Bill Clinton defends Lieberman's Iraq stance

[truthpusher]

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-14200651.apds.m0968.bc-ct--senajul14,0,4431105.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

Bill Clinton defends Lieberman's Iraq stance

Associated Press

July 14, 2006

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Former President Bill Clinton is sticking up for U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman and his support of the Iraq war.

Clinton, who spoke at an Aspen Institute conference last week, questioned why Democrats in Connecticut are focusing on ousting a fellow Democrat, Lieberman.

(snip)

"If we allow our differences over what to do now in Iraq to divide us instead of focusing on replacing Republicans in Congress; that's the nuttiest strategy I ever heard in my life," Clinton told the nonprofit cultural organization.

(snip)

Clinton questioned efforts of some Democrats to impose a fixed timetable for removing U.S. troops from Iraq - something Lieberman opposes.

"Why send a signal to the people that are trying to keep Iraq divided and tear it up when we're gonna go," he asked.

Clinton defended Lieberman's Democratic credentials, mentioning how the senator has been endorsed by labor unions, environmental organizations and gay groups.

"We've got a world of differences between ourselves and the Republicans," he said. "So I think the Democrats are making a mistake to go after each other ... for a situation none of them created."

(snip)

link: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-14200651.apds.m0968.bc-ct--senajul14,0,4431105.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

[LoZoccolo]

1. Way to go Big Dog!

:bounce: :party: :toast: :thumbsup:

[leesa]

37. Let's hear it for illegal wars!! WoooHooo!!!

[pokercat999]

72. Exactly and enabling war criminals like, Bush, Chaney,

Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell and dare I say it the dinos that support this illegal war and the criminals that wage it.

The big question for the near future is; Where will we incarcerate these criminals while awaiting trial? Is there enough room in Nuremberg?

[adigal]

57. Bill Clinton did a lot of good for this country

but he also sold the middle class down the river with NAFTA, sold the poor down the river with Welfare reform, buying into Reagan's myth of the "Welfare Queen driving a Cadillac," and his wife is about to sell out to the health care and insurance industry for funding for her run at the Presidency.

I think Clinton is helping protect the members of the club, the rich and powerful Senators who don't give a damn about us. You don't hear Kerry or Feingold talking like this; Clinton is harming his wife's political future even more with this nonsense.

[lumpy]

64. Lost faith in the BD early on

when he came out supporting NAFTA. I thought"oh oh" this guy will play both sides in the political game. Clinton is a wonderfully inspiring speaker, but on his own he is just another 'player'. He's wise but wiley.

[heliarc]

81. Not to mention his sellout of communications in this country. (n/t)

[Ken Burch]

84. Clinton lost me when he sent the Haitian refugees back to die.

No one who wanted the refugees kept out ever voted Democratic in his or her life, so it wasn't even good politics.

It was just like FDR sending back the boatload of Jews. FDR did a lot of good stuff, but that one was just way hard to get past. That and not stopping Franco.

[Ken Burch]

85. So YOU still defend this war?

Imagine my lack of surprise.

BTW, has anyone even HEARD from Duckworth since the primary? Didn't think so. So much for any chance she could get people to elect her.

[Cha]

2. lieberman is no

Democrat..he's a freakin' dinocrat, Biiiiiiiiiiiillllllllll!

We like Lamont!

[Benhurst]

3. It's always good to hear what

the Twentieth Century's best Republican president has to say.

[blue sky at night]

4. bill clinton

best republican president of the century.

[bluestateguy]

5. Uh oh

I guess this is to be expected. The Clintons have been friends with him for 40 years. Fortunately, I don't think Bill Clinton's misguided endorsement will save Palpatine Lieberman.

[althecat]

6. What Clinton fails to understand is that Leiberman is a dog...

.. whatever way you look at him. Its not only Iraq. He is a traitor to the Democratic cause and the fact that he is threatening to run as an independent makes clear that he cares primarily about no. 1. not the good of the party. Therefore.... if Clinton wants to make the argument that the party should leave him alone out of loyalty to the grand cause he makes a completely hypocritical case.

[David Zephyr]

7. Because Mrs. Clinton supported the Iraqi War just as Joe has.

File this story under:

What if Bill Clinton opened his mouth and no one gave a shit.

[LoZoccolo]

11. What if you did?

See you in November.

[Ripley]

54. Yes, DEFEND THE CLINTON'S

at all costs. Criticize the Clinton's and it's the end of the world. Lockstep all.

[VegasWolf]

27. Agreed, I certainly can't find one little iota of sympathy. nt

[IndianaGreen]

8. Big Dog likes DOMA, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and young interns

DLC is closing ranks with Lieberman.

Will Big Dog campaign for Holy Joe when he runs as an independent?

This is typical Clintonian triangulation: Big Dog defends Holy Joe while Hillary pretends she will support Lamont if he wins the nomination.

[Biernuts]

17. Not as long as someone else hold's his testicles and the Lorena

Bobbitt "how-to" book.

Seriously, Heaven & Hell for Bill

Heaven - Back in the White House without the close scrutiny, supervision & investigations.

Hell - Anything else.

He's going to do exactly as she directs until she is either elected president or it becomes a done deal that she never will.

Shit, if he REALLY felt like it, ex-presidents have speech privileges on the Senate Floor. Anybody got a timer? Be funny if he filabustered one of her bills.

:spank:

[mitchum]

46. Clinton takes his marching orders from his corporate masters...

not his wife. It has always been that way.

[David Zephyr]

18. Exactly.

This "statement" from Bill Clinton had nothing to do whatsoever with uniting for a win in November, but another crafty little manuver on behalf of his and her ambitions.

Lest anyone forget, it was Hillary who chimed in first attacking Congressman Murtha when he bravely denounced the Iraqi War. She even beat Lieberman to the mike.

So, the Clintons have no trouble whatsoever attacking other Democrats when it suits their purpose, do they?

By the way, a big hello to you, IG. :hi:

[IndianaGreen]

20. The world is going into the toilet and Bush is AWOL on the Middle East

Hi back at you, David!

My love and affection to you and your loved ones. Say Hi to C. for me!

:loveya:

[AlamoDemoc]

9. HELP

I watched Bill Clinton once said on the David Letterman Show that if Israel was attacked we'll be the first to take riffle and defend Israel.


I need the transcript of that please...anyone?

[kaygore]

10. More proof that Clinton has sold his soul--Lieberman IS a Republican and

we want to replace him with a Democrat!

[still_one]

12. In fairness, Clinton has previously stated that invaded Iraq

was a terrible mistake

[Ken Burch]

86. Which would matter a hell of a lot more if Clinton wasn't staying

We should now keep the war going forever(which is what not having a timetable means).

[Xipe Totec]

13. I love the Big Dawg but, respectfully, disagree.

I think first principles are more important than party labels.

I have stayed in place and watched my party's inexorable shift to the right, trying to pursue a "centrists" position.

I'm sorry, but I abandoned the Republican party when it shifted to the right chasing the votes of the Moral majority during Reagan's period.

It is not up to me to support the party, it is up to the party to support and represent my values.

I owe no loyalty to party. My loyalty is to the constitution and to the principles it represents.

Senator Lieberman has lost my confidence.

[jwirr]

29. Well said. Challenging Democratic candidates is what a primary

is for.

[Totally Committed]

14. This is from a man who hangs with Pappy Bush...

I have questioned his judgement for a while now.

TC

[IndianaGreen]

19. This is Hillary's strategy for 2008

She will remain above the fray, while having Big Dog saying the things that she can't say without being crucified by the liberal base.

Early this week Hillary said she would support the Democratic nominee in the Connecticut Senate race. Today Big Dog is siding with Holy Joe. I suspect both Hillary and Bill support Holy Joe, even if he ran as an independent, but Hillary won't say it, and Bill would.

[Generator]

23. You nailed it about Ms. Rodham Clinton (don't call her Hilary!)

"Oh this war thing, no big deal," says Bill Clinton.

Always shilling for the average man, that Bill.

[heliarc]

83. Why not call her Hillary?

Don't call her Ms. She's a Senator for pete's sake.

We call Bill, Bill... We call Joe, Joe.

And by the way, they are citizens just like anyone else. Didn't the recent ruling by the courts on the raid in Congress just confirm that fine civil arrangement for us?

[CoffeeCat]

15. Is this supposed to woo the progressives...

...in the Dem party to Joe's side of the table?

I totally give up on the Dem party. This is total crazymaking.

Hello! We're in a lie-based war that is bankrupting our country and murdering hundreds
of thousands of innocent Iraqis---and thousands of our soldiers. There's no plan to win.
There's no WMD. It's spiraling into hell.

Democrats should be so outraged that their facial veins pop. They should be screaming from
the rafters about BushCo incompetence, evil and lies. Instead...what do we get. We're told
to make nicey-nice with the neocon Dems and band together to support this sick, disgusting war.

Democrats and the Democratic party used to be synonymous with peace.

Something has happened to those Clintons. I guess they realize that BushCo is in power for
good, and they'd best play the game...or else.

It's sick. It's totally sick.

This is not the Bill Clinton who ran for pResident.

[saltpoint]

16. Politics aside, this is an interesting deal. Bill Clinton's dalliance

with Monica Lewinsky was fodder for many a right-wing pundit and reporter. He was savaged over it and nearly lost his presidency.

Feeding the fires from Connecticut was Holy Joe Lieberman, denouncing Clinton on the floor of the U.S. Senate essentially on a morals charge.

Again, politics of preference aside, for Clinton to look past Lieberman's condemnation over Lewinsky and speak in his behalf on ANYTHING is provocative.

Can't say what effect Clinton's words will have in the CT primary, but I'm not one iota less for Ned Lamont now than I was before Clinton spoke up for Lieberman about the war.

[brentspeak]

21. His main point is worth paying attention to:

Wasting time attacking Lieberman is simply going to mean Republicans will win.

[Skip Intro]

26. Its not "wasting time" and its not "attacking lieberman" its holding

a SERVANT of the people, and a representative of our party, accountable for supporting a liar, perpetrating a fraudulent war, and undermining our own ...

Bill is wrong, and so are you.

[0007]

41. That indeed needed to be said.

YOU are right on!!

[Telly Savalas]

66. When Lieberman and his supporters waste time attacking Lamont

does it help Republicans win?

[ladjf]

22. Mr. Clinton, haven't you caused enough problems for the Democratic

Party? Had you controlled your sexual urges while on duty, Gore would have been President and there most likely wouldn't have been an Iraq war.

[pretzel4gore]

24. you should read 'the hunting of the president'

really, the perversity of the gopigs is the elephant in the room. it's hard to believe, but it must have demoralized clinton(?)

[Maccagirl]

38. I read the book and saw the film

Both sickened me. It really shed light on the worst of human nature:
1) The American public (in general) basically said "I don't care what they do to Clinton." A misguided belief that it didn't affect them.

2) Clinton's willingness to risk everything (family, career, place in history)because he wouldn't acknowledge his self-destructiveness.

[ladjf]

70. In light of Mr. Clinton's obvious high intellect, I could only conclude

that he was a victim of sexual addiction.

[blm]

63. And had he opened the books on BushInc crimes in 1993, no Bush would EVER

have been allowed near the WH again, let alone rule from inside it.

[Skip Intro]

25. Sorry, Bill, you're wrong. You're just plain wrong. n/t

[wakeme2008]

28. Bill is NOT defending Joe but his own WIFE.

that is very clear...

[Tellurian]

30. Clinton practically couches his words into questions..

It's all slight of (hand) tongue!!

All he's saying is worthless, regurgitated, oversimplified pap.

That's his way of not giving a leg-up, but a hand-down, where the receiver
is no better off than he was before Clinton's statement. Not great! But it works.

even better- Joe knows he being operated on by a first class surgeon and theres
not a ding, dang thing he can do or say about it; except smile!

[ixion]

31. no, Bill, illegally invading a soverign nation under false pretenses

is a nutty strategy. Getting LIEberman behind bars is just long overdue justice.

[RedSock]

32. why some DUers love clinton is beyond me --

why some DUers love clinton is beyond me --

the guy has NOT changed his stripes. he's a slightly progressive repub.

big dog, my ass.

[aquaman]

33. I completely agree.....

I have always said that he was the best Republican president that we have ever had.

[Laughing Mirror]

40. The Clintons, Bill & Hill, are more intelligent than most people ...

and they are able to fool a lot of people.

But not all of us.

[mitchum]

49. I would phrase it as "more cunning than most people"

[IndianaGreen]

69. Bush has his sheep, and the Clintons have theirs

and the country will be ill served if we keep the reins of government in the hands of two families, the Bushes and the Clintons.

[mitchum]

48. I don't either...DLClinton has always been the slightly lesser of...

two evils

[paulk]

78. well, maybe it's because their lives

were so much better under Clinton than Bush. Or the previous Reagan/Bush regime.

Largest economic expansion in the history of the country

Eight years of peace and properity

etc, etc.

the real question that should be asked

is why so many DUers hate him.

[Just Me]

34. Sorry, Mr. President. You're acting like a "ho" rather than a dog.

Oh, whathef-ever.

Your passion is lost. What is your passion, now, Mr. President? Yourself or your country?

Just,...get the fuck away from me, right now,....with all that "nice" shit that contributes NOTHING to the rest of us.

"big dawg" bite my butt,...like you could,.... UGH

[mitchum]

45. Former president Petain has ALWAYS been a whore

[mmonk]

35. Who cares what he said?

We're way past Clinton now. We're in a kind of proto-fascist state at the present with a world domination foreign policy because we're the world's only "superpower", thus we're sure we can't be stopped. Nemesis awaits us all.

[leesa]

36. There is no room in the big tent for supporting illegal wars. It is

indefensible.

[MisterP]

39. Clinton's "Papen-fresh"!

[2020]

42. Bill Clinton -- Another guy whose never spent a day in uniform or combat

If he had spent some time in Nam he might have learned the immutable truth about things like this: People Don't Like To Be Conquered!

So his logic is wrong. The problem isn't "the people that are trying to keep Iraq divided and tear it up..." The problem is the people--80+% of them--who don't want US there.

After we leave, will there still be fighting as they sort things out? You bet there will. But that's true whether we leave today or 20 years from now.

So let's get the hell out, and let the Iraqis sort out their differences.

[niallmac]

59. You don't need to spend a day in combat to know

what's right. Clintons are motivated by other agendas, other special interests, other ideas about world power.

[w4rma]

43. Has Clinton jumped the shark, yet? (nt)

[Ken Burch]

87. Clinton was PAST the shark to start with.

He sacrificed this party and its soul for power and name only.

The tragedy was that this was unneccessary. Clinton could have been elected had he run as an honorable progressive who stood up for his beliefs and defended his party's most loyal supporters. Had he done that, there would NEVER have been a Republican takeover in '94.

[mitchum]

44. DLClinton is a PATHOLOGICAL accomodator...

everyday I despise the man more and more

[Barkley]

47. Clinton's finest day was when he got impeached

Because he stood up to the right-wing Republicans and REFUSED to resign.

Democrats were divided then too... some in Congress voted for his impeachment

I believe his approval rating was over 60% when he was impeached.

[rooboy]

50. Joe does Junior. Bill does Senior. n/t

[applegrove]

51. Way to go BIG DOG - INDEED!

:woohoo:

[SaveElmer]

52. Clinton is absolutely correct...

That the differences between Democrats is puny compared with Republicans is absolutely true, and wasting time attacking each other is simply electoral suicide. I do not support Lieberman in the upcoming primary because of recent actions, but if Connecticut Democrats decide to nominate him again I would be hypocritical not to support he reelection.

If Lamont gets the nod I have no doubt President Clinton will support him.

I also agree with Clinton's stand on publishing a timetable for Iraqi withdrawl. It would be extremely unwise.

[blm]

53. It's the ONLY SIGNAL to the Iraqis that we DON'T want to OCCUPY their

country.

They don't BELIEVE a word Bush says, so they want to see an ACTION that tells them we will be leaving. The US PRESENCE is fueling the insurgency. Take the FUEL away in measured drawdowns.

[SaveElmer]

55. Your last sentence I agree with...

If it is done leaving a functioning government in place.

An immediate sudden withdrawl would be a disaster, and a bloodbath of a magnitude worse than is happening now would ensue.

Making our intentions to leave clear without setting a date certain, setting goals and sticking to them would show our intention to leave.

However, I have no confidence whatsoever that Bush is competent enough to pull this off. I'm afraid we are gonna be stuck in the situation we are now in until a Democrat can come in and clean up the mess!

[blm]

61. No one has EVER suggested sudden withdrawal and ANY Dem who uses that

Rovian strawman LIE is a traitor to the party and IRRESPONSIBLE to the actual debate.

Clinton and Lieberman have no shame when they use the same argument Bush uses KNOWING it is based in lying about the proposed withdrawal plans from Murtha and Kerry.

[SaveElmer]

62. See it on DU all the time...

Take a look around!

[blm]

65. Clinton is debating Murtha and Kerry, not DUers saying to withdraw today.

In fact, most of DU would be behind any withdrawal plan that sought to have our presence in Iraq drawn down significantly within a year.

[progressivebydesign]

73. Couldn't agree with you more SaveElmer. n/t

[Little Star]

56. NAFTA took off my rose colored glasses

about what kind of judgment Bill had. I have had a love/hate feeling about him since then. Before NAFTA I thought he walked on water. I do get the argument that we need to stop the infighting and focus on fighting the republicans and I agree. However, Joe is no more a democrat than Zell Miller! I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time. So, screw Bill on this one!

[applegrove]

58. You don't think it is a good thing that the US is locked into getting

certain portions of Canadian and Mexican oil .. well into the future?

Cause really - if you think the die off of industrial jobs is harsh right now...wait until oil hits $100 a barrel. There will be no jobs of that type.

I don't agree with all Nafta. But I think that was a wise move from the POV of the USA. To lock in that oil.

[lumpy]

68. My thought exactly, Little Star

v

[IChing]

60. Where was Bill on : (but he finds it necessary to speak out on this)

Kerry-Feingold Amendment?
Downing Street memo?
The NSA's wiretaps?

1) Seizing power to wage wars of aggression in defiance of the U.S. Constitution, the U.N. Charter and the rule of law; carrying out a massive assault on and occupation of Iraq, a country that was not threatening the United States, resulting in the death and maiming of over one hundred thousand Iraqis, and thousands of U.S. G.I.s?
Bill care to comment?

2) Lying to the people of the U.S., to Congress, and to the U.N., providing false and deceptive rationales for war?
Bill care to comment?

3) Authorizing, ordering and condoning direct attacks on civilians, civilian facilities and locations where civilian casualties were unavoidable?
Bill care to comment?

4) Instituting a secret and illegal wiretapping and spying operation against the people of the United States through the National Security Agency?
Bill care to comment?

5) Threatening the independence and sovereignty of Iraq by belligerently changing its government by force and assaulting Iraq in a war of aggression? Bill care to comment?

6) Authorizing, ordering and condoning assassinations, summary executions, kidnappings, secret and other illegal detentions of individuals, torture and physical and psychological coercion of prisoners to obtain false statements concerning acts and intentions of governments and individuals and violating within the United States, and by authorizing U.S. forces and agents elsewhere, the rights of individuals under the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights?
Bill care to comment?

7) Making, ordering and condoning false statements and propaganda about the conduct of foreign governments and individuals and acts by U.S. government personnel; manipulating the media and foreign governments with false information; concealing information vital to public discussion and informed judgment concerning acts, intentions and possession, or efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction in order to falsely create a climate of fear and destroy opposition to U.S. wars of aggression and first strike attacks?
Bill care to comment?

8) Violations and subversions of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, both a part of the "Supreme Law of the land" under Article VI, paragraph 2, of the Constitution, in an attempt to commit with impunity crimes against peace and humanity and war crimes in wars and threats of aggression against Afghanistan, Iraq and others and usurping powers of the United Nations and the peoples of its nations by bribery, coercion and other corrupt acts and by rejecting treaties, committing treaty violations, and frustrating compliance with treaties in order to destroy any means by which international law and institutions can prevent, affect, or adjudicate the exercise of U.S. military and economic power against the international community?
Bill care to comment?

9) Acting to strip United States citizens of their constitutional and human rights, ordering indefinite detention of citizens, without access to counsel, without charge, and without opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solely on the discretionary designation by the Executive of a citizen as an "enemy combatant?"
Bill care to comment?

10) Ordering indefinite detention of non-citizens in the United States and elsewhere, and without charge, at the discretionary designation of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Defense?
Bill care to comment?

11) Ordering and authorizing the Attorney General to override judicial orders of release of detainees under INS jurisdiction, even where the judicial officer after full hearing determines a detainee is wrongfully held by the government?
Bill care to comment?

12) Authorizing secret military tribunals and summary execution of persons who are not citizens who are designated solely at the discretion of the Executive who acts as indicting official, prosecutor and as the only avenue of appellate relief?
Bill care to comment?

13) Refusing to provide public disclosure of the identities and locations of persons who have been arrested, detained and imprisoned by the U.S. government in the United States, including in response to Congressional inquiry?
Bill care to comment?

14) Use of secret arrests of persons within the United States and elsewhere and denial of the right to public trials?
Bill care to comment?


15) Authorizing the monitoring of confidential attorney-client privileged communications by the government, even in the absence of a court order and even where an incarcerated person has not been charged with a crime?
Bill care to comment?

16) Ordering and authorizing the seizure of assets of persons in the United States, prior to hearing or trial, for lawful or innocent association with any entity that at the discretionary designation of the Executive has been deemed "terrorist?"
Bill care to comment?

17) Engaging in criminal neglect in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, depriving thousands of people in Louisiana, Mississippi and other Gulf States of urgently needed support, causing mass suffering and unnecessary loss of life?
Bill care to comment?

18) Institutionalization of racial and religious profiling and authorization of domestic spying by federal law enforcement on persons based on their engagement in noncriminal religious and political activity?

Bill care to comment?

19) Refusal to provide information and records necessary and appropriate for the constitutional right of legislative oversight of executive functions?
Bill care to comment?

20) Rejecting treaties protective of peace and human rights and abrogation of the obligations of the United States under, and withdrawal from, international treaties and obligations without consent of the legislative branch, and including termination of the ABM treaty between the United States and Russia, and rescission of the authorizing signature from the Treaty of Rome which served as the basis for the International Criminal Court?
Bill care to comment?


Oh that's right: Lieberman said this about Clinton: http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/09/03/clinton.lewinsky/

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Sept. 3) -- In a significant break with his president, Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman took to the Senate floor Thursday to condemn President Bill Clinton's marital infidelity as immoral, disgraceful and damaging to the country.

Lieberman of Connecticut said he was angered and disappointed in Clinton's behavior, and what he called Clinton's "premeditated" deception.

Lieberman said Clinton "apparently had extramarital relations with an employee half his age and did so in the workplace in the vicinity of the Oval Office. Such behavior is not just inappropriate. It is immoral.
" Bill care to comment?

Bill you have been sleeping with dogs and the daddy dog.

[lumpy]

67. Oh man, your post strikes home.

What can one say except that Bill Clinton is an adept player who would do well on Survivor or Big Brother.

[IChing]

74. Yes, he would be a winner on survior

The Iraq war is more than a spat between democrats, it is a constitutional crisis.



I got my thoughts from here:

http://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer
http://www.impeachbush.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr004=8hkefw8cm1.app7b&page=NewsArticle&id=5054&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1061

[lumpy]

75. Appreciate your site references

Thanks so much.

[IndianaGreen]

80. Good analogy! Bill would make it to the final four in Survivor

Hillary would have been voted off early in the game. Lieberman would have been the first to be voted off the island.

[Gloria]

76. Bill's box....by pandering to the Bush crowd when they were

at the top, he hoped that he (and Hillary) would attract some of their favor for later use politically.

It was all under the guise of being "ex-Presidential"--part of the club, blah blah blah. But Bill overdid it, as usual. Chumming around with Poppy Bush was unecessary--Clinton could have done a lot of good in NOLA on his own, through his own foundation. And earlier, with the tsunami.

In an effort to appear "non-political," however, he became very political. Because he sacrificed his neutrality as an ex-President to bolster the image of the thugs in the White House. He stuck his nose into the Iraq mess and made apologies for Bush (read as excuses for Hillary) and I'm wondering what he'll say about the mess now in the Mid-East.

What a huge disappointment his ex-Presidency has been to me in terms of his dealings with this Administration.

I give him credit for his foundation work overseas on AIDS, etc., but here at home he's just been an enabler of Bushco. And fueled confusion among Democrats.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[VegasWolf]

77. Predictable. The DLC defends Lieberman. The DLC will cause

the Democrats to remain a minority power.

[Clarkie1]

79. A few thoughts...

While I disagree with Clinton somewhat, I do understand his point of view. I think it is important we not focus "too heavily" on Lamont at the expense of other races. Beyond that, I think it's healthy to have primary challengers. The other thing I would say is that while I understand the points Clinton is making about Iraq and it "not being a situation we created," more troubling to me is Lieberman's anti-dissent remarks, which Clinton did not address.

[Ken Burch]

88. Do those remarks trouble you enough for you to call on Lieberman

not to run as a conservative anti-Democratic independent if he loses the primary?

[Clarkie1]

89. I don't think it's my place to make that call.

It's Lieberman's call, and the voters will judge the decision he makes. It's a free country, and he's free do do as he wishes within the law. It's up to the voters to judge the decisions he makes (including the irony of his decisions), by casting their votes in November.

It's not about whether Lieberman runs as an independent or not, it's ultimately about what CT voters decide in November...Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. That's what will determine whether Lamont wins or not.

Lieberman is not going to be a spoiler. I am convinced there is no way the Republican running can win. So, making the argument to Lieberman that he should not run as an independent because it might lead to a Republican being elected doesn't hold much merit with me. It would if his name were Nader and Lamont's name were Gore, but that's neither here nor there. It may lead to Lieberman being elected, but how much sense does it make to tell someone they shouldn't run because, gee, the people might actually elect them!

Is Lamont as afraid of an independent Liberman run as so many of his supporters are? I doubt it. What is there to be afraid of?

I'd like to see Lamont supporters whining less about what Lieberman does and get a little more confidence in their own candidates ablilty to win. That's how democracy is supposed to work, and I hope the Democratic candidate wins!

[Ken Burch]

90. It's getting really weird that you're going to the mat on this point.

Why can't you let it rest?

[Clarkie1]

91. Good idea.

Just didn't want to ignore you.

[alcibiades_mystery]

82. Ambling into Irrelevance

Never much liked you Bill, and still fucking don't. Fuck off, sir.

[VegasWolf]

92. Early senility onset? nt

[Placebo]

93. "...for a situation none of them created."

As usual, Bill Clinton is a voice of wisdom in the world of politics.