Bush's pet Democrat (Lieberman) is in trouble

[im10ashus]

GREENWICH, Conn. — Anger at President Bush could bring down a number of congressional Republicans, and one Democrat might join them. He is Joseph Lieberman, senator from Connecticut. Many voters here want nothing more than to sink "Bush's favorite Democrat." They are mad at Joe Lieberman over his uncritical support of the Iraq war and 18 other things, including his bottomless need for right-wing approval.

So Lieberman will not have a clear sail into November, easily smiting a little-known Republican. First he'll have to duke it out in a tough Democratic primary on Aug. 8. His challenger is businessman Ned Lamont, who, if elected, would not be Bush's favorite anything.

There is delectable irony in the candidacy of Edward "Ned" Lamont. Polished, trim and rich, Lamont lives and works in Greenwich, home of the Bush dynasty. Lamont would make a more convincing descendant of the late Connecticut Sen. Prescott Bush than W himself. But he doesn't need anyone else's fancy ancestors. He has his own, namely great-grandfather Thomas Lamont, who headed the House of Morgan.

Ned Lamont built a telecommunications company, and his net worth sits somewhere between $90 million and $300 million. Suffice it to say Lamont is no stranger to capitalism, which is a plus for a liberal. That worldly grasp of how things work colors his views with a pragmatism that should reassure Connecticut's substantial well-heeled electorate.

cont'd...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003046421_harrop08.html

[AX10]

1. If you add in Joe's cozy relationship with Bill Bennett....

and his monthly appearances on Sean Hannity's radio show, it makes Lieberman look worse than Ben Nelson.

[im10ashus]

2. He's GOT to be worried about August.

I haven't seen a single DUer here in support of Joe.

[sellitman]

4. I support Joe

I own stock in Starbucks.


:hi:

[im10ashus]

5. LOL!

You must be rich! Are you single? :-)

:hi:

[Tom Joad]

7. There are plenty of Joe fans here.

At least a few.
Enough to make me sick to my stomach, at least.

[im10ashus]

8. I haven't seen any here lately.

But I am sure they are around. :-)

How anyone could support him is beyond me. :shrug:

[Tom Joad]

11. Hopefully, they have all gone underground. They know his name is

mud around here.

[SteppingRazor]

13. I'm not a Lieberman supporter, but...

I do believe he's made out to be a lot worse than he is here at DU. So, with nary a Lieberman supporter to be found, I will step up to the onerous plate and say that the man's views on abortion, civil rights and a few other areas are spot on. Unfortunately, his economic and foreign policy views make him a pariah to those of us active enough on the left to post in forums such as this.

He's sort of like a reverse-rigged Republican -- instead of promoting antiabortion and no gay marriage in an effort to get into office and then enact economic policies that only help the wealthy, he promotes prochoice and other liberal ideas .... in an effort to get into office and then enact economic policies that only help the wealthy.

[skipos]

14. There are even more Lieberman fans in CT

I hope Lamont wins but lets admit that tons of people in CT, both democrats and republicans, like Joe. If CT dems prefer Lamont, they will have their chance to nominate him.

[im10ashus]

17. I just don't get the appeal.

But hey, different strokes...

[skipos]

20. I agree, but that is the nature of the Big Tent. nt

[CTyankee]

37. Maybe I can help

I know the Lamonts from my fundraising for Planned Parenthood of CT. They are actively and passionately pro choice and supportive of PPC with their time, name, influence and money. Yes they live in Greenwich, in a lovely area that used to be a huge Rockefeller estate. It's kind of lonely being a Democrat in Greenwich, but there are lots of prochoice Republicans there also. David Stockman's wife is a BIG supporter of NARAL for instance (or was, till she and it had a falling out). Nina Rumbaugh, who is Dina Merrill's daughter, is another big Republican for Choice in Greenwich.

The Lamont's are way cool, actually. He's kinda quiet and she is too but I like their demeanor and their values. Please don't judge them by the Greenwich label.

[Tom Joad]

16. Will there be even one Democrat Senator to say that Joe has to go?

I'm not holding my breath.

[LibertyorDeath]

29. I know it's pathetic

[SeveneightyWhoa]

36. I'm sure at least three-quarters..

..are actually Republicans.

But that's just my intuition talking.

[SteppingRazor]

3. I wouldn't say he's really in trouble yet, but he's getting there...

Lieberman still leads the polls by double digits, which usually means a shoe-in for election. However, the gap has been shrinking so quickly by so much that, by August 8, it could be a different story. I'd love to see Lamont win, mind you -- and not because I really dislike Lieberman, but because of the message it would send to all of the other Democrats in office who I like more than him but who still don't get that it's about the Iraq War, stupid.

Still, at this time, I'm not ready to say Lieberman is facing defeat, or even a close call. Hope I can say that soon, though.

[im10ashus]

6. I hear what you are saying.

Double-digits is a big lead. Let's hope the voters start taking these polls that are putting him ahead.

[Larkspur]

12. The primary is August 8, dead in the middle of summer.

It's the kind of primary where the motivated show up at the polls.

Ned's supporters are motivated. The real quesiton will be the unions. Will their members break for Lamont or Lieberman. The unions are motivated for the governor's race. Most support Mayor DeStefano, who is on Line B on the primary ballot with Lamont. DeStefano's challenger, Mayor Malloy, is a DLC Dem and shares the same political consultants with Lieberman. Most unions have remained neutral in the Lieberman-Lamont race. But individual members of CT SEIU that I know support Lamont. Hope they represent the majority of SEIU members in regards to Lamont.

[im10ashus]

15. Do you think the unions will endorse one or the other?

I would like to see Lieberman handed his hat.

[Tesha]

31. You mean this hat?

[jonnyblitz]

18. I need to bone up on my CT politics before August...

I have been here a few years and haven't really paid lots of attention to local issues sadly much yet.

[im10ashus]

19. Same here.

I am a neighbor, live in Manhattan, and have no idea what their politics is like there. But I just moved here from Chicago 2 years ago.

Any CT DUers here tonight? B-)

[BlooInBloo]

9. I got a fever! And the only prescription is.....

... more NEDRENELINE! NEDRENDELINE! NEDRENELINE!


I betcha didn't see THAT one coming didya?

:rofl:

[im10ashus]

10. No, Bloo. I didn't see that coming.

Cute though.

:-)

[Pachamama]

21. Self Delete

SELF - DELETE - Confused Lamont with another great candidate...OOPS!

[im10ashus]

22. DAMN!

You almost had me. :-)

Ned and his wife Annie live in Fairfield County with their three teenaged children.

Starting a business close to home was important for Mr. Lamont when his children were young.

“My wife is successful and works very full days,” he said. “So it was important for me to be close to home and really be a co-parent. I am looking forward to campaigning with my kids whenever we can.”

Ned decided to challenge Senator Lieberman only after closely watching his performance, and results, for years. He consulted closely with his family and gained their full support before deciding to run.

http://nedlamont.com/bio

[Pachamama]

24. I SCREWED UP! I confused him with another NY area candidate!

Sorry...sorry....sorry!

[im10ashus]

26. S'ok.

You can delete it. I won't tell. :-)

[Pithy Cherub]

23. Naughty Naughty Pachamama!

Take a time out! :spank:

That was good!:P

[Pachamama]

25. I know! I must be getting tired...between the Pachababies, dealing w/

flood related issues and ofcourse the daily outrages from this administration, I guess I'm losing it...

Yeah, I need a good spanking :spank: :) :spank:

[im10ashus]

27. Silly you.

Can I join?

:spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank:

[Pithy Cherub]

28. No worries - you made me laugh!

Keep the Pachababies in good humor too. Wishing you nothing but the best in all! :pals:

[dpbrown]

30. I had no idea...go, Ned!

What a guy! Sounds like he'd make a better Senator than Lieberman no matter what!

[Hamlette]

32. a case can be made, that reasonable minds can differ on Iraq BUT

Lieberman's support for the brothers Bush on the Shiavo case was over the top. He supported Jeb during the election of 2004 and W and Frist when they got involved in 2005.

I've read that was the tipping point for Lamont too.

(The war in Iraq is seen differently, in my experience, by my Jewish friends. Their concern was for Israel. I don't agree with it as a reason for this war, but I can see their point of view.)

[im10ashus]

33. Indeed, that too is what did it for me.

The tipping point, as you say. I hope they have a debate. We should at least get a debate on the mess in Iraq out of this. :shrug:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

38. Don't forget his support for fundy refusal of dispensing contraceptives.

Sum all of that, and you have what? A right-winger. There's no other name for what Joe is.

[im10ashus]

40. That too.

How hard is it for voters to see the same things we are? Surely the people of CT aren't that gullible.

[Hubert Flottz]

34. Maybe Bush will go up and do a couple of fund raisers for Joe...

Cheney could help Joe out too I'll bet!

[fishwax]

35. Here's hoping Joe-Mentum kicks in

just like it did in '04 ...

:rofl:

[kster]

39. Pet Democrat

:rofl: :rofl: K&R.........

[eppur_se_muova]

41. Wish cartoonists would portray Lieberman as Bu**sh**'s pet goat. nt

[im10ashus]

42. GOOD ONE!!!

We need a photo shop of that. Where is Swamp Rat?

[Swamp Rat]

43. Will this do?

... a pet lizard.

[im10ashus]

44. Purrrrrfect!

:rofl: