Posted on 01/28/2007 10:12:10 AM PST by elhombrelibre
HARTFORD, Conn. - Senator Joe Lieberman said Sunday he may vote Republican in next year’s presidential campaign, possibly widening a divide between him and Democrats he once represented as the party’s vice presidential nominee.
Lieberman, who was elected last November as an Independent after losing the Democratic nomination to Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, said he will consider all presidential candidates regardless of party.
Asked if he might vote Republican in 2008, Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, said, “I am, because we have so much on the line both in terms of the Islamist terrorists, who are an enemy as brutal as the fascists and communists we faced in the last century, and we have great challenges here at home to make our economy continue to produce good jobs, to deal with our crises in health care, education, immigration, energy.
“Party is important, but more important is the national interest,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”
He said he will “look at all the candidates and then in the end, regardless of party, decide who I think will be best for the future of our country.”
“I agree more often than not with Democrats on domestic policy,” Lieberman said. “I agree more often than not with Republicans on foreign and defense policy. I’m an Independent.”
“So I’m open to supporting a Democrat, Republican or even an Independent, if there’s a strong one,” Lieberman said. “Stay tuned.”
A call to a spokesman for Lieberman was not immediately returned.
Fortunately there are many "true conservatives" who will stay home or vote for Hillary, since McCain, Rudy, Hillary, Gore, Dean, Kerry, they're all the same.
A liberal with at least half a brain. The foreign policy part. The worst thing he ever did was run with Gore.
Yes, but by not switching parties and merely threatening to, Lieberman becomes the most powerful man in the Senate, a role he clearly relishes. The guy makes Lincoln Chafee look in many respects like Tom Coburn, so I hardly see him fitting in well with the GOP. He's to the left not only of the GOP, but on most issues, of most parts of the RAT party.
We'd be better off in the majority, however, than in the minority. And a bluff that's not credible doesn't work. Still, for the Democrats he must be taken seriously and wooed.
It is much more likely that he sees this war in its proper historical context, a fight for the survival of the USA and our freedom.
Well this kind of talk is surely going to upset FO.
He's far from the most powerful man in the Senate. Chafee exacted a price for his "conversion". Thus far Lieberman hasn't, he votes with the dems on party line issues. I really can't criticize him for
I agree more often than not with Democrats on domestic policy, I agree more often than not with Republicans on foreign and defense policy. I’m an Independent.
despite the fact that I'm a Republican and disagree with Lieberman on most domestic issues. Wish we had a dozen Senators and 75 House members with I after their names.
I'm not saying I'm opposed to Lieberman switching parties, I just don't see it as likely. I do think Lieberman keeps sticking thorns into the Dems' side, however, as he attempts to keep the threat credible. That way he gets even more power than he'd have in a Republican Senate. But he doesn't jump.
From a purely tactical perspective, if I were Lieberman I probably wouldn't jump either. In 2008, the math heavily favors the Dems in the Senate races, so if Lieberman jumped, he'd likely lose his committee chairmanship before long.
Yes, I agree.
Definitely not the speak of a democrat.
Rhetoric worthy of contemplation anyway.
He's liberal, but not a traitor.
Regards, Ivan
Perhaps he totes a bit of conviction?
After all, look what conviction cost Dubya' in the last election and conviction still trumps politics for him.
The fact that he's even saying this tells me the level of angst his "soft on" democracy and the WOT Democrats cause him. I expect his religion to be bashed soon by the party of diversity too as they try to explain why Joe won't sign up to sell out for the Democrats. They want their dream-ending to the Iraq war badly - mass murder, boat people, chaos, like their happy ending to the Vietnam War that they're so proud of. Joe and his ilk are working against them. I expect them to get mean and ugly to him soon.
You can count on it.
These day's that is a political death wish to a liberal.
It's obviously true that they nearly always cheer for our enemies, but don't question their patriotism or their right to free speech (as if anyone ever does).
Gore never liked him anyway for he actually talked clearer and faster than Gore could tolerate.
Very telling in my opinion.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.