote for Mr. Weiker over Mr. Lieberman IN A HEARTBEAT! Regardless of which party tags they held. Liebs is a hawk who was only elected because of the support of Fascists who hated how liberal Weiker was.

Do you realize what he thought he was giving up when he left the GOP? People like him who saw the storm coming and left to try to help avert it are people to be elevated not to scorn.

I'm a liberal first. I will vote for whatever major party is closer to my idea of liberalism. I can understand you taking pot shots at liberal republicans who are out and voting with the Bush regime today but you are taking pot shots at a good man who has done nothing but oppose the neo-con agenda.

I know Mr. Weiker is in his late 70s now but there is nothing I'd like more than for him Run against Lieberman on his own party ticket maybe with Jeffords and make a call to other moderate Republicans to join him. I'd love to see a viable small government party replace the Neo-Con owned Republican party. Not that I'd vote for them. =)

“I think George W. Bush is the worst president we ever had,” Lowell Weicker told me recently. I was on Nixon’s case because of his disdain for the Constitution, but Bush can stand right next to Nixon on that." - Lowell Weiker.

Mr. Weiker spoke out against the Patriot Act. Everyone always shows pride that Feingold was the man that day. Well it woulda been nice to have another vote in the Senate that day regardless of where it came from.

Mr. Weiker > Mr. Lieberman. And you have to learn that New England republicans are NOT like Republicans from Texas. They are being manipulated just like democrats were/are. Mr. Chaffee for example is more liberal than a good deal of Democrats. Failing to realize this is our doom as a party in the fight against the Neo-Cons. We should be courting these people for their help against the neo-con agenda not screaming at a man because he was once a Republican years and years ago.

And yes you quoting rules to win an argument makes you an ass. I know I havn't been posting here long but I just wanted to let you know that.

[ProgressiveConn]

17. Quote Fixed

“I think George W. Bush is the worst president we ever had...I was on Nixon’s case because of his disdain for the Constitution, but Bush can stand right next to Nixon on that." - Lowell Weiker.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Maybe one of Paul Newman's kids should run?

[NewJeffCT]

9. I remember back in the 80s...

Back in the 80s, there was a bit of a move to try to draft Paul Newman to run against Lowell Weicker for Senate.

And, believe it or not, Paul Newman turns 80 today.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Happy Birthday Paul..Many more Happy Healthy....

[Tangledog]

13. There are other priorities

After the aptly-named Rowdyboy's blanket condemnation of us as "adorers of liberal Republicans", I'm reluctant to agree with him on anything :). But he's got a good point. Liberal Republicans look good in contrast to Trent Lott, but are any of them going to be an improvement over Lieberman on workers' issues? Environmental issues? School funding? I don't think so.

I remember Weicker from the Watergate days as a grouchy but otherwise bland moderate who, yes, took a stand against Nixon. I wasn't living in Connecticut during his subsequent endeavors, and don't feel qualified to comment.

But if Weicker is that in step with us, why doesn't he register and run as a Democrat?

Personally, if we have to pick our fights -- and we do -- I think it's more important to jettison Nancy Johnson and Rob Simmons than it is to dump Lieberman. Lieberman is not the biggest problem we've got in our state.

[ProgressiveConn]

15. Number one priority, but not only priority.

I agree with you ousting our Liberal Republicans SHOULD be priority one. But I think a major part of us doing so is:

By supporting those who have an MASSIVE respect level in this state regardless of their past party affiliation. Remember this man was Gov as an Indi. Remember if we could get Lowell to run as a Democrat because of the extreme shift in the Republican party do you realize what that would do for us in CT? Run Lowell in 2006 as a Democrat for Senate and I think you can be assured we could run a weak Gov campaign and take that as well and the three Republican House seats or at least 2 out of the 3 assuming we run decent candidates against them.

I say 2 out of 3 cause we cant take out Johnson if we cant take New Britain and that doesn't seem to be happening. =(

[groton]

18. Id Vote for Lowel.

But Speeking of the 2nd Distic
Why cant re run a Mayor from Like Groton or New London.

i mean Historicly as Groton and New London Goes there goes the Distric.

[madinmaryland]

19. After living in CT for 20 years,

I think there are several qualified Dems that could run against Jomentum and still knock off any repub challenger (remember Joe's last opponent? Phil Giordano?)

BTW, does anyone remember what happened to Toby Moffet who ran in the mid 80's against o'niell? I know he was on channel 30 for a couple of years, but then he disappeared.

[connecticut yankee]

20. Very Doubtful

I asked my local DTC Chair about it she replied --

"There's no way a "party leader" would run a primary against him...

I hear that Joe has been working hard to get a job with Bush administration on cabinet level, tried for Homeland security. That would get rid of him, but then Jodi Rell would appoint a Republican for his spot. Anyhow, I don't think Bush will give him anything."

[HarrietBrown]

22. I worked on his campaign against Weicker in 1982 and remember Lieberman .

being around a lot at the time. The best part of the campaign (other than working for a great guy) was going to a fundraising party where Redford came out as a supporter--Toby made sure that all of us who were there working had a chance to meet Redford. I also worked briefly for CCAG--started by Toby and Nader. Toby was in the news lately for keeping his old buddy, Nader, off the ballot in several states in 2004. The Courant ran a good, long article about it close to elections. A post on Feb 3 on Kos suggests running Toby against Joe--because we'll need an outsider to do it--no in-state Dem will dare. I think those of us going to the CT get together at Dodi's on the 19th should start plotting.

[met00]

24. It's all about money

DINO Joe's got it.

With a national campaign to retake the Senate with REAL Democrats, what we need to do is show someone that they can raise money in the Primary and take DINO Joe on. That's why I started http://www.timetogojoe.com/ It's time to put our money where our mouth is and run a Howard Dean type campaign to raise the money it will take to get a real Democrat to run against DINO Joe.

[DODI]

26. Good work! Seems JI picked up the story.