Posted on 09/16/2006 4:32:30 AM PDT by rightgrafix
FAIRFIELD -- Using apocalyptic imagery of civilization lost, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman blamed politics Friday for undermining the war on terror and leaving the U.S. vulnerable to "barbarians at our gates."
The U.S. faces a patient and ruthless enemy in Islamic extremists, an enemy that "threatens not just America, but all of civilization," Lieberman said in a national security speech at Fairfield University.
"We remain too divided as a nation, and in Washington, spend too much time fighting each other rather than coming together to make our country safer," Lieberman said. "At stake is the kind of world we will live in, not far away abroad but right here, home in Connecticut."
His 25-minute address repeatedly called for bipartisanship in Washington, reinforcing the central theme of his re-election campaign as an independent since losing the Democratic primary in August to his main rival, Ned Lamont.
He was introduced by Mary Fetchet of New Canaan, whose son, Brad, was lost in the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. Fetchet helped lead the relatives of victims in lobbying Congress for the creation of the 9/11 commission supported by Lieberman.
Lieberman faulted the Bush administration for alienating potential allies in the war on terror, though he gave no examples of an administration miscue. He never mentioned the war in Iraq, a topic he intends to address with another policy speech.
The senator blamed the terror attacks of 9/11 on a generation of leaders lulled into complacency as tensions eased with the Soviet Union.
A string of Islamic assaults on American interests, beginning with the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Iran in 1979, should have served notice that the U.S. faced a new and dangerous world even after the close of the Cold War in 1989, Lieberman said.
"But as a nation, we remained asleep, unwilling to see the gathering storm," Lieberman said.
While criticizing Bush, he effectively buttressed comments the president made Friday that the world remains a dangerous place.
"We cannot ever again let down our guard or allow ourselves to go into denial," Lieberman said. "We must stay alert and engage in this war against the barbarians, because that is what they are - modern barbarians at our gates. Our enemies are patient and purposeful. They are ruthless. They are lethal."
His line about barbarians was one of Lieberman's many departures from a six-page text that was copied and distributed to reporters minutes before the speech at Fairfield's school of business.
Lieberman said Islamic terrorists are a threat to Americans of all races and creeds.
"They hate us all because we are Americans. And yet, we remain divided among ourselves in responding to them," he said. "It's really outrageous that that continues to be the case. We have got to move forward together."
He faulted some on the right for implying that Democrats do not care if terrorists succeed and some on the left for going "beyond dissent to demonize the president" and impugn the motives of those who support him.
Lieberman said Congress and the president must work in a bipartisan fashion. Sprinkled through his speech was praise for Republican senators with whom he has worked cooperatively: Susan Collins of Maine, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, John McCain of Arizona, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. He singled out no Democrat.
The senior Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Lieberman also touted a port security bill the panel endorsed this week on a vote that crossed party lines.
"When we work together across party lines in Washington, when we put principles ahead of politics, the national interest ahead of our parties' interest, we have made progress in making America safer," he said.
Liz Dupont-Diehl, Lamont's press secretary, said Lieberman tried Friday to criticize Bush, yet he used the same fear tactics as the president.
"Sen. Lieberman's Houdini-esque contortions today, an effort to make believe that he is above the fray, will not fool Connecticut voters," she said.
The Lamont campaign said Lieberman's rhetoric is belied by his missed votes as a committee member on homeland security funding.
"He skipped all of these votes after issuing at least 8 press releases claiming he was outraged at President Bush's inadequate budget proposals," the Lamont campaign said in a written statement.
Lieberman, 64, a three-term incumbent, faces a five-way race for re-election, though polls show Lamont is his main rival. The field also includes Republican Alan Schlesinger, Ralph A. Ferrucci of the Green Party and Timothy A. Knibbs of the Concerned Citizens.
Lamont, 52, a cable-television entrepreneur, delivered his own national security speech Wednesday at Yale University, accusing Lieberman of breaking faith with a half-century of U.S. foreign policy by backing Bush's pre-emptive invasion of Iraq.
On Friday, Lamont stood at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford with Democratic gubernatorial candidate John DeStefano Jr. to blame Lieberman and Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell for failing to lobby for legislation that would have targeted homeland security funds to urban areas, which could have brought federal aid for security to the ports of Bridgeport, New Haven and New London.
Lieberman missed a Senate floor vote on the legislation, which then failed on a tie vote. "Sen. Lieberman's vote would have made the difference, and Sen. Lieberman wasn't there to cast that vote," Lamont said.
Tammy Sun, Lieberman's campaign press secretary, said the senator was touring the Sikorsky Aircraft plant in Connecticut on the day of the vote, discussing how to secure more business for the helicopter maker.
Rich Harris, a spokesman for the Rell campaign, said the governor did object "vehemently" to the funding cuts.
"Probably the only Democrat in the country who does."
Way to sock it to Lamont and the other Dem lefties, Joe, although calling them barbarians is a tad strong.
Wrong. Lamont inherited a fortune from a mega rich grandfather and invested in a cable tv company that was and remained mediocre. Lamont hasn't earned a real dollar in his overprivileged limo liberal life, and he tries mightily to obscure the fact that his wealth comes from investments bought with a ralative's wealth.
Lamont's wealth comes mostly the money he inherited from his grandfather Thomas W. Lamont, a partner of JP Morgan. Lamont’s company, Lamont Digital Systems, has shrunk radically down to 35 employees from 100 and provides private cable service to gated communities and college campuses. Looks like a playtoy for Ned courtesy of capitalist grandfather Thomas.
Lamont and Kos: the Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie of the Democrat Party.
See
http://gnn.tv/print/2497/Better_Ned_than_dead
for interesting details.
He is. The question is, are they listening. I doubt it.
Wow, Jow's taken a BIG walk off the reservation now. No going back after a speech like that, he could get elected Pope talking that way.
Especially in the US Congress....which makes me both angry and fearful for America.
VERY VERY WELL SAID! Sums them up nicely. We should be using it as a stump speech section right now.
The Commie Courant twice endorsed George W. Bush. It is a strange paper.
This is a link to the democrats plan for national security.
This should be run in every attack ad that the GOP funds.
http://www.communistsforkerry.com/images/Seenoevil_large
Me thinks Joe is running for president.
What is the voting record of Mr Lieberman?
See Immigration Profile of Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Voted in 1996 to continue chain migration
Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to kill border fence in 2006
Voted in favor of bill to increase immigration and grant amnesty to illegal aliens in 2006
Voted in favor of motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611 to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2006
Voted for huge increase [of immigration] in 1990
Voted against amendment to cap employment-based visas in 2006
Voted on Senate floor against amendment to postpone guestworker-amnesty program until borders secured in 2006
Cosponsoring bill to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005-2006
Cosponsored legislation to import more low-skill foreign workers in 2004
Nearly doubled H-1B foreign high-tech workers in 1998
Voted to allow firms to lay off Americans to make room for foreign workers in 1998
Voted against amendment to fund additional immigration investigators in 2006
Voted against amendment to increase detention beds for illegal aliens in 2005
That's right, watch what they do not what they say and in Lieberman's case he and Ted Kennedy are on the same page on almost every policy issue.
Add Alan Dershowitz to the list.
Some on this site "know Joe" while others keep believing that there are "good" democrats.
It's true that Joe Lieberman's record leaves much to be desired. But remember who he's running against.
Go figure politics----Joeberman goes from being "Conscience of the Senate" (gag), to heralded VP candidate, to prez candidate, to political scumbag, in just a few short years.
CT Dims even dumped Joe from the candidates lineup at the traditional Labor Day parade.
How low can he go?
Knibbs for Senate. Don't tell me it's hopeless. I don't like anyone else in the race, alright? : )
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