Posted on 08/21/2008 3:32:29 AM PDT by Man50D
Even though he was a Democrat, I've always liked Joe Lieberman.
He "got it" on many issues near to my heart; the trashing of our culture, the importance of Israel as an ally, our role in a dangerous world. Lieberman sees many things clearly - even though his is a huge union booster and an advocate of top down solutions to social problems.
Kicked out of the Democratic party for his apostasy on the Iraq War but still allowed to caucus with the Dems so that they could maintain their majority in the senate, Lieberman can see the writing on the wall as well as anyone. The fact is, the Democrats will almost certainly not need his vote to maintain a majority next year after the GOP loses at least 2 seats and perhaps as many as 6 in the senate. And Lieberman knows that there are several Democratic senators who covet his Homeland Security chairmanship as well as his seat on the Armed Services Committee as well.
This means that come 2009, the Democrats will publicly humiliate Lieberman, emasculating him by stripping him of his plum committee assignments while the liberal netroots who hate Lieberman almost as much as they hate Bush cheer them on.
Recognizing his position, it appears that Lieberman is about to throw his lot in with his good friend John McCain - if not as Vice President (many believe him to be McCain's first choice but simply not possible under the circumstances) then as a major backer on the sidelines and possible cabinet member in a McCain Administration. Lieberman is scheduled to speak at the Republican convention:
The AP is reporting that Lieberman has accepted a speaking role at the convention, time and date to be announced. It will almost certainly be a prime time slot.
Do not expect Zell Miller like fireworks denouncing liberals. Lieberman just isn't that sort of Democrat. He is a classic liberal in the mold of a Hubert Humphrey; an optimist whose deep religious faith informs his politics as much as any evangelical Christian. Would he consider joining the Republicans in 2009? He may. But there are many on the GOP side who don't want him. He would be by far the most liberal Republican legislator in Washington and would therefore be an embarrassment at times. Therefore, it is likely that Lieberman will remain an "independent" but may caucus with the GOP for purposes of the leadership votes and other party line matters that come before the senate.
It goes without saying that the Democrats are going to be livid with Joe. But considering the invective hurled at him by his critics already, what more can they say to hurt him?
Joe Lieberman = Shape Shifter
I would hazard a guess that this won’t be his last incarnation. Hopefully the McCain/Lieberman ticket will fare better than the Gore/Lieberman ticket. :)
IMHO Lieberman is a whore, who once was “solidly” pro-life, but in order to become Algore’s Veep candidate, threw all the babies under the bus and flipped to pro-infanticide.
If McCain is brazen enough to pick either Lieberman or Ridge, I’m brazen enough to stay home on Nov. 4th, and here is why:
If Mr Straight Talk’s pro-life answers at Saddleback were no more concrete than to allow him to pick a pro-choicer as his Veep, then his pro-originalist position on Supreme Court Justices; his anti-wasteful government spending; his secure-the-borders; and his strong-national-defense positions are also just a load of phoney baloney, momentarily-convenient, tell-them-what-they-want-to-hear BS, too!
When Congress reconvenes, Joe should start caucasing with the GOP, thereby tipping the balance in the Senate back to the Republicans and giving Harry Reid indigestion for the next few months.
Unless he’s going to start by apologizing for being perhaps the single human responsible for keeping Clinton’s corrupt hiney in office, and reverse his bankrupt position on abortion, I’ll not be too impressed with anything Liarman has to say. In fact, were I there, I’d be tempted to boo.
I doubt he really cares after they tried to run him out of politics with Lamont.
He was complicit in the Gore-Lieberman 2000 dem campaign in Florida to disenfranchise military absentee ballots.
I cannot forgive Joe Liebrman for this because he has never admitted what the dems tried to do and apologized. In fact, he has overstayed his time with the democrat party. What has that been about- principles?
Godspeed to Joe Lieberman but some of us do not forget.
And if it means inflicting maximum damage on Reid in the Senate if Joe comes over to the GOP side, then so be it, especially if it opens up some opportunities for eeking through new drilling legislation. It's not like we don't know what he is, so the GOp has nothing to lose by leeting him caucus with it.
And although I absolutely do not agree with Joe's politics, I do respect him for his hard line against Islamic terrorism and his strong faith. I do believe that he is a good guy, and do not personally dislike him because he's wrong on so many domestic issues.
Won't make any difference. Because of the rules changes the Democrats retain leadership through 2007 even if Lieberman switches parties. And considering the number of seats the Democrats are favored to pick up in November then losing him won't put the GOP in power in the next Congress either.
O.K., let’s do an informal poll here. What effect will Lieberman speaking at the Convention have on McCain’s Campaign?
HELP
HURT
NEITHER?
Though I’m not crazy about Lieberman, I say HELP.
Well, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one.
Ugh. While I like that he’s logical on the war there’s nothing else about the guy that I find positive. If the GOP is going to have a Democrat speak at the convention, I’d prefer Zell. Again and again and again.
Are these the bridges like the RAT Party running a candidate against him and then campaining against him in the CT US Senatorial election? He could probably live with fewer of those “bridges”.
Lieberman should begin caucusing with the Repubblies the Monday after the convention and, for at least a few months, give the Senate majority back to the good guys. I’d love to see Harry Reid apoplectic. Then we can introduce legislation and at least control things for awhile.
Sound unfair? The Dems did it the Repubbies in Bush’s first term when they bribed Senator Leahy to declare independent.
I don’t think his speech has anything to do, so much, with the Pubbies as it will in winning over Indys and Dems.
In all honesty, he is willing to change parties but I don’t see him changing his principles and core values. He still supports abortion and same-sex marriage.
What core values has he changed?
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