CT-SEN: Lieberman Concedes, But Vows To Run As Independent
It's done. According to the Associated Press, Joe Lieberman has conceded but says he'll run as an Independent.
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It's done. According to the Associated Press, Joe Lieberman has conceded but says he'll run as an Independent.
Hotline On Call reports Dodd has been tapped to talk him out of it.
August 8, 2006 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a creep Lieberman is showing himself to be! Congrats to Ned Lamont and all those who worked hard to defeat this asshole. Now he claims to want to unify Republicans, Democrats, and independents behind the Republican agenda for progressive values. I think America hates an arrogant loser and Lieberman will soon bow out when the polls for the general show him falling off a cliff. Again congrats to Lamont and the netroots.
August 8, 2006 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only time he is willing to FIGHT it is against his own party.
August 8, 2006 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope that Senator Lieberman can put the party first. This is the most important Congressional election in my lifetime and every effort should be put forward for unity and victory. Even Joe should work for that.
August 8, 2006 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a putz.
Unity? That's laughable.
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August 8, 2006 11:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe doesn't seem to have figured out yet that he wasn't defeated by a blog, he was defeated by a vote.
August 8, 2006 11:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe's gonna let you down.
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August 8, 2006 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I must say, it feels VERY good to finally be a winner. Josh asked what we thought would happen, and for once I was right!
I'm tickled. heh.
Tomorrow, I'll contact Lamont and do what I can. Lieberman running as and Indy while talking about unity is almost enough to wreck my mood.
Such hubris and entitlement needs to be wiped out of our Government.
Kick ALL the bums out!
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August 8, 2006 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe can do whatever he wants. But the important thing is that he isn't a Democrat anymore. And for any prominent Democrat to support him would be the most untenable thing imaginable.
August 8, 2006 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would have to say that bloggers put in a significant effort in this race. Bloggers at other sites were calling for Lieberman’s defeat in early June. In addition, they were consistent on hammering away at the senator the entire summer, attacking at any opportunity.
The Shadow Party showed their presence in the race with success. A political force like no other.
In the future popular blogs, even TPMCafe , can be a force in the election process. I would like to see information on House races from around the country. It would be nice to get to know the Congress at the TPMCafe.
August 8, 2006 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lieb seems to have forgotten he lost the primary. Dig this quote from the Hartford Courant's courant.com:
"The old politics of partisan polarization won today," Lieberman said. "For the sake of our state, our country and my party, I cannot and will not let that result stand."
For the same of his party? Hasn't he figured out yet that his party rejected him? How's he going to help his party by running against it?
August 9, 2006 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lieberman hasn't been rejected "by the party". the shortfall was approx. 10,000 votes, and lest you forget, you do not constitute the democratic party, you don't even practice democracy.
Do you believe that those Lieberman voters, who you Lamontsters referred to as "Lieber Youth", their friends and families will forget what you all conspired to? The mockery of hostile DOS attacks against their candidates web site, the racism you all condoned and how you ridiculed their rejection and indignation of it? The cheap shots and smears? Do you think everyone is so shallow that they might just not care?
Can you just pull another denial of service against their right to vote if they don't fall in line with your sense of entitlement?
He has vowed to conduct an independent run, and should he win in the fall, he will still be a DEMOCRAT, and the democratic senator from Connectiut. You and Neddy will never be democrats.
August 9, 2006 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can a post get any more pathetic than this? Joe lost and only a fool would believe it had anything to do with Joe's campaign not paying their webhosting bill. If anything, that got him a few more votes as I'm sure some other fool would be influenced by your simulated righteous indignation.
Joe chose to run as a Democrat and he lost. If he wants to remain a Democrat he needs to abide by the Democratic Primary. Otherwise he is an independant and a bastard for trying to play it both ways.
In fact, had he made the promise to abide by the Primary vote, I bet he would have won. I'm not a CT voter, but as soon as I heard that he might run as an Independant if he lost, my theoretical vote for Lamont was sealed. Before that, I'd have been sympathetic to his history as a good if somtimes confused Democrat. But that is the low of lows, to try to play it both ways and then blame some bogeyman.
Joe you lost. Go home so you can regain some of the respect you have lost over the last few years. And Mary, grow up!
August 9, 2006 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, goodness. I seem to have touched a nerve. I'm not a "Lamontster" (how clever--did you make it up?). Heck, I don't even live in CT. And where do you get off calling me undemocratic? All I did was question Lieberman's committment to the Democratic party. That's undemocratic?
Of course I don't constitute the Democratic party. How could anyone think that?
And where does this conspiracy talk come from? Lieberman's own people have said they have no proof that Lamont had anything to do with hacking Lieberman's site. Heck, it hasn't even been proved to be hacking. There's lots of theories floating around that it simply got overloaded. But don't you think it suspicious that Lieberman turned down an offer to host his site on Lamont's machine? How could he play the victim card if he got his site back up? Or is the old double switch, reverse psychology ploy? Lamont must have been involved or he wouldn't have offered so quickly. OK, I get it.
As I said, I don't live in CT and didn't follow the campaign so I don't know about the racism you allege. But I'm sure Lieberman had his share of shady tactics. Like the guy who hassled Lamont at a stop last week.
But, all of that distraction aside (nice try), you didn't answer my question. How does he help his party by running against it?
August 9, 2006 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, Joe has lost.
But make no mistake... he has plenty of Republican friends here in CT who will gladly vote for him as an Independent.
The Nov. election is going to be very nasty indeed. If we're going to keep this seat in Democratic hands, we have our work cut out for us. And with Jeffords (VT) retiring, we can't afford a hung senate.
August 9, 2006 1:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mary, I understand that you are in pain. It helps nothing to take out your anger on your fellow posters. You may say things you regret. Take some time out, calm yourself, return when you feel more balanced.
August 9, 2006 1:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, Mary, what a bitter rant. And as often in the past, one filled with personal accusations against people you don't even know.
Look, your guy lost - and you're angry. I can understand this. But in a very high primary turnout, more Democrats voted for Lamont than Lieberman. Eventually, I hope you'll accept it.
I suspect within a week, at least 80% of Connecticut Democrats will be in Lamont's camp. I just hope the party's national leaders can get through to the bitter holdouts in party's far right wing who seem bent on sabotaging Democratic chances in the fall.
August 9, 2006 1:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whoa Nelly. This is going to be one hell of an ugly race. But so damn intriguing...
August 9, 2006 1:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
You apparently are not familiar with the Mary's in depth political analysis and constructive discourse here on TPMCafe.
I wouldn't be too troubled by her accusations about you. In fact, when she calls you a fascist, you will have moved into an elite club of TPMC users. I look forward to welcoming you.
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August 9, 2006 6:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here, here!
Sheila in CT
August 9, 2006 7:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have seen across various posts on sites around the web what this all means and for sure if JL runs as an independent it will put that senate seat at risk.
What I think it really shows us is democratic voters have had it with K street and the powerful financial interests that have stolen our government.
Sure, there are a few crooks in the party and this split may not be helpful, but it underscores one big difference between the parties. Republicans may appear more unified in some ways but that unity is derived from the idea that they are all crooks. This sets up the Nov ballot as being a measure of how strongly all voters have had it with the all too apparent corruption in Washington.
thepeoplechoose
August 9, 2006 7:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I watched Joe's concession speech last night, frequently making obscene gestures at the TV.
Joe needs to understand a basic fact, and it needs to be the principle meme of the campaign: bipartisanship has no meaning if the other side has all the cards.
That's a crappy slogan; perhaps someone brighter than I am can come up with a more succinct way of saying it. But it's true.
Compromise means I have something you want, you have something I want, and we figure out how to meet in the middle. Unless the Democrats have at least some of the power, offering to be bipartisan is begging for table scraps.
To use Joe's football analogy, it's like seeing your team losing badly at the half, so you run the ball to the opposing goalpost in order to assist the winning side.
The hell with that.
August 9, 2006 8:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I for one hope Lieberman wins, even if it's as an independent. Know why? Because in my fantasy world, Lieberman is President, Harold Ford is Speaker of the House, and Biden is Senate Majority Leader.
The key word is still "fantasy," (Ford just won his Senate Primary, to boot) but I'll take what I can get.
Noel
August 9, 2006 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
One Corporate Whore Down
That's one corporate whore down, with many more to go.
Joe Biden (MBNA) needs to go next in my opinion.
If they want to be corporate whores they should at least join their brothers in the GOP and be a little more honest about it.
It's time the poeple were represented. Anyone who thinks the "representatives" actually car what regular people think only need to compare polls to voting records.
August 9, 2006 8:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Lieberman has a good chance at winning as an independent. The question is will the Democrats support Mr. Lamont? It would be the right and proper thing to do. I think that some of the "strategists" might push supporting the Senator in anticipation of his winning his independent bid. They will say that they can't afford to alienate Lieberman, and that by actively working against him they push him towards the GOP. So I predict that at least some Democrats will sit this out as to avoid angering Joe.
Personally I think it is disgusting. The senator has been a pain in the ass for the party as a Democrat, and as an independent he will be a nightmare. It will be Joe's wet dream - to be a bridge between the GOP and the Democrats. Of course it will be b.s. - it will merely be better cover for his GOP enabling.
August 9, 2006 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
There will be some who will though in a misguided effort to keep him in their camp. It is foolish in the extreme - he was bad enough as a Democrat, he will be much worse as an Independent.
August 9, 2006 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lieberman running as and Indy...
Did you catch what he actually said? He said he would be running as an Independent Democrat -- what a narcissistic asshole! Who does he think he's fooling?
Jan Knaus
August 9, 2006 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
The "I" beside Lieberman's name says it all.
August 9, 2006 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you've got it backwards. Whatever happens in November, Lieberman is essentially finished as a force in Democratic politics. Other national figures, particularly the ones running in 2008, can't afford to go pissing off Democrat primary voters, especially the really, really, committed ones who backed Lamont in and out of Connecticut. It's about to get pretty lonely for Lieberman, worse luck.
Noel
August 9, 2006 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope you are right, but when it comes to Democrats and their "strategists" I may be overly cynical. I take it as a good sign that Hillary was among the first to take real action to support the Dem nominee. There is hope...
August 9, 2006 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, reading his speech, then reading Lamonts speech has convinced me that my belief that it was time for Joe to go was correct.
I know that most people I've talked to, including a lot of "Independents," are disgusted with his insistance on running as an independent ANYTHING. It doesn't sit well. All Joe has accomplished with it is alienating those who were sympathetic to him. NO ONE is "entitled" to represent the people of Connecticut on their own say so.
That is a lesson Joe seems to be completely missing. It will bite him in the butt. His whiney "concession" speech reinforced that perception, near as I can tell.
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August 9, 2006 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's running as a Lieberman for Connecticut. The CT Democratic party should consider legal action if he continues to describe himself as a Democrat as it would be fraudulent and deceptive.
August 9, 2006 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny, I thought Democrats believed that the guy who gets the most votes wins. What's your definition of "Democrat," you bitter shrew?
August 9, 2006 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why? Remember, he went with his 'principles' and it appears he is a Zionist. Consequently, he wants to be back in the Senate to help the neo-cons send our citizens to fight in Lebanon for Israel.
Zionism is a poltical movement and Joe is willing to do his share to further that political end, even if he cannot be a Democrat while doing it.
August 9, 2006 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I don't get is who will vote for Lieberman? He's running as an independent but says he will caucus with the Dems. So are independents going to rush to his side? Maybe. But how can the GOP support him? If they help get him elected, he's going to vote with their enemys? What do they get for supporting him? Unless he's just lying and made a secret deal with the GOP in which case, well, you can figure out what he is.
Likewise, the Dems aren't going to support him, are they? What would it do to the party if Dems support someone not in the party? Why would anyone ever want to run under the Dem banner in the future if they have no idea whether the party will support them?
It's like Joe is neither fish nor fowl and neither side sees him as one of them.
August 9, 2006 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. In fact I think we should have a bankruptcy HIT LIST just like the anti-war issue. If we put these two together and targeted all the Dems that voted for both...we might just be able to run all the corporate whores out of the Congress, for a brief period.
One other issue to cross list with those 2 would be the Medicare Bill
AARP folks are still mad about that and they darn sure will come out and vote!
So we will have a coalition of the anti-war, the entire middle class when it comes to the bankruptcy bill...and add the senior citizens with the Medicare issue. That should be a winning coalition to take back the Congress in 08.
August 9, 2006 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Workerbee
thread corruption kinda..off topic
But what are the rules in CT for a 3 way race. Does the winner have to get a clear majority or just the most votes?
Can the winner get 38% and have the Senate Seat in CT ?
That is how Ventura became Gov in MN...he did not need a a clear majority (50+ percent ) to win he only had to win the most votes in the three way race.
August 9, 2006 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't be too troubled by her accusations about you.
Oh, don't worry. I don't take them personally. Like you said, she doesn't even know me of where I stand on anything. I find it curious that she didn't answer the question I posed.
In fact, when she calls you a fascist, you will have moved into an elite club of TPMC users. I look forward to welcoming you.
Cool. Is there a pin I can wear? A secret handshake? Hey, I don't want none of those brandings, though!
August 9, 2006 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hiya, As far as I know it's a simple majority. 38% could win the seat, that is correct. That would be the reason the Republicans are happy, but keep in mind the recent polling on the subject of Joe running as an Indy:
The Repub running is a typical corrupt GOPer, and the driving force behind this election was anti-incumbancy.
I think it will be close, but if Joe keeps on like he is, we'll see Senator Ned from Connecticut this fall.
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August 9, 2006 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ironically, I hope I'm wrong, and that Lieberman cleans Lamont's clock in the general election. Oh, well. As the noted political philosopher Mick Jagger once pointed out, You Can't Always Get What You Want.
Noel
August 9, 2006 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not only that, I saw somewhere else that there are rules for party names, and that one of them is that it cannot contain the name of another party, ie: "Independent Democrat." Evidently that is prohibited, and someone in the Democratic leadership could sue him over it.
Jan Knaus
August 10, 2006 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink