Bill Clinton Praises Joe Lieberman

[seriousstan]

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) -- Bill Clinton came to praise three-term Sen. Joe Lieberman and most assuredly not to bash Ned Lamont, the anti-war challenger making a strong bid for the Democratic Senate nomination in the state's Aug. 8 primary.

"I don't have anything against Joe's opponent," Clinton said Monday as he campaigned to save his political ally of more than three decades from defeat. "He seems like a perfectly nice man. He's got every right to run and he's waged a vigorous campaign."

Clinton's comments underscored the dilemma facing many party leaders as they watch Lieberman struggle for renomination against an opponent who says he would stand up to President Bush instead of standing with him.

While they support the incumbent, they also know the most recent poll shows the race a toss-up, and he could lose. And that would make Lamont the party's nominee - and theirs - in the fall, even if Lieberman goes ahead with plans to run as an independent.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLINTON_CONNECTICUT?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-25-04-14-01

[Taverner]

1. Bye bye Joe

Bye bye DLC

Bye bye Clinton, both Bill and Hilary

Bye bye DINOs

Don't let the door hit you on the way out...

[movonne]

3. I really loved Clinton, but he is really beginning to irritate me..he

did more good for this country than bad...but this is too much..

[blm]

6. SOME good, but he also made one of the biggest FUCKUPS of alltime - he

closed the books on BushInc when he took office in 93.

Had he allowed their crimes to be made more public, there would have been no massive global terror network, no 9-11, and no Bush would have been allowed NEAR the WH ever again.

[redqueen]

18. and people puzzle at why he pals around with the bushes...

*sigh*

[saigon68]

32. Old Joementum also likes the killing in Lebanon

I wonder if he achieves arousal at the photos of children shredded by the bombs dropped by his sponsors.

[fudge stripe cookays]

8. Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine might have been nice....

during his EIGHT FREAKING YEARS in office.

That, in addition to the Telecommunications Bill are half the reason why we're in the shitty situation we're in right now (Clear Channel anyone?).

fsc

[redqueen]

19. after all, he promised to do so during his campaign...

and he had a democratic congress for 2 years.

stabbed in the back, we were.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

17. The Clinton's need to step back from the spotlight before they overstay

their welcome.

[Totally Committed]

7. A most excellent post!

My feelings, exactly!

TC

[gizmo1979]

21. Good luck with that.

Getting rid of the only democrat to beat repukes at their own game.That's a winner.

[Pierzin]

34. Why on Earth would Anyone Support this Bush dittohead???

I agree with you, buh bye DLC, if you dont hav the balls to confront this BS that's going on.

[ShortnFiery]

2. It's all a game to THEM ...

And they think that The People are stupid.

Bill, you confuse us with the lemmings known as Republicans.

Here's to your sentiments Re: Joe the Traitor. :puke:

[stepnw1f]

4. F*ck Joe

and buh bye Bill.

[oasis]

5. "Joe's opponent.....a perfectly nice man. He's got every right to run".

Some DUers have been confused about Clinton's position on Lamont's candidacy. It's crystal clear that Clinton has respect for both contenders.

[seriousstan]

10. So you expect to see Bill or Boxer at a Lamont campaign event?

You are confusing respect with support.

[oasis]

14. Those DUers who accused Clinton of saying "it's wrong to for Dems to

challenge incumbent Dems" need to check this out for clarity. That's my point.

Btw,Boxer and Clinton support JL in the primary. I wouldn't expect them to appear at a Lamont rally.

[Dr Fate]

40. I hope Bill encourages Joe to support Lamont if he is the winner...

And I expect Bill Clinton to endorse Lamont if he wins the primaries.

Do you agree?

[oasis]

42. Of course BC will endorse Lamont in the general. Don't be surprised

if Joe doesn't jump independent, but folds up his tent after losing the primary.

[Rambis]

9. BC was our downfall

I liked him accept for a few things NAFTA is one big one. But his move to the center allowed this shift in our party that has been our downfall. I didn't realize it at the time but it made it easier for people to vote with the right because Clinton was such a centrist.

[redqueen]

20. The DLC - Democrats Leading us to Corporatism n/t

[krkaufman]

35. NAFTA is a BIG reason we lost many blue collar workers ...

... to the ROG on hot-button issues like abortion and guns. They figured neither party was looking out for them economically any more, so they went with the party pandering to the issue producing the biggest reaction in the lizard part of their brain.

[Benhurst]

11. I see some projections that both Lamont and Lieberman would

get 40% in the general election.

If, as I think, Lamont wins the primary, my guess is that Lieberman's support will go into free-fall.

After Lamont's primary victory, it will be time to stick the fork into Holy Joe-- he'll be finished.

[BeyondGeography]

12. Joe is a member of the Boys and Girls Club

aka the Democratic Party, where merit and talent always take a back seat to nepotism and social ties.

It's the main reason why we get our asses kicked by the Pubbies every year and why they still have a shot this year, even with their pathetic record; at least they run their ship like something resembling a business.

[RufusEarl]

13. Here's my take!

Joe had threatened to run as an independent if he lost to Lamont, Bill made the deal, he told Joe this. Joe i'll come and campaign for you, but if you lose the primary i'm backing Lamont and you don't run as an independent.

We all know if Joe ran as an indie, he would loose and split the vote and a repug would win that seat. Pretty good politics by Bill if you ask me, we all hope Joe looses and when he does you'll see Bill Support Lamont. I promise!

[samsingh]

22. i think you're right

that's been my interpretation .

[oasis]

30. It makes sense to me. (eom)

[Skink]

33. I thought Joe was running as an independant. He's not?

[RufusEarl]

44. According to what i understand,

Joe had planned to run as an independent if he lost the primary. Again how i understand it, Bill told Joe that he would come to Conn, and campaign for him. But the deal was if Joe lost the primary he (Joe) would not run as an independent, and Bill promised to campaign for Ned if he won the primary.

This sounds like a good political move on Clinton's part, after all Joe is the sitting Senator. But Clinton didn't want Joe running as an independent, that could split the Dem vote and hand the repug a victory.

I don't have a dog in this fight, with the exception of getting rid of Joe. But to me it sounds like the Big Dog found a solution to the threat of Joe running as and independent and possibility handing the repugs a victory.

[krkaufman]

37. Polls show the Repub running a distant third in a 3-way race...

... w/ Lamont and Lieberman tied w/ 40%. (poll within the last week, anyway, FWIW)

[skipos]

39. You are absolutely wrong on a Schelsinger (R) winning

if Joe runs as an indy. Please look at the polls by Rasmussen or Quin.

As for Bill making a deal with Joe, then why would Joe still collect signatures and all that jazz? Anyone can tell that Joe's pursuit of a possible indy run is costing him votes in this primary. Or maybe he and his advisors are really too slow to realize that. :shrug:

[ladjf]

15. Well, that's more that Joe did for Bill during the impeachment

era.

[Sven77]

16. shows whos the warhawks

clinton, hilary, kerry, all for the war in iraq, and for israel.

[karynnj]

26. The Kerry/Feingold amendment is pro-war?

Kerry has acknowledged that ceven if his motives were good, the IWR vote was bad - but he was not pro-war because he spoke out against the war before it began. (Why not list Senators who actually believed in the war - like Bayh, Biden, and Edwards instead.)

[ShockediSay]

23. It's the Israel Lobby, stupid

http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/Research/wpaper.nsf/rwp/RWP06-011

[anotherdrew]

28. clearly it is so. I'd try to hope not, but it seems very clear now

[TomClash]

24. Maybe Chelsea could sign up for the fucking war

Maybe Matt Lieberman can learn leave Yale Law for a year and trudge off to boot camp.

What am I saying? Rich kids never have obligations.

[Nutmegger]

25. I only ask the BC respect the primary process.

He can endorse anyone he wants to. I don't hold that against him.

[Dr Fate]

41. Exactly- so long as he supports the DEM after the primary.

I would hope he would campiagn for Lamont if he wins.

[anotherdrew]

27. Bill you're as bad! two years with the white house, senate and house

what did you do? next to nothing

then he spent the next 6 years screwing around ignoring the rethugs attacks, leting them puff themselves up into the force they are now, he let himself be made a lame duck from day one.

[leesa]

29. So we're supposed to put aside an illegal; war? Just park that little old

issue, huh? This is why I want NOTHING to do with DLC/pro-war Democrats.

[pokercat999]

31. Here guys, have some pretzels. eom

[krkaufman]

36. "The pink elephant in the living room"

Clinton referred to Iraq as "The pink elephant in the living room."

Bill, the elephant is not pink. It is blood red.

[krkaufman]

38. Saw a video clip on the Net somewhere, with best line of the day...

(paraphrasing)

Lieberman: "I'm going to win the Primary. I'm not looking beyond the (Primary)"

Cameraman: "Then why are you getting signatures for a run as an independent?"

[BooScout]

43. Clinton also said....

That should Lieberman lose the Democratic nomination and run as an Independant that he would withdraw his support for him. In the end he's going to support what ever Democratic nominee put forth. A lesson for all of us come the next Presidential election.

[yojon]

45. Well this makes perfect sense...

You see Big Dog appreciates Joe's personal loyalty... oh... wait... Joe voted to impeach him. Hmmm. Must be Joe's party loyalty and Joe is doing it for the party... oh... wait.. Joe threatened to run as an independent if he loses the primary.

See: it all makes perfect sense.

[ckramer]

46. Probably Lieberman said if you help me I'll help you fixing your

marriage with Hillary.

Bill's so desparate he couldn't refuse.

Just my imaginary, LOL.

[patcox2]

47. More jews live in New York than in Israel. Hillary cannot oppose the war.

Simple, really.

Everyone here seems to think that Hillary Clinton, for example, but it goes for all elected congress members, has to please the national democratic community. But the national democratic community does not elect members of congress, they are elected by the residents of a single state or district, and those are the people they must please.

Hillary must support the war, or she will lose a million votes, and thats that.

[RCinBrooklyn]

48. Bill's behavior gave us Bush. I despise him. His endorsement is bullsh*t.

[graywarrior]

49. Makes me wonder if they're nervous about the upcoming elections

and worry that Joe may lose, or is the con on, and they know they can fix the election and Joe will win. Since they tread so close to the republican party, I wouldn't doubt it.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

50. Campaigning for Hillary is "hard work." The Clinton's want to be in power

again and have absolutely no scruples about what they will do to accomplish that goal.

[mistertrickster]

51. Bill was the best Republican president we ever had. But don't kid

yourself. His peccadillos with Monica was a major problem for Gore and majorly contributed to Gore's "defeat." (Not to mention the theft of Florida)