Did anyone watch the ABC interview with Lieberman today?

[speedoo]

I became ill, literally, when he came on, so I switched to another channel.

But I am wondering if Stephanopolous countered what Joe the traitor was saying about the Democratic party going far left. I don't expect that Stephanopolous did counter it, but I'm just askin'.

Thanks.

[SoFlaJet]

1. no speedoo

I had just finished my Taylor ham, egg and cheese on hot, fresh Italian bread and didn't want to vomit it right up so I fast-forwarded right past him-to Donna Brazille and the surprisingly level-headed Robert Reich on Hillary's fast fading chances

[speedoo]

3. Toasted bagel with cream cheese and lox for me.

I was just finishing it off and could not bear even the thought of hurling it back out.

[globalvillage]

2. No, I muted after Kerry/Rendell

I can't listen to Lieberman.

[UALRBSofL]

4. George didn't rebuttal Joe

I'll try to paraphrase what Joe said, not exact words but, he said the democrats were a strong and reputable party in the 90's(meaning when BigDog was in office), but now they have lost there way. Anyway, it was something like that.

[sniffa]

5. Yes, he bemoaned today's Dem party. It's no longer the party he used to know.

Also praised Bill Clinton, and gave HRC considerable credit for voting for war with Iran, and called Obama naive for voting against it.

[TahitiNut]

15. Yup. He said the party was taken over by "the left."

He must do some really powerful drugs. :eyes:

[Warren Stupidity]

6. No, I had an opportunity to jab sharp objects in my eye so I did that instead.

[NDambi]

12. *snort*

You people are all kinds of hilarious up in here! :rofl:

[karynnj]

7. I did - and it was really as bad as you say

His comment that the Clinton/Gore administration was closer to where he is than the Democratic party now is a mindboggling comment - that I hope both Gore and Bill Clinton address. It has the weird affect of suggesting that he (Leiberman) was in the mainstream of the Democratic party - which was taken over by the left. Now, from 2004 - we know how big the "Leiberman wing" was - his best showing was fifth in NH, which he declared a three way tie for third - though he had a few points less than Clark and Edwards.

Part is that his recitation of where Clinton/Bush were pushes them a bit to the right of where I think they were - but it is clear that Kerry's 2004 positions were different than the Clinton positions were and most of 2008 plans were - to a very real degree - influenced by Kerry 2008. (Edwards' 2008 health care plan was closer to Kerry 2004 than to Edwards 2004)

Leiberman could be a problem for HRC on this - in that Leiberman is positioning BC as closer to GWB than he now wants to be seen. She needs Al Gore and Bill Clinton to counter it. (the reason they need to counter it is that it was a substantive charge - he listed NAFTA , as well as Iraq and Iran. On McCain, he gave him credit on climate change and on the "gang of 14" which he said preserved the filibuster. (When in retrospect it took the only tool the minority has to stop really bad things and made it unusable.)

[mmonk]

8. The DLC has always been about deception though a milder

deception than Lieberman. Gore is no longer associated with either frame of thought. Thanks for the info.

[karynnj]

11. I agree on Gore and I hope that he, in some strong way, counters

Leiberman's statements. I forgot to add that Leiberman spoke of Gore's platform and actually said that what the Bush administration did was closer to their position than Bush's - which ignores that it was in fact neither - Bush lied about his positions, but Gore did not run on attacking countries unilaterally. (Oddly McCain 2000 was closer than Bush to what happened)

[speedoo]

10. Do you really think anyone is paying any attention to Lieberman?

I certainly don't, so I see no reason for any Democrat to take anything he says into account.

And I assume Stephanopolous did nothing to challenge any of Lieberman's silly assertions.

[karynnj]

13. Democrats - no, he has likely burned almost every bridge in existance

My fear is Independents. The case Leiberman was making is that McCain and he are moderate and in the center - and that the people winning in the Democratic party are the LW loved fringe - Clinton, Obama, Kerry, Dean and anyone else you care to name. He is claiming that they are on the ground where Gore/Leiberman and Clinton/Gore stood. Now some here are the FLW and they know that Hillary clinton, Obama, Dean, Kerry etc are NOT FLW.

He is positioning the gang of 14, that he and McCain were in as the sensible center. I never got how the gang of 14 was suppose to help the Democrats - we could keep the power to filibuster only be never using it? That truth was out when the gang of 14 made the Alito filibuster impossible. I suspect without the gang of 14 unified and against it, there could have been a chance especially with Kerry arguing it on the issue of unitary President and out of mainstream views on the checks and balances in the Constitution.

As Kerry said in his last speech on this:

"I understand that, for many, voting for cloture on a judicial nomination is a very difficult decision, particularly on this Supreme Court nominee. I also understand that, for some of you, a nomination must be an ``extraordinary circumstance'' in order to justify that vote. I believe this nomination is an extraordinary circumstance. What could possibly be more important than this?

This is a lifetime appointment to a Court where nine individuals determine what our Constitution protects and what our laws mean. Once Judge Alito is confirmed, we can never take back this vote. Not after he prevents many Americans from having their discrimination cases heard by a jury. Not after he allows more government intrusions into our private lives. Not after he grants the President the power to ignore Federal law under the guise of protecting our national security. Not after he shifts the ideological balance of the Court far to the right.
<snip to obey 4 paragraph rule>

We believe no less. And we should do no less. We did allow the confirmation of three of the most objectionable appellate court nominees. There was no talk of prolonged debate on Chief Justice Roberts. Now we are presented with a nominee whose record raises serious doubt about serious questions that will have a profound impact on everyday lives of Americans. What on Earth are we waiting for?

Many on my side oppose this nomination. They say they understand the threat he poses, but they argue that cloture is different. I don't believe it is. It is the only way that those of us in the minority have a voice in this debate. It is the only way we can fully complete our constitutional duty of advice and consent. It is the only way we can stop a confirmation that we feel certain will cause irreversible damage to our country."

The gang of 14 did not see that this was an instance where the filibuster could be used - they got there unacceptable low level judges through - giving the Republican members of the gang of 14 what they wanted, but this was exactly the type of instance for which the Democrats were supposedly in this gang - and here - like all other times - they sided with the Republicans. NOW, we are in power - The roadblock Republicans are blocking everything ROUTINELY filibustering everything. (Check this cool video out humorously showing all the things McConnell has opposed http://www.roadblockrepublicans.com/2008/02/01/whateveritis-animation )

[Faygo Kid]

18. Do you mean he may have lost Joementum?

Say it ain't so, Joe.

[zulchzulu]

9. Loserman's bad cold and whiny personality made for some great soundbites to use

It was like watching a car accident in slow motion, but Loserman's statements supporting McCain and Hillary Clinton were a gold mine of soundbites to use against both of them in their love of wars.

He certainly is an odd duck.

[kentuck]

14. He is pitiful.

His days are numbered in the Party. Although he calls himself an "Independent", he caucuses with the Democrat. After the next election, they should declare him personna non grata in the Party. Let him join the Republicans. Good riddance.

[bilgewaterbill]

17. Ask Ned Lamont how much Lieberman cares if his "days are numbered".

[Hamlette]

16. it was disgusting but George did try to call him on his drivel

pointing out that the only thing he agrees with McCain on is the war/foreign policy

George pointed out that he doesn't agree with McCain on anything else. Lieb tried to point out that McCain has crossed the aisle on issues (George should have pointed out that his cross overs were to OUR side but he didn't) Seemed to me George just thought Lieb was delusional and gave up. But he did try.

I think he can't see past Israel's security interests. Seems the jewish community has always been more pro war than others (remember the neocons were once Scoop Jackson supporters and on his staff and for those of you who don't remember Jackson was the big dem hawk during Vietnam.)

[cornermouse]

20. Bottom line I got out of it was that Lieberman

is joining the republicans. No surprise.

[Hamlette]

23. yes, and he admits the only thing they have in common is "foreign policy" ie the war

although maybe it is foreign policy. Lieberman defeated one of the great republicans of all time, Lowell Wieker (sp?) to win his seat in the Senate and the issue was Cuba. Lowell wanted a more rational, open policy, Lieberman wanted a more closed policy. He was heavily funded by Cuban Americans.

He was wrong on that foreign policy debate too so maybe its not just Iraq.

[speedoo]

21. Thanks. You have a much stronger stomach than I do.

I agree with you on Lieberman's obsession (my word, not necessarily yours) with Israel's security interests, btw.

[karynnj]

22. You're wrong on the Jewish community

Pre-war polls showed that the Jews had a higher proportion of people against the war. There is a major disconnect from the group of connected, rich influential neo-cons and the population as a whole. (Kerry got only 2% less of the Jewish vote than Gore/Leiberman did with the first Jew on the ticket.)

[cornermouse]

19. I watched.

They both made me mad. Liebermann can't lose his next election fast enough for me.