Does anyone here like Lieberman?

[liberal democrat]

In every thread that looks back on the election, I hear constant Lieberman bashing. He is a pragmatic politician- a workhorse not a showhorse. He wants to get things done, so he works with moderates to do so. He's pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-fiscal responsibility, and fought for the little guys as attorney general of CT. While he did support the war in the primary, that was before Bush totally mishandled it. In the debates, he mentioned that Bush poorly planned the war.
I feel the media attempts to generalize all the candidates- Dean was the liberal, Gephardt was the centrist, Kucinich was the out-of-mainstream kook, Clark was the ex-Republican, and Lieberman was the hawkish conservative. In reality, Lieberman is just a dedicated civil servant and a loyal Democrat who wants to make things better.
So, why is there such bitterness towards him? Is he a scapegoat for Gore's loss? Is it his opposition to Dean?
And back to my original subject, Does anyone here like Lieberman?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Nope.

n/t

[DustMolecule]

2. No, not me

.

[otohara]

3. No - When I Was A State Delegate

during the primary's - ONE person voted for Joe and the whole place went - booooooooooooooooooo

[JohnKleeb]

4. I dont like him but I do admit he's in agreement with me

on many choice, the environment, and most other social issues, but I don't like his views on censorship, the death penalty, and he's too hawkish for me but I do think there are far more conservative senate democrats than Lieberman, like Ben Nelson of Nebraska or either of the two Lousiana senators. I just don't like the guy's attiude to be truthful, hes also too economically conservative for me, Gephardt while a hawk somewhat is very good on those economic issues.

[kdmorris]

5. Not me

But then again, I was a supporter of the "out of the mainstream kook".

Man, I miss Dennis.

[Mira]

11. I'm miss Dennis too, I want to marry him. Was it Michael Moore

who said he could vote for any of the non Lieberman candidates in the line-up of Democratic candidates?
And then, he said, that there WAS enough tranquilizer available so he could even vote for him?

Always made me laugh. I, also, don't like Lieberman.

[kdmorris]

15. I hadn't heard that one

But that sure made me laugh when I just read it. I'm not sure there was enough tranquilizer available for me to vote for him in the primaries (if I'd had a chance), but then again, I would have voted for any Democrat we nominated in the general election.

[UpsideDownFlag]

173. He represents all of the reasons why I dislike the DLC. nt

[w4rma]

6. Nope. And I don't think he's pragmatic either. I think he has his own

agenda that he pushes for to the detriment of Democrats. And I also think that he has succumbed to the vices of pride and greed in his ego and his pushing for pro-big corporation economic policies that harm regular Americans.

[lapfog_1]

7. I think he should join Zell and just join the rethuglicans. -n/t

[liberal democrat]

28. That name-calling is GOP-esque.

Look what happened to the GOP when they ignored their moderates- Jeffords defected.
We must embrace those with slight differences, but whose over-reaching view of American life is that there should be social justice and fiscal responsibility on the part of the government.

[Smarmie Doofus]

32. I wouldn't describe L's world view and foreign policy differences

with the rest of the party as "slight". He advocates "preemptive" war, ( ie. wars of aggression).

Sorry, he belongs in the GOP.

[liberal democrat]

42. Many Dems initially supported the war

including Kerry, Gephardt, and Edwards. Even Dean was indifferent during 2002 until it was clear the war was a mistake.
To single out Lieberman is unfair.

[Smarmie Doofus]

46. Hmmm......

What is his position on the war today? i.e. Right now?

And did he not specifically attack Kerry (KERRY!... who said he was going to *add* troops if elected) for being insufficiently supportive of Bush's Iraq policy?

[AndyTiedye]

53. Many Supported the War When Bush Said Saddam Was Gonna Nuke Us

We now know they were lies, but they were pretty scary lies.
I didn't believe them, but I can't criticize those who did too much.

I am sure it was also pointed out to any wavering Congresscritters
that they, too, could be Wellstoned.

Those who still think it was a good idea to invade (that's you, Joe)
obviously had another agenda to begin with.

If our "leaders" are going to take us to war, THEY OWE US THE TRUTH ABOUT WHY?

[liberal democrat]

58. Excellent Point!

Why did Kerry vote for the war? BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT IRAQ HAD NUCLEAR WEAPONS. And, Kerry, trusted the Presidnet was telling the truth. So, because Kerry voted for Bush's war, the RW spinned it that he flipped-flopped? Crazy.

[Quill Pen]

130. Nope, don't buy it.

How come I knew the Iraq war was bogus, but my representatives in Congress didn't? How come I could figure out, from reading a couple of books and articles, that the argument for preemptive war was based on lies? Is it possible that neither the yes-voting senators, nor anyone on their staffs, saw the articles I did on the deceptions used by Colin Powell in his presentation to the UN? How come I was aware there was no connection between 9/11 and Saddam, but my senators weren't? How come I knew that there was crippling doubt in the intelligence community itself about the conclusions forced from data coming out of the Middle East, but my senators didn't?

Kerry, like all the other senators (including both senators from my state) who voted for this reprehensible piece of sh*t, did so to keep his chair warm. You bet I sure voted for him four weeks ago, because he's not Bush. And I supported him in other ways, too (financially, et al) once he'd won the primary. But please, let's not lie to one another and pretend he was seduced like a sorority pledge after her sixth frat party Jell-O shot.

I don't believe there's a soul in Congress who believes he can trust any of his fellow public servants any further than he can throw them. The vote for war in Iraq was a political CYA, not a show of trust in Bush.

[unkachuck]

36. I'm with lapfog_1...

....and I also nominate Joe to fill the position vacated by Zell Miller....we need a good man in there sucking that right-wing a$$....and Joe's our man....

[catbert836]

8. No, not me.

[merbex]

9. No

I can honestly say that after watching nearly all the debates prior to the Iowa caucus and primaries - that I don't like Lieberman

If I lived in Conn. I'd want someone to run against him in the primary

[Liberal Veteran]

10. I think Joe is indicative of the problem democrats are having....

They still pretend like we can "work with" the opposition party.

It has become increasingly obvious that the pollyanna, "let's compromise" approach is not working.

[Rowdyboy]

12. I defended Joe Lieberman here and elsewhere for several years...

However, he has recently made it his trademark to savage the Democratic party. He finds nothing we stand for worth defending, and appears to want us to join hands and sing "Kumbayah" while George Bush destroys democracy.

I voted for him, I supported him, I defended him but no more. Sadly, Joe really has lost his way and betrayed his base. I expected far more from him.

[MikeNY]

78. Don't like him one bit

I would never vote for Lieberman. Never have and never will. He's a total hawk and he really is an authoritarian if you look at his positions. He's too busy making speeches about the government censoring video games to deal with anything really concerning our nation.

[RegexReader]

145. BINGO! We have a winner

RegexReader
$USA =~ s/Republican/Democrat/ig;

[Digit]

13. Nope

Don't care for him at all.
Saw him a few months ago on TV and was surprised that he called himself a dem after what he was saying.

[lcordero]

14. ????

When did becoming a corporatist equal being "pragmatic"?
There is nothing "pragmatic" about being a crook.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. Me neither.

I thought he was kind of lame when he ran as Gore's VP, and he got progressively worse during the primaries this year. Even if it weren't for his whiney voice, which drives me nuts, I wouldn't like him. He's not a loyal Democrat; he's clearly a DINO -- a more polite, less deranged version of Zell Miller. I wish he'd either STFU or just declare as a Republican.

[Goldeneye]

17. No way...what was Gore thinking?

If he won with Lieberman as VP...imagine what he could've done with someone else.

[trayfoot]

21. Absolutely NO to Liebermann

Could NEVER understand why Al chose him. Joe is too tightly wound to the Israelis - and they are part of our problem.

[Mirwib]

24. The last two VP candidates, Liebermand and Edwards, ...

The last two VP candidates, Liebermand and Edwards, have been very poor choices.

[w4rma]

35. Lieberman is bad. But Edwards was a fantastic choice for VP and

imho, would be a fantastic choice for President in 2008, also.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

77. I thought the choice of Lieberman

as a running mate was widely recognised as a tactical masterstroke on Gore's part? He certainly jumped significantly in the polls on the strength of it, and Lieberman certainly put an awful lot of work into the 2000 campaign.

With regards to the original question, it appears that the answer is no, but bear in mind that this is not a website where Lieberman supporters would be likely to hang out - just because they're not here doesn't mean they're not out there.

[PassingFair]

141. That's because it's a DEMOCRATIC website.

n/t

[Debs]

18. No, I dont like Liberman

Virtually nothing would get me to vote for him. That having been said I have nothing against him. I think he is a decent enough guy and perhaps the only true compassionate conservative I can think of if you can get past the Iraq-ongoing-attrocity. I wouldnt dispute your portrayal of him. I would repeat what I posted on another thread if he wants to run for president he should run as a republican. Simply put he is FAR too conservative for my taste

[dogman]

19. Never did.

Holier than thou never gets it with me. I supported him when he ran with Gore and thought he might be the key to Florida. It turned out he wasn't and the idea of basing the campaign on Florida and running from Clinton, I believe, were two major errors in 2000.

[autorank]

20. Gore's folly (& I love Gore!). This is like me criticizing the Raiders.

Which never happens.

[Nimble_Idea]

22. no one likes the stupid zell miller wannabe

He is a turncoat that cost of two elections.

[gumby]

23. Nope

I giggle at that Deputy Dawg when I see him on my teevee.

[Dehumanizer]

25. NOT AT ALL..

The few Lieberman defenders on here point to his voting record in such-and-such Democratic areas, but the problem with Lieberman is not so much ideological left-right as it is political. That is, in the last several years, he has proven time and time again to be a bigger spokesperson for the Republican Party than the one he claims to be in. I have no problem with more-conservative Democrats as long as, when the going gets tough, they are able to stand for the core principles of the party and fight for our side.

Lieberman's only purpose in life seems to be to try to bring the Democratic machine down when it's doing well and kick the party when it's down, all while never laying a finger on the opposition. In the last four years with the party at its most desperate, not ONCE have I heard what was coming out of Joe's mouth and said, "that's our guy." Not once.

[JohnKleeb]

26. Its his attiude that I dont like more than anything

Hes decent on some domestic issues and is far from the worst dem in congress but hes far from the best either.
but other than that, I won't defend him.

[Mojambo]

27. I don't know him

But I think his politics suck.

[American Tragedy]

29. Well, here's what I think

"So, why is there such bitterness towards him? Is he a scapegoat for Gore's loss? Is it his opposition to Dean?"

None of the above.

My first introduction to him was as a horror film and videogame aficionada many years ago. I passionately hated his prominent stance on censorship when I was a child, long before I became politically conscious at all. I still do. More than anything else, I resent politicians, do-gooders, and organizations (i.e. MPAA, FCC) who think that they have the right to intrude upon other people's lives and decisions, who presume that individuals can't handle or interpret media for themselves and need their intervention.

Now I despise many of the things that he advocates, particularly his vocal support of the death penalty and an increasingly cruel and punitive foreign policy. His continued defense of the expulsion of U.N. inspectors and invasion of Iraq sealed my opinion of him forever.

Since I recognize that I am probably in the radical fringe, I am willing to endure so much compromise for political expediency, but he often capitulates when it isn't necessary. He comes off as an apologist for men and women who represent the worst of America while ignoring or trivializing issues that matter to me. I see little justification in supporting him at all.

[jsascj]

30. No...

He always sounds like he's whining. That really bugs me!

[Donna Zen]

31. Respect many of his votes

You are correct. Lieberman has been there for many votes on domestic issues including civil rights and women's rights. I do respect him for that. He was a Freedom Rider, and I thank him for that.

Perhaps the fact that he represents CT shades his votes on consumer, insurance and banking issues. But I could understand that.

But his association with the AEI and an outer circle of PNAC have taken him off my radar. He supports bush's war and with its connections to various groups, one has to wonder.

IOW, I don't trust Lieberman to put American interests first in foreign policy.

[Senator Lamb]

38. I like him

some disagreements on his stances, but i dont hate him. i think he is a hard working senator and genuine good guy. I just dont like it when he insults his own party members like Dean, but then again, its his views.

[liberal democrat]

40. I like you,

you are a sensible poster indicative of mainstream democrats.

[liberal democrat]

39. The last line: don't trust Lieberman to put American interests first

You best not be implying that because Lieberman is Jewish, he will put Israel first?
That is what was said about Kennedy by the GOP- that he will put the interests of the Catholic Church first.
Please tell me you didn't mean what I think that you meant before I completely flip out and alert the moderators.

[Senator Lamb]

45. Im Jewish

and that statment concerns me too, that jews have no loyalty to america. or it could have been about certain elements in Israel such as the Likud and sharon, not Israel as a whole.

[JohnKleeb]

65. I am not Jewish but I can understand why Jews get upset at comments like

this. I agree with what lib dem is saying about Kennedy, I am Catholic btw so I can relate.

[Donna Zen]

59. PNAC

Lieberman is very closely associated with the wizards at AEI who developed "Project For A New American Century." There was an outer circle that included Dems who supported the idea of empire. Jeb Bush isn't Jewish.

Read: A Pretext For War by James Bamford. I think he gives the particulars of the developement of the plan and players very well. Lieberman is not mentioned in the book.

Lieberman's being Jewish has nothing to do with it. Plenty of people who are Jewish have rejected the plan including BiBi Netenyho. But there are wheels within wheels here. Nevertheless, there are factions within Israel and the US government who have instigated and supported these ideas. IMO, this is not in the best interest of my country or the world.

Right now we are set on a course of endless war.

[Mike L]

111. I'll let Eric Alterman do the talking.

The Nation
Posted April 3, 2003

STOP THE PRESSES by Eric Alterman
Can We Talk?

"This war has put Jews in the showcase as never before. Its primary intellectual architects--Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and Douglas Feith--are all Jewish neoconservatives. So, too, are many of its prominent media cheerleaders, including William Kristol, Charles Krauthammer and Marty Peretz. Joe Lieberman, the nation's most conspicuous Jewish politician, has been an avid booster, going so far as to rebuke his former partner Al Gore and much of his own party.

Then there's the "Jews control the media" problem. It's probably not particularly relevant that the families who own the Times and the Washington Post are Jewish, but let's not pretend this is so in the case of the Jewish owner-editors of, say, U.S. News & World Report and The New Republic. Mortimer Zuckerman is head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and Peretz is unofficial chair of the American Arab Defamation Committee. Neither is shy about filling his magazine with news Jews can use.

To make matters worse, many of these Jewish hard-liners--"Likudniks" in the current parlance--appear, at least from a distance, to be behaving in accordance with traditional anti-Jewish stereotypes. Much to the delight of genuine anti-Semites of the left and right, the idea of a new war to remove Saddam was partially conceived at the behest of Likud politician Benjamin Netanyahu in a document written expressly for him by Perle, Feith and others in 1996. Some, like Perle, apparently see the influence they wield as an opportunity to get rich. What's more, many of these same Jews joined Rumsfeld and Cheney in underselling the difficulty of the war, in what may have been a ruse designed to embroil America in a broad military conflagration that would help smite Israel's enemies. Did Perle, for instance, genuinely believe "support for Saddam, including within his military organization, will collapse at the first whiff of gunpowder"? Is Wolfowitz really so ignorant of history as to believe the Iraqis would welcome us as "their hoped-for liberators"?

The character of this Administration, unfortunately, adds further fuel to the stereotypical fire. Unlike, say, Tony Blair, George W. Bush does not readily give the impression of having a geopolitical clue. Hence, he appears rather easily manipulated by the smart fellows with their fancy concepts and Ivy League degrees who surround him. (Yes, I know about Bush's degrees, but they're never part of the story.) Rapidly shifting conventional wisdom has already begun to blame Bush advisers' "bum advice," according to one Washington Post report, for the war's decidedly not-so-cakewalk-like character. A really good conspiracy theorist would begin to wonder if the Jews are being set up to take the fall when things go badly."

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030421&s=alterman

[outraged2]

33. no

Join the GOP already....

[Paradise]

34. NOmentum! n/t

[Sperk]

37. another NO here.

n/t

[fujiyama]

41. No

and I used to defend him.

But over the last year he has undermined the Kerry campaign and the party. He defended Bush on far too many occassions. He dismissed Richard Clarke's statements (Bush ignored terrorism) and excused Abu Grhraib. Then at the end he went to FL and said, "Bush is great for Israel", making the point that in order to be a friend or supporter of Israel you must give Sharon and Likud a green light and a free hand.

His record on domestic social issues isn't all that bad (pro choice, pro gay rights, environment), though I can't stand his stance on video game and movie censorship, and he's a whore for insurance/banking companies.

[liberal democrat]

43. He's from CT, a very, very wealthy state.

In order to win the prevelant wealthy, business support, he must be pro-business.

[fujiyama]

64. "Pro Business"

is one thing, but being a whore to pharmacuetical and insurance indistries is another. And I don't care that he's from a state that has a lot of those interests. That's the problem. Democrats have not been able to tell these industries when they're wrong. Instead they cower before them. It's pathetic. Hillary and Schumer do that all the time as well. I'm tired of Dems from blue states rolling over so often. IIRC Lieberman was one of those that opposed the accounting reforms back when Clinton was in office...and I think he voted for the budget the other day as well.

I'm sorry, but I'm more impressed with Dodd's record and he's under the same pressure but doesn't roll over quite as consistantly.

I was really disgusted by Lieberman's vote on the bankruptcy "reform" bill, which the other senator from CT voted AGAINST.

In fact I'm thinking of more things I disliked about him. I hated when he said "there's no freedom from religion, only freedom OF religion". His outspoken religosity eventually caused some Jewish groups to criticize him (it may have been the ADL...not sure). That and his ability to criticize Clinton for BJs but not once have the courage to criticize Bush with the same language over the war and instead offer complete support... It looked like he was pandering to fundies.

[Kahuna]

82. Corzine and Lautenberg are from a wealthy state too. NJ. Yet..

they manage to keep their corporate/repuke butt kissing to a bare minimum.

[mrdmk]

44. If you like war, corporate power and rolling over to Dick Cheney

about every RW taking point one could think of. Yes one would Lieberman.

Here is another thing I do not like about Lieberman and that he was the president of the Democratic Leadership Council.

Here is some happy reading for you about the DLC
http://www.progressive.org/nich1000.htm

Did I mention, ever since the inception of the DLC the Democrats have been losing seats in congress.

[XemaSab]

47. No

Not only do I disagree with far too many of his policies, I think he totally lacks charisma and is guilty of pandering to the religious right.

I was totally disgusted when he said he'd put his hand on the Bible and swear to keep new hampshire's primary first in the nation.

Like, honestly, of all things to swear on the Bible about....

[CBHagman]

48. Generally, I like him.

I voted for Al Gore and Lieberman in 2000 and would do it again tomorrow. If there were any justice in the world, the man would be in his second term as vice president.

This is not to say that I always agree with him, but I don't buy the hyperbole about his political positions. Yes, he criticized Clinton openly, and yes, he's vocal about things like violent video games. But he has been consistently progressive on a number of issues, particularly those concerning women, and doesn't deserve this label he's getting from some DUers and others.

[doc03]

49. NO

[whistle]

50. No, not at all and not that he was scapegoated. Gore. . .

. . . selected Joe Lieberman. But once Lieberman came into the national limelight of the democratic party he just imploded himself. Then he goes and publically backs George Bush on the Iraq war and the slaughter that is stilling taking place there.

It was Harry Truman who warned voters that when, "... given a choice between a Republican and a Democrat imitating a Republican, voters will not hesitate to vote for the real thing."

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

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

[liberal democrat]

54. Want to alienate one of the Democrats' most loyal voting groups?

Continue with this anti-semetic rhetoric: "Lieberman's foreign policy is more Likud than Democratic. He would have us invade every country that ever dissed Israel."
That just makes no sense.
Kerry won 3/4 of the country's Jews. How dare you go ahead and bash someone for supporting the only Democratic Country in the Middle East? Just as the GOP will never run a pro-choice candidate, we will never run an anti-Israel candidate.

[Donna Zen]

61. Pro-Israel

anti-PNAC. Those two positions are not at odds. Please, I could shout "I dare you" as well because somehow disagreeing with what I think is a disasterous foreign policy some how brings on a charge of being against Israel.

Please read my post above. BiBi Neteyaho was against this policy, rejected it, and he is hardly someone who is anti-Israel. Lieberman was for it. I am against this policy as are any other Jewish people I know.

Perhaps you think the idea of empire is a good one. So be it. I give anyone their due although I do not have to agree.

This is a serious subject that needs to be discussed. How can that discussion take place if we automatically jump up to build a wall of "I dare you's" that does not permit that to happen.

Agreed that a forum may not be the time and place, but you asked the question about Lieberman. He is a good man with whom I absolutely positively without any question disagree with on the issue of Iraq. And for me, that is an over whelming issue.

[Donna Zen]

63. BTW

General Clark was never a republican. No matter what. He was non-affiliated as it should be in the upper reaches of the military. They serve the US and whoever the CiC is regardless of party.

That meme was focus grouped during the primaries by another candidate and it was decided it was a point of attack no matter how false.

[Moloch]

102. Yes, how dare he express his own opinion....

The Southern U.S. was a democracy in segregation times, too.

[cyr330]

52. Not me

I fucking hate him!

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

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

[AngryAmish]

56. Who has Joementum?

[floridaguy]

57. I like his press secretary

He worked on the campaign with us here in Southwest Florida.
Believe it or not, his last name is Gobush!

[Larkspur]

60. Joe is my senator and I despise him immensely

I live in Northeast CT and will not vote for him in 2006. I'll write in Rachel Corrie.

Lieberman is a pro-corporate Democrat and a supporter of Israel's apartheid policies against the Palestinians. He was also Bush's biggest Dem cheerleader for the immoral Iraq war because deposing Saddam was one of Israel's goals.

Yes, Lieberman has serious conflict of interests problems with Israel and American power being used to support Israel's apartheid policies, policies that hurt both Israel and the USA in the long run.

[liberal democrat]

62. You are filled with misinformation.

There is no conflict of interest. If you are implying that somebody who is Jewish cannot be an elected official, because of conflict of interest problems, you do not belong on this forum. You are saying these fine people are unfit to serve: Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer of California, Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Chuck Schumer of New York, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Carl Levin of Michigan, etc.
I am shocked and saddened at your ignorance. Even more so, because this is a democratic forum.

[Donna Zen]

68. Have you read my posts

in response to yours?

Boxer--Wellstone--Feingold--and Levin voted against the IWR. Feinstein has since said that knowing what she knows today re: WMD she would have voted "no." All of the others named have made adjustments to their positions.

[lcordero]

85. that's an unmitigated lie

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/04/27/BA284459.DTL

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0923-01.htm

[Donna Zen]

89. whether or not it is unmitigated

I have searched and come up empty re: Feinstein and any statement about her changing her mind. Too bad. I could have sworn I saw her back off on CNN. Mirage.

Hmmmmm?

I'll keep my eyes open, but will not spend anymore time this morning. The links you posted were interesting...Thanks

[Larkspur]

70. I didn't say Jews as a whole had conflict of interest over Israel & USA

I said that Lieberman had conflict of interest over Israel & USA.

The late Sen. Paul Wellstone voted against the Iraq War Resolution when he was in a tight race against Rethug Coleman. Wellstone had courage and convictions and that helped him start opening a lead on Coleman before he died in a plane crash. In contrast, Lieberman, who was in a secure seat, championed the immoral Iraq War and posed with Bush and Gephardt in the Rose Garden on Oct. 10, 2002 over IWR passage. I think Boxer also opposed IWR. I'm not sure about Fenigold.

When I participated in MoveOn.org's campaign against IWR on August 28, 2002, most of the 46 attendees were Jews and one of the Jews was a survivor of the Nazi Holocaust. These Jews strongly opposed the Iraq War and also opposed Israel's apartheid policies against the Palestinians.

Obviously Jews as a whole do not agree with Israel's apartheid policies against the Palestinians nor on the Iraq War.

AIPAC is the 4th most powerful lobby in America and it serves to promote the interests of a foreign power. I call this conflict of interest for any Jew or any non-Jewish American who supports AIPAC.

[robbedvoter]

66. Walt Starr? hand risen or not anymore? you may ask on Zell Miller

Ed Koch or Dona Brazile for all I care - Joementum is THAT obvious.

[NaturalHigh]

67. Yes

I like him.

[Robeson]

69. After retrospect, not really. Too religious for me.

[sampsonblk]

71. No way -nt

nt

[regularjoe]

72. Don't know if I like his policies BUT...

I saw him during some of the DNC coverage (I think that was it) and he was able to be calm and explain his views, unlike so many other people on political television. I am much more likely to listen to someone that will calmly discuss their opinions and answer earnestly asked questions than someone who just screams and rants. Intelligent conversation is just much more appealing than screaming. I can respect people with different views more easily when they are willing to listen to reason.

regularjoe

[Crunchy Frog]

73. I frankly detest Lieberman.

He is the one candidate whom I would not have voted for if he had gotten the nomination. I find his sanctimoniousness disgusting but I find his support for the Neocon agenda to be absolutely unacceptable.

I could not vote for anyone who supported the war as thoroughly as Lieberman did. So he noticed that Bush has been incompetent in prosecuting it. The war would not be anymore right just because it had been handled more competently.

And for the record, he first won his senate seat by running to the right of the Republican incumbent and getting the support of Jerry Falwell. He has all sorts of extremely unsavory associations with such people as Bill Bennett and Lynne Cheney. His lovefest "debate" with Cheney in 2000 would in itself be just about enough to disqulify him for me.

That being said, if you or anyone else on here like him, that's your own business and I have no interest in condemning you for it. I respect people's freedom to choose whomever they want to support.

[Radical Activist]

74. He's a Republican but

I do respect that he stood up for what he believed in. He's a moderate-conservative Democrat and he never tried to be anything else. When he went to a Union convention he would say why he supported NAFTA and the WTO. He was bood more than any other candidate for President, but he never sugar coated his beliefs. That's why I have more respect for Lieberman than Dean, who was basically as liberal as whatever group he was speaking to at the time.

[norml]

75. I like Lieberman. I like him in the Senate. I'm glad he is a Democrat.

Though I don't want the party to follow his lead.

[arewenotdemo]

76. This is a trick question, isn't it?

If not, here's my honest answer:

:puke:

[Pushed To The Left]

79. Mixed feelings

I was concerned about him being chosen as Gore's VP because I had heard he was into censorship and was conservative on some social issues. However, I went to www.ontheissues.org and it turned out he wasn't as bad as I thought. If he had won the Democratic nomination, I would have voted for him over Bush.

[Eurobabe]

80. uh, in a word....no.

[Silver Gaia]

81. Sorry, but NO

n/t

[proud_Kucitizen]

83. No, don't like him

any more now than I did when he ran with Gore in 2000. I didn't particularly care that much for Gore and Lieberman certainly didn't help.

[Padraig18]

84. Joe suffers from 'foot in mouth disease'.

He is all of the things you say, and he has an admirable progressive record in many areas, including civil rights, but... he just doesn't know when to shut up. 95% of the Senate's business is done by consent, but Joe has this uncanny nack of opening his mouth JUST at the time a controversial issue is being discussed, and about 1/2 of the time he's spouting the Republican/conservative position. He just needs to STFU if he isn't going to support the Democrats at those times, instead of yammering on in that whiny, nasal and irritating voice of his every time they stick a mic in his face!

Hey, Joe, repeat after me: "No comment. I think Sen. Reid (Sen. Durbin) should speak to that issue."

[ElsewheresDaughter]

86. hell NO!

[elehhhhna]

87. Joke Lieberman? Please! Deputy Dawg in a suit.

[Kahuna]

163. Ha Ha! You nailed it. He DOES remind me of Deputy Dawg.

without the personality of course.

[robcon]

88. I think Lieberman is great.

I supported him for president, but the 'Joementum' never happened. I was happy to vote for Kerry. But Joe would have made a GREAT president.

[Rambis]

90. Ah No

Please leave Joe we can give you the "Jomentum" if you need a shove over the cliff.

[AG78]

91. No

http://www.fightingterror.org/members/index.cfm

Anyone who's on this list, just wants war, and the extending of the empire.

[Kingshakabobo]

92. Heard him licking Hannity's ass on air last week

He called Hannity a great American and great patriot. He went on to ask for his support in his re-election.
Lieberman is dead to me.

[ColumbiaCowboy]

93. Absolutely

He's an excellent Senator and was my favorite of the nomination candidates last time around.

You'd not guess it reading this board, but not all Democrats are liberal. Here's one moderate vote for Lieberman.

[Mike L]

107. Is that Columbia, SC?

You could have at least picked Gephardt. :-)

[Beacho]

94. Nope

just to throw in my .02

[rockymountaindem]

95. He's a good guy.

Although I agree with an earlier poster when he said that sometimes Lieberman says a bit too much. However, his consistent support for things such as women's rights and the environment earns him at least a B in my book, not the F that many here give him. All that stuff about cleaning up Hollywood is just tilting at windmills if you ask me, so I don't let it bother me.

I also think that he's good for the party in a theoretical/mechanical sense precisely because of his moderate stance. He's someone who can make moderates feel comfortable with being Democrats, just like McCain can make moderates feel comfortable with being Republican. If we didn't have people like Lieberman on our side, as much as many of you won't admit it, the Democratic party would be much worse off.

And as for those cries of "just be a Republican already", I think he would have done that after the Jeffords switch, so don't count on it happening.

[Czolgosz]

117. You refer to Lieberman's consistent support for the environment. I'm not

impressed with his environmental record. He's waffled on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste facility, voted to extend the Price-Anderson Act which shifts the risk of nuclear accidents onto the citizens and away from the responsible parties, voted to strip environmental protections from trade agreements, voted to allow tax credits for waste incineration, etc. His record on the environment is better than his crappy record on consumer rights, for example, but it's nothing to brag about. His environmental record is basically on a par with a progressive Republican's, like Snowe.

[L0cke]

96. i like him.

very reasonable man.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

97. He has been an enabler who had his lips...

firmly planted on George W. Bush's ass for the past four years at a time when our country was in danger from domestic enemies as never before in its history.

There are somethings that are unforgivable to me, and that is one.

Joe will never get another vote from me.

[Chimpanzee]

98. Liebermann is a FREEPER!!!

[Fleurs du Mal]

99. Nope

[mdguss]

100. I do, fine Democrat:

Lieberman is a good guy and a good Senator. He's moderate on foriegn policy, but he's right on the environment, some union issues, and other domestic stuff. Also, he makes some valid points when it comes to Middle East policy. He is, along with Dick Gephardt, one of the two people most responsible for avoiding what would've been an utter disaster of a Howard Dean nomination. John Kerry was, by far, the strongest candidate we could've nominated this year. The reality was that 2004 was always going to be an uphill battle for our party; to get close was a pretty big accomplisment.

Lieberman has interesting--and different--views. But for the wing of the party that prides itself on tolerance to oppose him strikes me as unfair. I voted for Lieberman in 2000, and I would do so again. I like Senator Joe Lieberman.

[Mike L]

105. What did Lieberman do to help knock Dean down?

[PassingFair]

144. DLC =

Deludenoids for Lieberman Committee

[Crunchy Frog]

149. Moderate on foreign policy?

I don't really consider support for the PNAC/neocon agenda, with its plans for global empire, perpetual war, scrapping the Geneva Conventions, and indulging in acts of unprovoked aggression against other countries to really represent moderate veiws. I guess it's an indication of how far to the extreme right this country has gone that so many people do regard that as a moderate position.

My bet is that Barry Goldwater would be considered a raving lefty in today's political climate.

[Moloch]

101. I think LIEberman is beneath contempt...

Holy Joe thinks that it is ok to go to war based on false pretenses (The war was already fouled up by Bush before the primaries) and it's also ok to ban movies and video games that he doesn't like. War good, sex bad. Sorry, those are not my values.

[Mike L]

103. LIEberman is a jackass.

And I'm for a moderate Dem Party-- one that reflects the values of middle America.

Lieberman is almost a Republican. And as far as Israel, ask Eric Alterman about Lieberman's dual loyalties.

[Czolgosz]

104. Why would any Democrat like Joe Lieberman?

Lieberman is the Democratic equivalent of Lincoln Chaffee with one key distinction. Even the Republicans must be somewhat grateful for Chaffee because a more right-wing Republican wouldn't win that seat and so a relatively progressive Republican is better for them than a more progressive Democrat. If Lieberman was a DINO from Utah or Montana or Oklahoma, we could feel about him as the Republicans feel about Chaffee, but Lieberman isn't from some deep red state where a real Democrat cannot hope to be elected. Connecticut has elected many more progressive candidates than Lieberman (from both parties). Lieberman isn't all bad (e.g., his positions in reproductive freedom are OK) but any true Democrat would be ashamed of his record on the environment, civil justice, censorship, foreign policy, trade policy, tax policy, civil rights, corporate policy, criminal justice, etc. He's weak as dishwater as a Democrat and his record amply explains why he is unpopular among true-believer Democrats

[Mike L]

109. Exactly. Connecticut could elect a real Dem Senator. Why doesn't someone

run against him in the primary? I'd like to see him GO.

[Larkspur]

134. Because Joe gets lots of campaign cash from insurance execs

and no one in the CT Dem Establishment will run against him due to the money and that they aren't much different on policy than Joe anyway.

Joe doesn't have any known scandals, so the PR battle would be boring from both sides.

Of course, if Ralph Nader ran, he could make things interesting.

This CT Democrat will be writing in "Rachel Corrie" for senator in 2006. I won't vote or support Lieberman.

[Mike L]

147. You should start a "Draft _________" grassroots effort to

get someone to run against Lieberman. Maybe the Dean group could get someone to run. I bet Lieberman's Primary opposition would get a lot of contributions from Dems through the Internet. I would contribute.

[Walt Starr]

106. He's part of the problem

Getting rid of him would be part of the solution.

[Freddie Stubbs]

108. The Democratic voters of Connecticut must like him

They have nominated him three times to represent them in the Senate.

[Czolgosz]

110. You could say the same about the Georgia Democrats' support of Zell

but that doesn't mean anything.

[Freddie Stubbs]

112. The Democratic primary voters of GA never nominated Miller for the Senate

He was appointed fill a vacancy. A special election was held in 2000, and the state party (not Democratic primary voters) nominated Miller.

[Czolgosz]

114. Are you sure? I'm not from Georgia, but I was sure that the Democratic

primary voters nominated him for the Senate in 1979. I though they also nominated him for Lt. Governor and Governor several times before the party chose him as the Senatorial candidate after the Republican incumbent died.

All I'm saying is that merely because a candidate has achieved support from his local party does not by itself give her a pass.

[Freddie Stubbs]

115. Miller was not as conservative when he was Governor

He almost lost reelection 1994 for his efforts to remove the Confederate battle flag emblem from the Georgia state flag.

On the other hand, Lieberman won his first Senate term in 1988 by claiming that his Republican opponent was too liberal. Even after this, he was renominated in 1994 and 2000. You may also want to keep in mind that Connecticut Democrats are not as conservative as Georgia Democrats.

[Czolgosz]

119. I agree that Connecticut Democrats are not as conservative as Georgia

Democrats. That's part of the reason that we can do better that Lieberman. If Lieberman was holding down the fort in Georgia, I could accept the argument that maybe we were unlikely to do any better, but there is no question we could do better that a corporate-shill for the insurance industry in Connecticut.

[Freddie Stubbs]

121. Yet the Democrats in CT still seem to like him despite

the issues that you have raised. Perhaps most CT Democrats do not share your views on Senator Lieberman.

[Czolgosz]

122. You say perhaps most CT Democrats do not share my views on Sen. Lieberman.

I'm sort of getting the impression that my views of Lieberman are not all that unique, but are rather widely held among the members of DU. I think you are perhaps making too much of Lieberman's reelection as a sign of mass approval. I think the overwhelming incumbent reelection rate for the Senate is a larger factor than the overwhelming love of Connecticut Democrats for Joe Lieberman, but I could be wrong.

[Freddie Stubbs]

131. Sentiments on DU are not representative of the party as a whole

If it were, Dennis Kucinich would probably have been our party's nominee.

[Crunchy Frog]

151. Nope,

it would have been either Howard Dean or Wes Clark, as shown by poll after poll on DU.

[Freddie Stubbs]

157. So you admit that opinions of DUers aren't Representative of Democrats

as a whole?

[Crunchy Frog]

161. I wasn't even arguing the point

you seem to think I was arguing. I'm not disputing your overall point, just your claim that DU would have chosen Kucinich. Certainly the primary voters seem to have been almost as enthusiastic about Lieberman as DUers were.

[vet_against_Bush]

113. I like him more than Zell Miller. nt

[tom II]

116. Liebermann should have been the nominee

Yup, I like Liebermann.

[Czolgosz]

120. I agree, Liebermann should have been the nominee, but if McCain

was too liberal to get the nomination, what chance does Joe have?

[Crunchy Frog]

152. If he had been, I would have voted for Cobb.

If I'm going to get screwed in the ass by a Republican, it's at least going to be by one that I didn't vote for.

[Zhade]

118. My only problem is that he isn't true to himself.

He marched with MLK, and now marches with the b*sh administration, a "wretched hive of scum and villainy" that MLK would likely have fought against with every breath he could muster.

Lieberman needs to admit he's no longer a progressive in any way and join up with the Republicans he spends so much time shilling for. His PNACesque foreign policy would fit him in all snuggly with his neocon buddies.

[FrenchieCat]

123. Don't like him....at all, but

I will say that he does have a clear sense of humor. I remember when he thought he had came in 3rd in a three way tie with Clark and Edwards in NH. Now, that was funny! bwahahahaha!

Joemomentum! That was funny too! bwahahahaha!

[liberal democrat]

124. What is this Joementum that I keep hearing of?

Is this an inside joke, or did he say it in a speech, or whatever? :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

125. he actually did say it

on the campaign trail or something like that.

[Crunchy Frog]

153. It's a word used to describe

that tremendous surge of popularity and momentum that propelled him to...drop out of the race without picking up a single delegate.

Go Joe!!!!

[MrSlayer]

126. BEFORE Chimp mishandled it?

I beg to differ, it was being mishandled long before the primaries started and Lieberman was repeating all the lies of BushCo verbatim. No I do not like "Uncle" Joe.

[autorank]

127. It's been 18 hours since I last said NO. Have not changed my mind.

[Sterling]

128. Not only do I not like him.

I don't like people who do like him.

[liberal democrat]

132. So, you don't like me?

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

jk

[zulchzulu]

129. Just when you start liking Lieberman, he fucks you over

That's been my experience. He's a wobbly Democrat that sometimes turns on his own or dances with the Neocons on issues concerning the Middle East zionist agenda, welfare reform that refuses to look at corporate welfare, US trade slutting and pimping, war mongering and international penis envy military ejaculation, being a very weak and agreeably docile Faux Snooze guest and even turning on his own into a meeker Zell that stabs his own in the back...like he did a few times with Dean and Kerry.

The comparison to a "workhorse" is fitting with him. One day he works and the next day, he hindleg kicks the shit down. Psycho bastard.

Out to pasture, Joe.

[Geek_Girl]

133. I like Lieberman

But I just think that he hasn't represented what the party should stand for. I find that he gave in to much to corporate interests, But I could probably say that about most democrats including Clinton. The more I find out the more I realize Lieberman isn't any worse than most centrist democrats.

[jmatthan]

135. No

eom

[garybeck]

136. NO

he's a republican supporter of the war

[Obviousman]

137. Nope

[Obviousman]

138. Had to say it again, NO!

[proud2BlibKansan]

139. NO

He's a DINO

[TexasBushwhacker]

140. Nope - too hawkish for me

and frankly, if we are to choose a candidate that can be ELECTED, I don't think Lieberman can. There's a lot more anti-Semitism than many care to admit, particularly in the black commmunity.

[Kahuna]

164. Chill with the anti-semitism in the black community meme. It was

repuke lie that was proven wrong in 2000. Got it? Blacks turned out in record numbers to vote for Gore/Lieberman, and I never heard one black person express any displeasure at having Lieberman on the ticket. For the record, as a percentage, more blacks voted for Gore/Lieberman than whites did. So unless you have some proof other than, because Rush said so..you need to stop repeating lies.

[TexasBushwhacker]

166. I don't listen to Rush ....

and I'm well aware that, as you say, "Blacks turned out in record numbers to vote for Gore/Lieberman". I'm not saying that a majority of blacks are anti-Semitic. I am saying that there is segment of the black community that has a deep distrust of Jews. I don't know if it's the legacy of Louis Farrakhan or what, but it is there and I think having Liebermann on the ticket in 2000 made some blacks stay home.

I am not going to "chill" and I'm also not going to have my head in the sand. I don't like it, but I don't see American electing a Jew, a black or a woman as president or vice-president in my lifetime, and that should be at least another 20 years.

You may not have heard any black person express displeasure with Liebermann, but that doesn't mean that no one did.

http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=2625

"You know, we should start an anti-Lieberman-for-President group at Yale. We don't want this to become a Jewish country."

[flaminbats]

142. Lieberman reminds me of topcat...

[TankLV]

143. Nope. Don't like repuke-lite traitors.

[Khephra]

146. Nope

He wants to put his nose into what we can see and read. Additionally, he's openly stated that he thinks there should be more religion in politics.

Fuck him on both accounts.

[rndmprsn]

148. No

[Technowitch]

150. nope. the jerk is a traitor to his party and his country.

[zippy890]

154. No

I lost all respect for him during the 911 hearings.

He copped out bigtime

[hollowdweller]

155. Mc Cain is more of a Democrat then Leiberman

[liberal democrat]

168. Actually

McCain is pro-life. He got a 0% RATING FROM NARAL. He favors absolute gun ownership and VOTED AGAINST THE BRADY BILL!! He said in 2000 that he wishes to prosecute doctors who preform abortions.
Lieberman received a 100 fron NARAL and is for gun control.

Those are two critical issues that show Lieberman is much better than McCain.

[baltodemvet]

156. No--"Dances with Neocons"

props to Zulchzulu for that phrase (above)

[StopTheMorans]

158. does this answer your question?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! do you remember what a pompous ASS he was during Clinton's impeachment? with dems like him, we don't need repukes. :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[gottaB]

159. I like Joe Lieberman

Not enough to have supported him in the primaries, but I would vote for him over any Republican and quite a few Democrats.

One reason for the bitterness I reckon is the way he handled himself during the primaries. He said some stupid, divisive things. I was not a Dean supporter but I thought it was pathetic and disrespectful of us all the way Lieberman went out of his way to attack Dean on national television time and again. In the end he bowed out gracefully, so for me it's water under the bridge. He seems like a decent fellow, more or less.

[greenohio]

165. I agree.

I don't support Lieberman and thought he was a bad choice for vp. I was totally against the war. I think of him as Gore, without the personality. I think Joe gets attacked here a lot for his support for the war. I don't think opposition to the war should be a litmus test for good/bad Democrats especially since it now looks like a loser issue for us.

[Cranial_Improvement]

160. Lieberman is a Repugnican

I live in CT and have had a first hand look at this self righteous Repug-like Senator. He stabbed his friend Bill in the back when the Monica-gate scandal broke and for that I will never forgive him. A pox on him!!

Kevin

[Crunchy Frog]

162. I wish your state had kept its old Republican,

Lowell Wiecker. I have always had the impression that he was a pretty good guy, and considerably more progressive than old Joe. I don't know much about CT politics though, so maybe there's some bad stuff about him that I'm not aware of.

I guess the Repugs would've gotten rid of him one way or another.

[TexasSissy]

167. I do. I don't agree with some of his positions, but he is a distinguished

ethical, intelligent, and likeable politician....and those things are rare these days. We are lucky to have him in our party.

[Tennessee Gal]

169. Nope, Nope and Nope!

No, never did like Lieberman.

[Name removed]

170. Deleted message

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

[Lost Dutchman]

171. Yes n/t

[Atman]

172. I like him...

...to poop on.

[Lizzie Borden]

174. No.

Not even a little.

[BernieBear]

175. NO n/t

[BernieBear]

176. NO n/t