Lieberman: ‘This Was Not a Major Realignment Election’

[kpete]

Lieberman: ‘This Was Not a Major Realignment Election’

On Tuesday, Democrats picked up six seats in the Senate and at least 29 seats in the House, taking control of both chambers for the first time in 12 years. Not a single Democratic incumbent lost. Today on Meet the Press, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said this was “not a major realignment election” and “both major political parties… in a kind of probation.”

Transcript:

LIEBERMAN: The fact is that this was not a major realignment election in my opinion. This was the voters in Connecticut and elsewhere saying we are disappointed with the the Republicans. We want to give the Democrats a chance. But I believe that the American people are considering both major political parties to be in a kind of probation because their understandably angry that Washington is dominated too much by partisan political games and not enough by problem solving and patriotism.

VIDEO: http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/12/lieberman-no-realignment/

[skipos]

1. And Democrats picked up many more seats in state legislatures too. nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Is this idiot for real? -nt

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. I Actually Agree Completely With That.

I think we won because the American people wanted change in direction and wanted to see how the Democrats would perform once given the reigns. I agree wholeheartedly that we are on probation and that we need to now take this opportunity to prove to the American people that not only can we govern, but we can govern with their best interests at heart. I'm confident we can do that and will gain the trust of the American people through this probationary period.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Probation for what?

If it's excess tamneness in the last 6 years, you have a point.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. Overall The American Public Doesn't Trust In Congress At All, Regardless Of Party.

Much of the public views each party with caution, and I agree with the sentiment that they wanted to give the Dems a chance but are in no way completely loyal to us now or trusting in our ability. We need to prove that first, and we will. Congress has never had such a low confidence rating and there will be much work that needs to be done to regain the public's trust. I think we're definitely up to the task and will prove ourselves just fine. But there's no doubt in my mind that much of the public will be viewing this as a kinda probationary 'ok, let's see what you can do' type period for the Dems.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. Probation for preconceived (but mistaken) notions like 'tax & spend'

I think the "they're all the same" crowd that apparently have given Dems a chance this time would love to be pleasantly surprised by us but aren't expecting much.

[merh]

19. "They are all the same" concept is real and will remain IF the

dems allow the misuse of office schemes and games to continue and the charges of cronism, corporate interference and "pork barrell" funding to go unanswered.

The only way dems can gain the confidence of the people is to investigate and demand prosecution of the crimes, if any are discovered during the investigation.

The dems don't need to be and cannot afford to be weak - it's not about bipartisianship, it's about respecting the rule of law and demanding that everyone, no matter which matter, obey the laws.

The system of checks and balances established by our founding fathers must be implemented and it is the dems responsibility to make our government work the way it is supposed to.

imho.

[Metta]

4. He lives in a parallel universe.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -- Homer Simpson

[Boston Critic]

8. Lieberman cares only for himself

We have to hold our noses and accept this DINO for the next two years.

In 2008, with -- we hope -- a Democratic president and an increase majority in the Senate -- he should be stripped of any chairmanships AND his seniority, and told to join the Republicans he obviously prefers.

[still_one]

5. I don't think Joe is aware of the precedent of this election

No Senate election has EVER SEEN ONE PARTY SWEEP ALL OF THE OTHER PARTY'S VULNERABLE SEATS

Since 1954, the incumbent reelection rate has been around 90%
In each of the last four House elections, at least 97% of incumbents have won reelection
Only 13 of the nation s's 435 House seats changed parties in 2004
Only TWICE since 1974 did more than 10% of seats change party hands in the House.


The best indicator to forcast who will win an open seat is how the district voted in the most recent Presidential record

WE WON AGAINST "CONVENTIONAL" WISDOM, and against all odds

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT

[misternormal]

6. I would bet that when he was in school...

... he believed that he came from the planet Armadillo, and wore a colander on his head to keep out evil thoughts.

What a tool.

[elehhhhna]

7. Is his wife slipping him pills from her employer, BIGFATPHARMA, Inc. ?!!

This calls for an investigation.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vinca]

11. Good heavens - he might as well have said the Democrats didn't win,

the Republicans lost.

[Eurobabe]

12. Oh so he is in the Krauthammer camp?

Jeesus.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. .

He was okay up through this part...

LIEBERMAN: The fact is that this was not a major realignment election in my opinion. This was the voters in Connecticut and elsewhere saying we are disappointed with the the Republicans. We want to give the Democrats a chance.

But one of the big problems with Lieberman is that he couldn't just STFU and NOT say THIS part:

But I believe that the American people are considering both major political parties to be in a kind of probation because their understandably angry that Washington is dominated too much by partisan political games and not enough by problem solving and patriotism.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. Gotta love this structure: "The fact is that ...(Fill In Statement) ...in my opinion."

But I think he's got a point about Dems on probation, at least with the middle chunk of the electorateand some repubs.

[Vickers]

17. What does that dipshit use, faith-based math?

:eyes:

[WinkyDink]

18. D.C. hasn't been "dominated too much by partisan political games"

for years. It's another Big Lie that's being promoted!!

"Republicans defeated themselvers, because they strayed from being...Republican." (Yeah, sure.)

"Democrats need to work with President Bush, for bi-partisanship." (Nice try.)

"The Democrats have only a brief time to present their alternative plans." (In due time, in due time.)