Struggling Lieberman Faces Political Abyss

[Judi Lynn]

Struggling Lieberman Faces Political Abyss
By DAVID ESPO , 07.29.2006, 04:27 AM

Anti-war Democrats bailed in droves. Teachers unions left over vouchers. Men are drawn to his challenger, and women aren't all that crazy about the incumbent, either.

Once, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut seemed on the brink of the vice presidency, a principled moderate in a party that didn't always warm to them. Now, hewing to his support for the war in Iraq, he confronts a political abyss, abandoned by all groups but the poorer, older and less educated Democrats in his state.

"The last three times I voted for him, but I will never vote for him again," Cheryl Curtiss of West Hartford, Conn., said recently of Lieberman as she waited for primary challenger Ned Lamont to speak at a campaign fundraiser.

"The war is the big piece," said Curtiss, 52. "I don't think it can be minimized. All of our tax dollars are going there. It's killing Americans. It's killing Iraqis. We went there on lies."
(snip/...)

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/entresales/feeds/ap/2006/07/29/ap2913174.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Incumbent senators who have lost primaries

By The Associated Press
32 minutes ago

A list of incumbent senators who have lost their primaries since 1950:
Year Senator Party State
2002 Robert C. Smith R N.H.
1996 Sheila Frahm R Kan.
1992 Alan Dixon D Ill.
1980 Mike Gravel D Alaska
1980 Jacob Javits R N.Y.
1980 Donald Stewart D Ala.
1980 Richard Stone D Fla.
1978 Clifford Case R N.J.
1976 James Buckley C N.Y.
1974 J.W. Fulbright D Ark.
1974 Howard Metzenbaum D Ohio
1972 David Gambrell D Ga.
1972 Everett Jordan D N.C.
1970 Ralph Yarborough D Texas
1968 Ernest Gruening D Alaska
1968 Thomas Kuchel R Calif.
1968 Frank Lausche D Ohio
1968 Edward Long D Mo.
1966 Ross Bass D Tenn.
1966 A. Willis Robertson D Va.
1958 William Blakely D Texas
1954 Alton Lennon D N.C.
1952 Owen Brewster R Maine
1952 Kenneth McKellar D Tenn.
1950 Chan Gurney R S.D.
1950 Claude Pepper D Fla.
1950 Glen Taylor D Idaho
(snip/)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060729/ap_on_el_se/lieberman_s_woes_glance

[nashville_brook]

1. yeah, the "mighy" fall when their house is full of termites

what's your hurry... here's your hat... don't let the door hit you on the ass...

[saigon68]

2. We went there on lies. and waist deep in the big muddy

And the big fool says "Move On"

Good riddance to this chicken-hawk War Monger.

He loves the Chimpanzee. He will go down big time.

His remark about running as an Independent exiled him as a footnote in the book of idiots

[IndianaGreen]

29. Bush can offer Lieberman the job of Secretary of State

since it is obvious that the job is way over Condi's head. I am sure that Israel will happily endorse Lieberman's new job at Foggy Bottom.

[Cha]

36. his "remark" and subsequent

petition filed and approved!

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Ozymandias' closing act

Lieberman did some good things for the Democratic party and Liberalism.

A few.

He had some clout.

A little.

Then he decided to hitch his wagon to the falling star of neo-conservatism.

Joe's a man fond of wearing his faith on his sleeve. He may want to consider the story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:29-35).

Mess o' pottage an' all that.

I hope my soon-to-be new senator (Bob Casey, Jr.) is paying attention, too. There's enough room in that abyss for two -- or more.

--p!

[Demit]

4. He switched his residency to New Hampshire when he ran for prez?

"Four years later, at a point in his own short-lived presidential campaign, Lieberman announced a symbolic switch in his residence - to New Hampshire, part of a futile attempt to win the first-in-the-nation primary."

I didn't remember that one. I guess it's minor compared to all the other examples of his slippery-sliminess, but jeez. What an insult to Connecticutans. I'm guessing they haven't forgotten it.

[ShockediSay]

7. I don't think he represented the majority of "Connecticutans" anyway.

[Demit]

9. LOL! Did I not use the right word for Connecticut people?

What is it then?

[itzamirakul]

10. Perhaps it is "Connecticutians" pronounced like this:

Conneti - q - shuns ?

Forgive me, folks from Connecticut. It is early and I can't help foolin' around. :)

[calico1]

13. I like "Connecticutians."

;-)

It sounds cooler than "the people of Connecticut" which is what we are usually called. I don't know that there is a word for us like "New Yorkers," "New Jersians," etc.

[CTyankee]

17. I'm fond of Connecticut Yankees myself

as you can tell :-) :-) :-)

[ShockediSay]

16. Hey, it works for me

and I are one

[karynnj]

33. It was a joking comment - when he was speaking of the

amount of time he was spending there - so he could win. He then declared that he was in a third way tie for third - though Clark and Edwards each had 12% and he had 9%. He also pointed out that both Kerry and Dean were from neighboring states - which was true.

[Cha]

37. Just WOW! lie-man is like

a sneaky little snake..no wonder he likes bush so much.

[opihimoimoi]

5. He will join Bush who is already down there somewhere in the ABYSS

[cyclezealot]

6. Can't say I always agree with Incumbent burn out !

Of the list I am appalled that Javits, Gravel, Case, Meetzenbaum, Yaraborough, Pepper,Kuchel,Case,lost. Sometimes people just get tired of the same old images. Have mixed feelings about Fulbright. Great in some ways, yet too timid to take on Southern Racism.
Of course, this does not apply to Liebermann. His votes, he deserved voter burn out. It is just not image here.

[dsc]

15. Metzenbaum lost his primary

before the vast majority of his Senate career. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term and lost in a primary to John Glenn. Then two years later he won the other Senate seat. For several years they hated each other, to the point that Carter had to have them split Ohio in two for judical appointments. By the end they worked well together.

[dbt]

8. Damn, y'all. Cut the boy a little slack here!

He worked HARD for this (it's HARD WORK, y'know). Let him enjoy the HELLFIRE OF POLITICAL OBLIVION he has so obviously, so eagerly, sought for so LONG.

After all, bu$h at least KISSED HIM. The rest of us didn't even get the courtesy of a reach-around!

:evilgrin:
dbt
Remember New Orleans

[cornermouse]

11. Supposedly Republicans are switching party affiliation to vote

for Lieberman in the primaries according to one of the PBS talk shows last night. Anyone else hear it?

[calico1]

12. They may want to but they can't.

The problem is that to switch from one party to another party there is a 90 day wait. The last day to be able to do that was May 8, at which time Lieberman's supporters had not begun to worry. So I doubt very much that too many Republicans switched parties by May 8. If you are a new voter or are unaffiliated (as I was) you can register as a Dem up until noon on August 7. But if you are a Republican wanting to switch, unless you thought to do it at or before May 8 you are out of luck. And as I said on May 8 and before that, nobody in the Lieberman camp was worrying yet.

[CTyankee]

18. 'morning, Calico! Are you as pissed as I am over Joe's 10 day

Magical Mystery Tour of Connecticut?

Man, I'm mad! I've been ripping up his glossy campaign literature in a bit of a frenzy for the past week. Now this tour of his and his diner visits.

Read Jason Zingerle's article "Cuppa JOe" in the most recent issue of The New Republic. It seems that he visited the town clerk's office in Thomaston and she told him she was getting an unusual number of registered Republicans attempting to change their party to Democrat and how she had to turn them down since it was too late to switch. Joe replied, "Those are probably my voters." Nobody laughed.

[calico1]

19. I read that article.

It was Republicans wanting to switch!

I told my fiance that Lieberman has spent more time in CT these past few days than in the last 6 years!

You know what I realized from watching some of the news programs? I didn't agree with Joe but did think he was a pleasant enough guy. Well, he's been acting like a real jerk. Very arrogant, dismissive of anyone who questions him. Ugh.

How are your phone calls going? What do you sense from what voters are telling you?

[CTyankee]

20. Since I'm calling seniors (because I phone bank in the afternoon)

I am getting a smattering of what is going on out there. Some for Joe, some for Ned, some haven't given it too much thought, quite a few saying they know who they are voting for but won't tell me and I guess I can't blame them. I try to engage the ones who are "on the fence" and get out my spiel. Lots of answering machines, which is the frustrating part of phone banking. I'm going back this week, then I'm on vacation. I won't be here on primary day! Hubby and I have already voted absentee at City Hall.

Who ya voting for in the gubernatorial? We're for DeStefano.

[calico1]

21. I live in Ledyard so I really don't know

that much about either one of them. I guess I will check their sites and make my decision from there. Both of them seem capable from what I do know about them though I sense that DeStefano has the best chance of beating Rell even though that in itself is an uphill battle for either one.

[CTyankee]

24. Even tho I voted for DeStefano I did like Malloy in the debate

I think DeStefano has the smarts to run the state and he would do a good job. He is good at governing. Personally, I think he's a pretty cold guy, but I admire his ability to run New Haven. He brokered a deal that brought together Yale-New Haven Hospital, the service union wanting to unionize the hospital, and the largely black neighborhood where Yale-NH wanted to build a big cancer center. I thought it was hopeless, but DeStefano pulled it off. Not entirely by himself, but he certainly got folks to the table and they hammered out something everyone could live with. It's a fascinating story and a progressive idea that has been replicated elsewhere. Read up on it if you get a chance.

[calico1]

26. Oh, I do remember that being in the news

now that you remind me of it. I think Malloy is more likeable, but like you I feel DeStefano is tougher and has more smarts. What do you think about his chances against Rell?

[CTyankee]

27. Well, the polls aren't encouraging and Mother Rell hasn't done

anything awful, so while I think he'll make a decent showing, she will win. I'd like to see a progressive Dem in the statehouse but Rell doesn't appear to be the worst Republican we could have. We're kinda lucky in that regard here in CT.

[calico1]

28. I agree.

Jodi Rell unfortunately is not crooked and corrupt like her predecessor so there really is no strong reason to vote against her. On the other hand, she is not a wingnut and seems to have a good head on her shoulders (bad hairdo and all, LOL). Yes, we could be a lot worse off.

[pretzel4gore]

14. a tonic for a long suffering people

thre only thing we the victims have is to get these traitorious bastards, get them good - it aint much, as they NEVER miss so much as a steak/lobster dinner, washed down with finest publicly funded wine, but at least, the tapeworms KNOW their names are a frigging disgrace to whatever they say they honoured!
good!

[bread_and_roses]

25. Tapeworms - ROFL - good one! Except

even tapeworms probably serve some function in the natural order. Nothing in the natural world even approaches the megalomaniac, pompous, self-decieving, bloated war-mongering plutocratic apologists - nothing - wait, maybe cancer: out of control, self and host distroying disease.

[AzDar]

22. I don't live in Connecticut, but I am SO anxious for Lamont to give

Joe-hole the heave-ho. I caught a re-broadcast of the 'debate' on C-span, and was APPALLED at Lieberman's behavior. From his peevishness (how DARE anyone challenge him?); to his repeated personal attacks on Lamont; to his multiple-usage of the Reaganesque
"there you go again" retort, he was full-on Republican.
If Lamont wins, it should serve as a wake-up call to ALL politicians who have long-ago stopped accurately representing those who elected them.
Go Ned!!

[welshTerrier2]

23. the bigger story here is incumbency abuse

i counted only 27 senators being ousted during a primary going back all the way to 1950 ... that's about 1 senator every 2 years which means 1 out of every 33 (33 are up for re-election every two years) ...

now that statistic has to be adjusted by the number who don't seek re-election ... i don't have that data but let's say that it's roughly 1 of 3 ... that still means that roughly 21 of 22 win their primary contests ...

now it might be that these are truly the most qualified ... or it might not ...

the advantages to incumbents are huge ... it seems to me that a more level playing field would give voters a real choice ... incumbents have grossly disproportionate access to media and money ... a real democracy would seek solutions to make it a fair fight ...

[otohara]

30. Interesting Data on Demographics

The more you know, the less you likey.

and kudos to this woman's quote who summed it ALL up! Bravo Ms Curtiss!!!

"The war is the big piece," said Curtiss, 52. "I don't think it can be minimized. All of our tax dollars are going there. It's killing Americans. It's killing Iraqis. We went there on lies."
(snip/...)

[Joe Bacon]

31. Stick a fork in LIEberman, he's done!

hopefully he'll run third in a two man race.

[MrsT]

32. Can anyone give anymore info on these senators who lost their primaries

I don't know much about them.

[gulliver]

34. Maybe he should have nailed Cheney in that debate ...

... instead of joking it up. I have no sympathy at all for Lieberman. His failure on that day let down the whole country. He deserves downfall.

[Cha]

35. I just read this with

interest over on buzzflash.

"Lamont quickly signed up top campaign aides with long experience in statewide grass-roots politics and liberal alliances, and gradually began tapping into the anger that had built up.

"Finally, a senator who will stand up to George Bush," promises his campaign Web site."

I wanna see Lamont in the Senate standing up to bush!