It's Not Shaping Up To Be A Party For Lieberman

[kskiska]

In a wobbly November appearance on the "Imus in the Morning" radio program, U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, recently returned from Baghdad, celebrated Iraq's "robust political life." And now Lieberman's about to have some excitement of his own at home. He's not as cheerful about that.

Greenwich millionaire Ned Lamont is strongly considering a challenge against Lieberman for the Democratic nomination to the Senate. Lamont, whose active interest in politics has been limited to developing a dead-on JFK imitation, a run for the state Senate in 1990, service on the state's pension advisory board, raising money for Bill Clinton and working with the liberal think tank the Brookings Institution on budget issues, may have found his unlikely moment.

At 52, Lamont is tan, fit and possessed of an easy confidence that often comes with being born into a fortune and making it bigger. He understands the long odds against succeeding in a primary against an incumbent senator. His interest in making the race springs from issues, not burning personal ambition. Lamont declared in a recent interview in his cable company office that "two things really got my goat." The first was the war in Iraq, which Lamont has opposed from the start. The other was last year's transportation bill with its emblematic millions for the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska.

Iraq, however, is the issue that will drive Lamont's race. He was inspired when hawkish Democratic U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., called for a withdrawal of American troops late last year.

more…
http://www.courant.com/hc-renniecol0122.artjan22,0,1685433.story

[babylonsister]

1. Someone needs to challenge him; Lieberman is a disgrace! nt

[buddysmellgood]

24. He's worse than a disgrace...He's a Republican.

[kiteinthewind]

2. GOOD, He makes me sick!

:puke:

[ihelpu2see]

3. Any one but JoeMentum in my mind. I am an elected dem. in CT

and not many of the people at my municipal level agree with Joe's love of Bush speak on Iraq.

[Tom Joad]

5. Joe steals from the cities to give to his pet projects in the Middle East.

Like occupation in Iraq. Like Occupation in Palestine.
I hope this guy wins against Joe.
Joe Lieberman of 2006 = democrat Strum Thurmond of 1946

[jonnyblitz]

11. I am glad to hear this.

:thumbsup:

[NV Whino]

4. Now, if we could only find someone to take on DiFi

[ddeclue]

15. DiFi LOL!

That's pretty funny...

Are there any networking puns you can make with this?

She seems to be "out of range" for liberal dems??? etc.

:rofl:

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[Hippo_Tron]

23. The problem is that taking on DiFi would cost too much money

California is a huge state and very expensive to campaign in. I don't think that anybody has that kind of money.

[Nutmegger]

6. DAMN STRAIGHT!!!

LIEberman shall feel the fire! I will work damn hard for Lamont / Weicker, or anybody who is anti-Iraq war. Time for our esteemd Senator to face and defend his comments and love for Bush Inc.

[Larkspur]

7. Bookmark My Left Nutmeg blog to keep tabs on this primary challenge

http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/

It appears that Ned Lamont is making a favorable impression on the local media. Course, the guy who wrote this op ed is a former Republican state legislator, so I assume he's hoping the best for the CT Repukes, but the CT Repukes are fairly weak right now. Gov. Rell is the best politician right now.

[jonnyblitz]

9. thanks for that. I am clueless where to follow local CT DEM

politics. I scratch my head wondering why CT DEMS strongly support Lieberman especially since CT is a blue state. I would gladly vote for Lamont in the primary here.

[JanusAscending]

29. Hey Johnny.......Have you tried the Ct. forum?

I go there sometimes for the inside info "in State". DC

[jonnyblitz]

31. lol..duh me. DAMN\,.i didn't even think...I knew that..

:crazy:

[Surya Gayatri]

8. Go Ned! Give that DINO

a run for his money. Not personally ambitious? So much the better! Interested in the issues? Just the profile to take on lily-livered Lieberman. SG

[Nay]

10. I hope he kicks Lieberman's ass from here to China.

[PBass]

12. I don't live in CT but I will donate to anyone who challenges him (nt)

[Nutmegger]

19. We're going to need all the help we can get, thanks. n-t

Oh and Welcome to DU!!!

[Arugula Latte]

34. Me too. I f@#$ing despise Benedict Lieberman.

:grr:

[BuelahWitch]

13. More on Ned...

From http://connecticutlocalpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/01/ned-lamont-qa.html :

"Back on healthcare, first and foremost I will use the bully pulpit as a candidate and hopefully as a senator to make universal affordable healthcare a priority for this country. Senator Lieberman has not really addressed this crisis during his three terms."

"The Bush administration is playing fast and loose with our civil liberties and using the war as an excuse to weaken the bill of rights. Democrats must stand united against this assault on our liberties."

"1) No Third parties for me; I stay a Democrat.

2) I'll challenge my party's leadership when I think they are wrong (which is rare)and challenge the President's policies when they're wrong (which is frequent)"

[ddeclue]

14. Where is the Lamont For Senate donation page?

I'd love to go drop some money against Lieberman. He's such a Bush apologist and he is an embarassment to real Democrats everywhere.

Doug D.

[Little Star]

18. Here is where you can donate to challenger

http://www.timetogojoe.com/

They have $67,830 in pledges so far.

[Greeby]

20. I read on dailykos that Ned is gonna finance his own campaign

Hey, he is rich, after all ;)

[General Lee]

16. Three cheers for Lamont

Finally, someone to challenge the crypto-Republican Lieberman. It is said that Lieberman gets more than 50% of his contributions from outside the state of Connecticut. If so then who does he really represent, the people of Connecticut? Most people I know here hate the war even more than they hate bush. Go Ned Go in 2006!

[IndianaGreen]

17. Lieberman to run in November even if defeated in Democratic primary!

It is the last paragraph in the article:

But he has already accomplished more. Lieberman acknowledged to a newspaper reporter this month that he will be on the ballot in November, no matter what the Democrats do. Lieberman will not be bound by the decision of Democratic primary voters if he loses. To threaten to run as an independent is an extraordinary admission that trouble approaches. Lieberman will get no help from state Republicans. They are wooing a Greenwich millionaire of their own to run.

http://www.courant.com/hc-renniecol0122.artjan22,0,1685433.story

[Jade Fox]

26. It's a mystery why anyone would want...

to become the next Zell Miller, ie. Democrat in charge of scolding other Democrats for not being, uh, Republican-like.

I hope Lieberman is soundly defeated in the election.

[Warren DeMontague]

21. Now, who are we going to get to go up against DiFi?

personally, I'll have to check my blackberry before I can commit to anything. :hippie:

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Damn. Post #4 beat me to it.

Post #4, we salute you. :patriot:

[NativeTexan]

25. Well Connecticuts favorite native son, George W. Bush....

......(sorry, but I don't want to claim him..LOL), might not be too happy about that challenge, with all of the brown-nosing ole Joe has been doing around the Republican positions on things, especially the Middle East! That would be one ally I don't think he would want to lose. Can you imagine Bush coming in up there to campaign for Lieberman?...

[IndianaGreen]

27. I see Holy Joe running as a Republican if he loses primary

and I do see Bush campaigning for him.

[CTyankee]

30. Remember that kiss at the last SOTU speech?

Joe has since said he wouldn't let that happen again, but that's not gonna cut it with a lot of Dems.

[loudsue]

32. Lamont needs to run pictures of that in his campaign.

He needs to show Joe for the republican shill he truly is.

:kick::kick::kick:

[RazzleDazzle]

28. Best news I've heard in weeks, aside from the GOP scandals

of course

[Orion The Hunter]

33. RE: NeoCon Joe

Well I hope this Senate election is a wild ride for ol' Joe to let him remember what it's like when you don't serve the will of the people who elected you, and how they can and will get you out of there if you don't represent their interests.