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Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats

Joltin' Joe, it may be time for you to go. You've moved from Republican Lite to Bushite.

In recent weeks, [Joe Lieberman] has angered Democratic activists nationwide for expressing a willingness to work with President Bush to change Social Security. Critics say that is just his latest act of disloyalty to the party. He already had supported the war in Iraq and Mr. Bush's cabinet choices - and received a televised presidential smooch at the State of the Union address.

...Their disappointment with Mr. Lieberman illustrates the difficulty of trying to be a centrist in an increasingly polarized political climate. Mr. Lieberman has gone from a possible Democratic heir apparent to a presidential primary footnote in 2004 to the conspicuous odd man out in his own Senate party caucus.

The Times reports Lieberman is laughing off the criticism. He still has the support of his constitutency. If I had to make an educated guess, I say that the attacks on Lieberman are about to begin. He will see a drop in his support. He will see a challenger. He will get jolted out of his complacency -- and his notion that he can vote his own beliefs over those of his constituents and the Democratic Party. This is not about right or left. Social Security is about the core values of the Democratic party, values Joe Lieberman has abandoned.

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    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 10:43:16 PM EST
    yep, Ol' Crazy Joe" has gone off the deep end, unfotunately noone will let this loon into their party, so the dems are stuck, once again with another old fart who goes bonkers and the rest of the dems are too fractured to boot his a** to the curb. Howard, are you listening?

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 05:20:05 AM EST
    Joe is simply in the wrong party. When he finally realizes that the Dems will have no truck with common sense, he will do the proper thing and join the current centrist party, the Republicans. I bet Abe Lincoln is laughing now...

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 05:25:56 AM EST
    Question: Could it be that Sen Lieberman has stayed constant in his position, while the Democratic Party has shifted to the Left?

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 06:05:58 AM EST
    Lieberman's constituency: the wall street bankers of Westport and Darien. The insurance companies in Hartford.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 06:06:34 AM EST
    Question: Could it be that Sen Lieberman has stayed constant in his position, while the Democratic Party has shifted to the Left? I think you've hit it exactly. Back when Mr. Lieberman was getting his start in politics, Democrats opposed Social Security. In recent years, however, the party has tacked hard to the left on the issue. "A guaranteed minimum retirement benefit for working people." I mean, what's next? Mandatory gay atheism in all the churches?

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 06:59:25 AM EST
    are you guys mental? dems have been shifting to the right over the past 10 years. Clinton was very centrist and ended up dragging his party to the right. the country's illogical decision to elect presidents based on their religious convictions will continue to drive dems right. i'm sure they will end up pandering to neocons, but this may open the door for a third party.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:05:22 AM EST
    Lieberman should get no more play time. He is not a democrat and neither was Zell...We don't need to trust him and we don't need to entertain his Republican like behavior. We must realize that there is a Democratic mind whether it be conservative or not and he just fits in w/ the other cats.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:09:48 AM EST
    > are you guys mental? dems have been > shifting to the right over the past 10 > years. Inkybod, This is just standard Radical Right framing/meme building. The Radicals have been moving the goalposts farther and farther to the right each election cycle, but doing so very slowly and steadily. Every 8 years or so they pause to lambaste Democrats for being "too far left". Now they are trying another cycle of framing the Democrats as being "lefties" - but it is becoming fairly clear that the Right has moved so far out of the mainstream as to become Radical. However - if they win the framing war they can start another cycle. So don't give in. Cranky

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:10:43 AM EST
    I like him. He's alot more open minded than most.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:20:09 AM EST
    How dare he have his own mind and views. How dare the voters of Ct. continue to freely reelect him as their representative. Joe Lieberman is a liberal in the traditional sense, not a progressive. I dare he try to find consensus in legislation. BTW, I didn't support him as VP in 2000.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:39:19 AM EST
    Looks like he took his tin foil hat off...

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#12)
    by Che's Lounge on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:48:15 AM EST
    If he were a republican showing any kind of democratic tendencies, he'd be toast. Oh, he's in the right party. It's the mainstream democrats who are the defectors.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:50:56 AM EST
    How dare he have his own mind and views. How dare the voters of Ct. continue to freely reelect him as their representative. Yeah, how dare people in Ct. such as myself demand that he represent us, not just the financial services companies that fill his coffers? Joe Lieberman is a liberal in the traditional sense, not a progressive. Yeah, none of that newfangled FDR New Deal "progressivism" for Mr. Lieberman. And don't try to get him on board with these radical, just-proposed "Geneva Conventions." He's a traditional liberal! [How] dare he try to find consensus in legislation. Yeah, naysayers! He just wants to build a consensus by repudiating the stance of his own party, and helping Republicans get everything they want. So what if any "consensus" gets stripped out during the reconciliation process...again? What's important is that the President gets what he wants. Why should Joe represent the other 49% of Americans, just because he calls himself a Democrat?

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 08:53:34 AM EST
    Whoops, posting as "" again. My bad. BTW, I didn't support him as VP in 2000. Well, being a Bush/Cheney supporter would tend to rule that out, BocaJeff.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 09:06:25 AM EST
    I have thought for a while that Joe's staunchly pro-Israel views have influenced his decision to go to war in Iraq and allied him to pro-Israeli right wing neocons. Disclaimer. I am not anti-Israel or anti-Jewish. It's just that Israel has a right wing government and policies closer to Bush's philosophy than a left-wing one. Many of my Israeli friends oppose Israeli policies much as I oppose Bush's. Anyway, while Mr. Lieberman should be admired at least for holding fast to his truly felt beliefs they don't meld with the left wing liberal agenda and probably parted ways with them at the time of the Iraq invasion (Justified as being good for Israel, and therefore in the U.S.'s national interest to use preemption as a defense).

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 09:24:05 AM EST
    "Question: Could it be that Sen Lieberman has stayed constant in his position, while the Democratic Party has shifted to the Left?" "I think you've hit it exactly. Back when Mr. Lieberman was getting his start in politics, Democrats opposed Social Security." One of the favorite Republicon tactics is to slander and misquote dead Democrats who can't answer back, in order to pretend they were really Republicans who shared their views. They've done it with FDR. THey've done it with JFK. And more recently they've done it with Patrick Moynihan. And in spite of the fact that their own children have angrily called them the shameless liars they are, they'll continue to do it. Because that's what they are. Liars.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 09:24:38 AM EST
    I think Joe should go ahead and admit that he is the treachorous senator that has collaborated with the dark side. He should shed his "demcratic" disguise and join the party he really likes. He and Zell Miller make fine bookends.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 09:51:17 AM EST
    Old Joe knows who butters his bread, and it ain't the people of CT or Americans. He'd sell his own mamma for just a slice of corporate pie.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 10:15:05 AM EST
    Joe is an old school Dem, but he is nothing like Miller. He does have a mind of his own, that's for sure. If I remember correctly, Lieberman was one of the few Democrats in the Senate to blast Clinton during the Lewinsky debacle, and the DNC wanted to burn him at the stake as a heretic or something. I may not agree with him on everything, but I respect him for speaking his mind and not cowtowing to the ultra left of the party.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 10:20:34 AM EST
    mds - I didn't support Lieberman for VP, doesn't mean I didn't support the ticket. It only means that I thought Gore should have chosen someone else. No Name - Just because he doesn't represent you doesn't mean he isn't a democrat. If all dems were the same there wouldn't be primary races.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 10:40:46 AM EST
    No Name - Just because he doesn't represent you doesn't mean he isn't a democrat. No, supporting the Republican phase-out of Social Security, one of the most durable accomplishments of the Democratic Party, at the behest of corporate interests that line his pockets, means he isn't a Democrat. If I remember correctly, Lieberman was one of the few Democrats in the Senate to blast Clinton during the Lewinsky debacle, Ooh, what an old-school politician! Helping to destroy the ability of the leader of his party to govern because of sordid, sordid sexuality! If only he had been around to give Jefferson or JFK a piece of his mind! If only he could have set them straight! I may not agree with him on everything, but I respect him for speaking his mind and not cowtowing to the ultra left of the party. Saving Social Security is not an "ultra left" position. Are any of you defenders of free thought actually paying attention to why we're upset at Lieberman? We're angry over his breaking ranks on Social Security and Mr. Gonzales. You know, breaking ranks with the anti-abortion Mormon from small-town Nevada who now represents the "ultra left."

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 11:16:35 AM EST
    We had an old school Democrat here in Minnesota. His name was Paul Wellstone. We've had a few actually. Hubert Humphrey was another. These are guys that stood by thier priciples and thier party. They were the same. Leiberman old school? Yeah and George Bush has a mandate. http://www.timetogojoe.com

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 12:00:22 PM EST
    Liebermouth will say whatever he can to get face time. He's no Democrat, and sooner or later even more of my fellow CT voters will realize it. Don't think Gore ever wanted to win, else why would he have chosen mugwump Joe? I think his latest stance on SS will be the kiss of death for him here. Would be interesting to see what Chris Dodd has to say about Lieberman's latest bit o' bs. Dodd -- now THERE'S a True Democrat.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 02:43:27 PM EST
    'Lieberman was one of the few Democrats in the Senate to blast Clinton during the Lewinsky debacle, and the DNC wanted to burn him at the stake as a heretic or something.' so if this free-spiritness is admirable I guess you supported clinton's freedom to do what he wanted with anyone that wanted to do it with him. Gosh you're neat.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#25)
    by john horse on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 02:58:30 PM EST
    mds, re:"Back when Mr. Lieberman was getting his start in politics, Democrats opposed Social Security." Once again the Republicans have to resort to the Big Lie. The Democrats have never opposed social security. If you have any evidence of this, provide it and prove me wrong.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 03:00:05 PM EST
    mds - You know, every where I look today someone is in hysterics and making wild statements. SS is not being phased out. If you are 55 or older, nothing is being changed. If you are younger, you may VOLUNTEER to put up to 4% of your FICA taxes into a private account. If you don't want to, you don't have to. Now tell us. Where do you get such nonsensical statements? Dearest No Name - Just because you called your parents.... I mean, you are talking about yourself, aren't you? mfox - The Left wing is not liberal. It is radical. Huge diffference. Rocky - As much as I would like to see Dean do something really stupid, even he isn't going to try and kick Liberman put. Now Liberman may leave, which would be good. The Repubs can always use a Steady Eddy guy who is strong on defense and liberal on domestic issues.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 03:29:13 PM EST
    You lefties can live in fantasy land all you want, but the fact still remains, if you looked at Lieberman's votes and opinions he would, amazingly enough, bear striking resemblence to FDR, JFK, and WJC. That's a fact, deal with it. Consequently, Lieberman would not bear resemblence to Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, or any of the other democrats that are attempting to lead (or destroy, depending on your perspective) the party these days.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 03:44:24 PM EST
    mds Helping to destroy the ability of the leader of his party to govern because of sordid, sordid sexuality! You are misinformed. Our 42nd president was taken to task for obstructing justice and for lying under oath. The sexual peccadillos were his reasons for his legal transgressions, not the other way around. If he would have deposed himself truthfully, he would have not been impeached.

    Re: Joe Lieberman Disappoints Democrats (none / 0) (#29)
    by bad Jim on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 07:40:37 PM EST
    Maybe some of us are a little humor-impaired. How could anyone think mds was serious in his first comment? Anyone who thinks that Bush does not intend to do away with Social Security hasn't read what the administration has been saying in private (some of which has made its way into the papers).