Why did Hillary vote for Kyl/Lieberman?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Why did Hillary vote for Kyl/Lieberman?

F-L-O-R-I-D-A

Old school electoral politics. No more, no less. There is a small but vital Dem-leaning but militantly pro-Israel bloc in Florida that is, to Dems, much like the Cubans are to Repubs. Gore won Florida in 2000 because of Lieberman, and that's probably why the little pig was on the ticket in the first place. (Florida was always going to be the key in 2000.)

That certainly doesn't make it right, but it was not random or inexplicable. Just a narrow political calculation.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I'm sure she stopped being a Senator for New York long ago, if she

ever really was one--all of her Senate votes and legislation are pure Presidential calculation.

[emilyg]

35. She has been an excellent Sen. for N>Y>

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. It's an essentially meaningless amendment, except as a tool for

the gop bastards to accuse Dems of being "soft on terror". She did the right thing, it didn't work & now will be shelved.

[Trisket-Bisket]

18. But the K&H boys know better.

They've had enough self righteous liquor and its time to fight! Man your keyboard!

[IndianaGreen]

3. Hillary told AIPAC that she would bomb Iran with nukes

Why would she oppose the Lieberman Iran war authorization?

[MidwestTransplant]

13. You have a link for her saying she "would bomb Iran with nukes?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

22. Actually, wasn't the big gotcha' that she said nukes were off the table in Iran?

(After she criticized Obama for saying nukes were off the table in Pakistan.)

[AtomicKitten]

4. My guess is that she is running the general in the primary.

Voters charged this Congress with ending the war. Hillary just signed on to what is for all practical purposes a precursor to more war.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

11. Bingo. Ruthless high-risk strategy.

It works or it doesn't work.

I think it's ugly, but that doesn't mean it's ineffective.

[AtomicKitten]

27. I can hardly believe that YES vote came from our side of the aisle.

I think it's ugly, but that doesn't mean it's ineffective.

It's almost like she didn't learn a damn thing from the last go. She is repelling liberal voters in search of the middle.

Oh, btw, welcome to DU! :)

[mmonk]

5. .

[marmar]

6. There's a good chance Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, N. Mexico and maybe even Arizona will go blue...

... and we'll hold serve in all of Kerry's 2004 states.

Fuck Florida.

[rusty quoin]

7. All this playing to this or that group...it is too sophisticated for me.

Makes me think of Jon Stewart's interview with Matthews and his new book. Be like politicians, he says. Never.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

14. Politics is disgusting. That's why I'm amazed that folks expect a meaningful personal connection

with candidates. They are little more than hired guns.

Even integrity is just another schtick. Politicians with integrity tend to have very safe seats and no higher aspirations.

[ShortnFiery]

8. The DLC true believers can NOT accept reality: HRC will NOT ever win the G.E. for President.

NOT EVER!

[rusty quoin]

19. I will buy you a virtual beer if you are right.

[ShortnFiery]

24. You got it!

:hi:

A good part of me wishes that I am wrong ... but I'm NOT. :shrug:

[onenote]

25. and is that because the repubs hate the DLC?

If Clinton is as much a DINO as some claim (although her voting record would appear to rebut that claim) why does she bring out such animosity amongst the RW'ers?

[ShortnFiery]

31. Because, like it or not, HRC has a polarizing personality. That's obvious - not rocket science. n/t

[garybeck]

9. No.

Nobody wants to attack Iran.

Florida has been stolen the last two elections.

Most of the people in Florida are elderly/retired folks who care about things like Medicare.

Most Jews I know, including myself and my entire extended family with only one exception, do not support Bush, the war, attacking Iran, or any of that.

She voted for the same reason she voted for the Iraq war.

[ElizabethDC]

12. Most people in FL are *not* elderly or retired people! n/t

[garybeck]

21. higher percentage than any other state.

have you ever been there? I've been down there every year of my life and I can tell you there are more elderly and retired people there than any other place I've ever been. I'm sure the stats would show that.

[ElizabethDC]

26. Me? Born and raised in FL. Lived there most of my life.

So, yeah, I've been there. 16% percent of Floridians are over the age of 65 compared with 12% nationwide. 16% is by no means most of FL's population (although, if you've been spending time in resort areas, it might feel that way).

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

30. But still enough that you have to walk damn carefully in mall parking lots!

[ElizabethDC]

32. Depends where you are in FL! :) n/t

[garybeck]

33. Palm Beach, Lauderdale, Boynton, ....

I didn't mean to say that actually most, as in more than 50%, of Floridians are elderly. What I meant to say is that they have a significant elderly voting block, larger than any other state.

I looked at all the numbers until my eyes fell out, the last two elections. there is no way Bush won either time. There is some fuzzy math going on down there at election time. Registered Democrats don't vote Republican like that...

anyway my point was about the question - why HC voted to attack Iran, and the OP stated it was because that would help her win Florida. I totally reject that theory because I think most people in florida, like just about every other state, don't like the direction we're in (or headed) in the Middle East and that bill was just more of the same, but worse.

thanks for setting me straight on the numbers, tho. :)

[ElizabethDC]

34. No problem. It's just not the first time I've heard that "most" Floridians are elderly

and that's such a stereotype. People see it in movies or when they're on vacation in S. Florida (like the places you've mentioned) and that's really not representative of FL overall. So I'm just a little sensitive about it. :)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

17. A "small but vital" bloc. Not all of Jews by any means.

But there are some Dems who just LOVE Netenyahu, who is a mennace.

[garybeck]

23. Of course you can never say "all" to anything.

are there enough superlatives in that sentence?

I don't like to generalize or make encompassing statements. But I will say I reject the idea that most Jews are happy about what we're doing in the Middle East right now.

Even my Grandfather, the ONLY person in my entire extended family who is a Republican, told me he can't stand bush and what he's doing.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

28. I doubt many of any group wants $7.00 gas. But voting for a non-binding resolution is

a symbol, and that saber rattling is aimed at people who feel insecure about Israel's future.

The real point is why would someone do something so seemingly senseless with little meaning, and that even her supporters won't support? I'm guessing Florida is the reason.

[garybeck]

37. $7.00 gas

I actually wouldn't mind it. then people would drive a lot less.

if you are saying that people in florida will vote for hillary because she voted for the LIEberman bill, because they think that will protect Israel, I disagree with the premise. I don't think folks assume that the Republicans will protect Israel better than the Democrats.

I think she voted for this thing, to show her true colors. She is a moderate to the max. Nothing she would do would surprise me because she is so connected to the corporations.

But ultimately I think she voted it with the thought that it could have an affect on her presidential powers if she wins.
I've heard her say several times, she believes in the 'power of the presidency. '

[pocoloco]

10. or the IWR?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

15. Same reason Kerry and Edwards voted for it. Wanting to be President.

[Nite Owl]

16. I don't know but she signed onto Senator

Webb's bill on Monday. I called her office this am and they were surprised that I knew about it and wanted to know if I was for it or not. I told them I was strongly for passing this as it would assert the right of Congress to fund and declare war and we don't need another war. She has a very good staff, they do listen.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-759
(It shows no cosponsors but if you click on the Thomas link on the side she is the only sponsor so far)

S. 759: A bill to prohibit the use of funds for military operations in Iran
Overview Summary Floor Speeches Other Info

Bill Status
Sponsor: Sen. Jim Webb (no cosponsors)
Cosponsors
Cosponsorship information sometimes is out of date. Why?
Bill Text: Summaries (CRS)
Full Text
Status: Introduced Mar 5, 2007
Scheduled for Debate -
Voted on in Senate -
Voted on in House -
Signed by President -

This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills go first to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of bills never make it out of committee.
Last Action: Mar 27, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3803)
Show All Related Votes

This bill is identical to H.R. 3119 (Status: Introduced).

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

20. This thing really needs to pass in some form. Hillary probably calculated it couldn't, though, so

co-sponsoring is a free shot.

[Nite Owl]

29. I think she signed on to save herself

from all the criticism for the Kyl/Leiberman vote. Whatever the reason it needs to pass. Our DFA group endorsed it tonight and we are sending it to national and some other places to publicize it. It isn't perfect, the bill gives * many outs where he can lie about circumstances but it's more than the nothing we have now.

[OHdem10]

36. Why do you think Lieberman is constantly attacking Iran and

calling for the bombing??? Answer this question and I believe you
will have your answer.

[garybeck]

38. Na

Lieberman wants to attack Iran for the same reason he supports the efforts in Iraq. He's a lying war monger.