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Novak: Avoiding a Lieberman Disaster
Creators Syndicate ^ | August 27, 2008 | Robert D. Novak

Posted on 08/27/2008 10:00:02 AM PDT by calcowgirl

Reports of strong support within John McCain's presidential campaign for Independent Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman as the Republican candidate for vice president are not a fairy tale. Influential McCain backers, plus McCain himself, would pick the pro-choice liberal from Connecticut if they thought they could get away with it.

But they can't get away with it -- and this has been made clear to McCain by none other than Joe Lieberman himself.

Lieberman surely doesn't know that much about Republican politics, but he has close Republican friends. One of them prevailed on Lieberman to tell McCain that a McCain-Lieberman ticket would be a disaster for all concerned, and especially for the GOP.

Actually, Lieberman is a heroic figure among Republicans for having risked his Senate seat to support President George W. Bush's war policy. But aside from the war, he votes the straight liberal line, including pro-choice on abortion. Lieberman's Republican friend told him that the Republicans would leave Minnesota in a state of disarray with a McCain-Lieberman ticket, alienating social conservatives who now make up the core of Republican voters.

At the heart of the desire for Lieberman as running mate is a basic strategic disagreement between the Bush and McCain high commands.

McCain's top strategists argue that the Bush coalition that won the last two presidential elections is dead and must be replaced by a new one that extends to the left, as Lieberman would.

Bush strategists disagree, asserting that McCain is getting around 90 percent of the old Bush vote and can win the election with a few moderates added in.

The Republican operative who urged Lieberman to dissuade McCain from picking him believes that there is still a very useful role for the maverick Democrat in this campaign: as McCain's secretary of state. . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008dncconvention; 2008veep; lieberman; mccain; mccainlist; novak
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1 posted on 08/27/2008 10:00:05 AM PDT by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl

haven’t read the article yet but I thought that Novack had retired.


2 posted on 08/27/2008 10:01:22 AM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: calcowgirl
Is Bob Novak out of the hospital?
3 posted on 08/27/2008 10:01:28 AM PDT by Perdogg
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To: calcowgirl

I thought Novak was ill with a brain tumor. Is he OK? Is he working again?


4 posted on 08/27/2008 10:01:42 AM PDT by notbuyingit2 (Hey Dems - what happened to one man one vote!)
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To: pgkdan

He retired from the Chicago paper.


5 posted on 08/27/2008 10:02:09 AM PDT by Perdogg
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To: Perdogg
The syndicate says Novak will write occasionally.
6 posted on 08/27/2008 10:04:21 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: calcowgirl

If we want a Democrat for VP as the Republican nominee....we can always pick Zell Miller.

IMHO much better than any of the Repub. VP possible choices.


7 posted on 08/27/2008 10:08:19 AM PDT by Vaquero (" an armed society is a polite society" Heinlein "MOLON LABE!" Leonidas of Sparta)
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To: calcowgirl
But they can't get away with it -- and this has been made clear to McCain by none other than Joe Lieberman himself.

If this is true, and Lieberman actually tried to dissuade McCain from picking him even though it would make him lose out on a such a huge opportunity, I have even more respect for Joe. I still wouldn't want him as vice president, but he is an honorable man.
8 posted on 08/27/2008 10:11:09 AM PDT by According2RecentPollsAirIsGood (McCain/Cantor '08)
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To: According2RecentPollsAirIsGood

He is a good man. Not one of us, but a good man.


9 posted on 08/27/2008 10:15:01 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: calcowgirl

I like Joe Lieberman. Would I vote for Joe Lieberman? No.........


10 posted on 08/27/2008 10:16:39 AM PDT by Red Badger (All that carbon in all that oil and coal was once in the atmosphere. We're just putting it back.....)
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To: calcowgirl

Geeez...i’ll(reluctantly)vote for McCain in november....but Joe Leiberman for vp???McCain’s really pushing his luck as far as i’m concerned.I’m much more comfortable with Romney.


11 posted on 08/27/2008 10:17:42 AM PDT by Thombo2
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To: calcowgirl

I would like to know the names of these “influential McCain backers” who are promoting Lieberman as VP. The article never states that, does it?


12 posted on 08/27/2008 10:18:16 AM PDT by Flycatcher (Strong copy for a strong America)
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To: Vaquero

Zell Miller voted for CFR. McCain isn’t picking Lieberman.


13 posted on 08/27/2008 10:20:00 AM PDT by Perdogg
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To: calcowgirl

How about Tancredo?

Duncan Hunter?

We do not need or want a RINO


14 posted on 08/27/2008 10:21:32 AM PDT by geologist (The only answer to the troubles of this life is Jesus. A decision we all must make.)
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To: calcowgirl
THese are the kind of people that the McCain worshipers are about to put into office.

A McCain presidency will be a "conservatives need not apply" administration.

Why would I or any other conservative vote for this?

Oh yeah. the same ol' argument I've been hearing since Reagan years: Otherwise you'll get

Fine. Vote for this liberal administration. I don't intend to.

15 posted on 08/27/2008 10:22:15 AM PDT by HeartlandOfAmerica (Don't blame me - I voted for Fred and am STILL a FredHead and will write him in!)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: Vaquero
If we want[ed] a Democrat for VP ...

... we'd be Democrats.

17 posted on 08/27/2008 10:23:19 AM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: Flycatcher

Bill Kristol has been pushing Lieberman—hard.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/opinion/25kristol.html


18 posted on 08/27/2008 10:26:50 AM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: geologist
We do not need or want a RINO

McCain has said he will select someone who shares his "principles, values, and priorities." (amnesty, global warming, etc.)

Be prepared to be disappointed with any selection that meets the above criteria.

20 posted on 08/27/2008 10:28:37 AM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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