Jane phoned me a few moments ago to let me know that Lieberman’s HQ had notified some local reporters that he would have an announcement at 1:00 pm ET. She just phoned me back to give me more details.
Team Holy Joe is phoning all the major news organizations to let them know that this is an important announcement. Every reporter in town is headed to Hartford. The announcement will be made from the steps of the state capitol.
In the words of one reporter to Jane, "This had better not be another speech about the affordability of higher education — or I’ll be seriously pissed."
Hold on to your hats, kids. More news as I get it…
UPDATE: Jane just phoned with the scoop. Here’s the deal: Lieberman is running as a Dem in the primary. But he’s having staffers put out petitions in case he loses the primary so he can run as a sore loser "petitioning Democrat."
Is it me, or does this sound like someone’s internal polling numbers are tanking even MORE than we know about publicly? PS — Anyone talk to Chuck Schumer today? *g*
UPDATE #2: And it hits the newspapers — the Hartford Courant and the AP (via the Boston Globe). (Hat tip to Sean-Paul at the Agonist for the heads up on these.) Anyone know of a three-term Senator that has ever had to make such a WATB sore loser threat to petition for independent status on the ballot if they lost their party’s primary?
Related posts:
- Klein on How Lieberman Went Bad: It’s All Jane’s Fault
- Harry Reid: “Leave Lieberman Alone, I’ll Handle Him”
- Breaking: Lieberman-Graham Dropped From Supplemental
- Breaking: Obama Writes Letter Opposing Inclusion of Graham-Lieberman in Supplemental
- BREAKING: Franken Declared Winner by Minnesota Court; Governor Instructed to Certify Election
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Fitz!!!
Ha finally
Hasta La Vista Joe
Fitz!
Go, Lamont!
He admits hes an asshole!
Lamont!
I love good news for the 4th of July. This sounds so interesting!
Lieberman of course .
Could end up being an interesting day after all.
.
Please, Joe, please say you’ll be running as an independent.
It’ll doom you, and Senator Lamont can begin scouting apartments in D.C.
Someone over at DailyKos made a funny:
Joe Lieberman’s big announcement will be that he saved a bundle switching to GEICO.
Is it time for Joe Leaverman?
If Joe’s running as an independent, will Schumer and the DSCC be backing the Democrat or the independent, or – will they finally do what they should have done all along, and announce that they aren’t going to get involved in a primary election???
What, he’s going to marry Dumbya?
with any luck he is going to renounce his affiliation in the democratic party
although I am wondering if he is so depraved as to have made a turn around becuase of murtha and will anounce that he is now against the war
Maybe he’s still using the “Democrat” label as cover for Schumer to swing DSCC support to him and away from the winner of the Democratic Primary (i.e., Ned Lamont).
There’s no way Lieberman would drop out of the race. Is there? No, couldn’t happen.
What the heck is a “petitioning Democrat”? Is that like an independant?
Well, that should thoroughly kill his chances of winning the primary (which were at least decent before this point). I can’t imagine any of the ‘activist’ side of the party (the people who generally turn out) voting for someone who isn’t promising to stay in the party…
He will be announcing that in addition to picking up the endorsements of Coulter and Malkin, Osama bin Laden has released a video endorsing Lieberman because of Holy Joe’s support for the GWOT and everything that has done to help Al Qaeda recruitment.
Joe is toast and the Washington Club is now on notice. They had better start connecting to their constituency or they are next. This is a shift so strong that the Democratic Party will now have to change course, and that is no small happening.
Jump, Joe! Jump!
Castor at 16 — my understanding is that every staffer Lieberman has of any consequence is paid to work for the campaign. Lamont’s staff is almost all volunteer, except for the top-tier positions. You tell me who activist types are already excited to work for — and this kind of pre-primary announcement will clinch it for the rest of them. Jeebus, first the crapola bear commercial and now this…this is textbook “how not to run your campaign 101.”
Ned just won!
Could be that Joe will become the new Nader–and we lose the senate seat. Schumer will blame the loss on Lamont–and finally many here will give up on the Dems and form the party we knew we needed in 2002.
I want to see a wall of campaign signs that say SORE LOSER and CHICKEN.
If he announces he is going to start collecting signatures,…HE IS FINISHED…YESSSSSSSS
What a total LOSER he is.
… Just guessing… but my guess is he’s having a Brokeback moment”…”He can’t quit Dubya”
wouldn’t it be cool if poor ole Holy Joe couldn’t get enough signatures to get him on the ballot as an
RepublicanIndependent ?Looks like Fox will carry it.
Of course, if Holy Joe jumps the next move will be Chuck Schumer’s.
.
He’s going to announce gender change surgery so he can run for First Woman President against Hillary.
and finally many here will give up on the Dems and form the party we knew we needed in 2002.
Where do I sign??
Lieberman is running as a Dem in the primary. But he’s having staffers put out petitions in case he loses the primary so he can run as a sore loser “petitioning Democrat.”
Thank goodness he’s not pulling out of the primary altogether, after Jane and the poodles traveled halfway across the country to cover it…
So Joe’s petitioning to become a Democrat? Sounds interesting . . . it’d be a nice change of pace for him.
Ms. Smith- Agreed on the staffing and how that impacts personal zeal, but unfortunately that isn’t enough to win (or we’d be talking about President Dean right now). I am just hopeful that any equivocal announcement on Liebermann’s part (and it should get a lot of attention, if he is making sure that everyone in the media knows to show up) should drive the rank-and-file primary voters firmly onto Lamont’s side.
The next step is pulling out……right after the debate..UNLESS he chickens out which would be just like a BushBot chickenhawk!
I hope he takes questions and picks our Jane!
it just dont look good if you are in a hot Primary and you are also making provision to run even if you lose the Primary … it just dont look good!
‘petitioning’ Democrat sounds like the cover he needs to get DSCC support.
ilson your 19
you kill me with that…
Jump Joe Jump
cleaning monitor screen..again because of you!!
R.G. Joe to CT Dems: “Drop dead!”
RapeGyrneyJoe NEVER fails to show his true colors…I must repeat…LOSER!
2,538.
It’s a number. Just a number. Total U.S. troops that have paid the ultimate price in Iraq to date for the arrogant vanity and lies of THIS “man” -
http://www.bgladd.com/The_Disgracer_in_Chief.jpg
0.
It’s a number. Just a number. Total U.S. troops that have paid the ultimate price in Iraq to date as a result of Saddam’s WMD.
http://www.bgladd.com/Just_a_Number.jpg
‘deed, *ilson, ain’t lookin’ no good whatsomever a-tall.
Just say no to R.G. Joe.
I can hear the CT crowds all the way out here in CA:
Jump, Joe, Jump!
Every time the man opens his mouth he loses more votes. My guess is that after he loses the primary (i.e., he’ll be “tied for second”) he’ll go on the lose the general election running as an independent. Humiliating, and poetic justice to boot.
Ol’ RG Joe has competition…NASA new conf at 1 too!
Hehehehehehe
Man, guy can’t no respect no-how.
What happened to the statement from his press secretary, (given to me!), that…”Senator Leiberman is a lifelong Democrat! NO, he is not switching parties.”
Ok, well that statement was made months ago. Nothing like a little heat to see how strong his committment is to the Democratic party.
Franco @ 47: They are both announcing cracks in their launch vehicles.
I am celebrating with another splendid donation to Lamont for Senate.
Join me in the fun! We’ve got a winner!
And Joe:
BOOOOOOOOOOOO
CHICKEN Bwaaak Bwaaak
SORE LOSER
SCAREDY-PANTS
DOESN’T THINK HE CAN WIN HIS OWN PRIMARY
so, joe is going to run as a “petitioning democrat”
in other words, if he doesn’t win the primary he wants to dilute the vote so that no democrat can win
if this isn’t a republican dressed as a democrat, if this isn’t a judas sheep, I don’t know what is
thunder#50……Hehehehee LMAO!
ifthethunderdontgetya lol
Franco @ 47
Maybe the two are related: perhaps Joe’s going to quit the race for the Senate to become an astronaut.
Bush is a “Uniter” all right -
_____
LONDON (AFP) – “…The United States is no longer a symbol of hope to Britain and the British no longer have confidence in their transatlantic cousins to lead global affairs, according to the poll published in The Daily Telegraph.
The YouGov poll found that 77 percent of respondents disagreed with the statement that the US is “a beacon of hope for the world”.
As Americans prepared to celebrate the 230th anniversary of their independence on Tuesday, the poll found that only 12 percent of Britons trust them to act wisely on the global stage…”
egregious I am with you…I am going to give again today…in celebration…..
Big Victory for Ned!
I think he has a debate with Joe on Thursday.
IMO this gives that Union that just endorsed Joe the “opportunity” to pull that endorsement.
He’d look so good in that Day-Glo punkin-suit, out-do Cmdr. Codpiece too.
Well, let’s hope Joe can’t get the 7500 signatures required to run as an independent.
I guess nobody is covering RG Joe…..
Heheheheh
What impresses is the horrible timing of this from Lieberman’s point of view. The debate’s on Thursday. As I understand it, Lieberman needs 5,000 signatures by August 9th. He could certainly have waited until late July to start the petitions, but by doing so now, it will be a major topic on Thursday.
Lieberman is an AWFUL politician. He’s whiny, he has a huge sense of entitlement, and he seems incapable of understanding how his actions will be perceived.
Harry Reid and others need to make clear that they will support the Democratic nominee, and strip Lieberman of his committee assignments if he does not do so. Connecticut Democratic voters need to understand that Lieberman will not be able to deliver anything for them if he’s elected as an Independent, and he might as well join the Republican Party.
Hartford Courant : http://www.courant.com/news/po…..lines-home
There weren’t a lot of entries, but I think I win the “Lieberman goes independent” pool — I had July 8. Even I thought he’d wait until he lost the debate.
Will our intrepid girl repoter be phoning in her scoop to Christy?
Senator Announces Plan for Upcoming Primary Loss:
“Universal Loathing will not stop campaign,” candidate vows.
“Primary Loss is really a win!” say departing staffers, printing spare resumes at Hartford Kinko’s.
63 link has the story.
Boltin’ Joe didn’t get a good reception yesterday at the Bridgeport parade:
Monday, July 03, 2006
Lieberman booed in Bridgeport
You know times are bad when a Senator Lieberman gets booed while the mayor (an admitted cocaine user) receives a warm reception.
Midway through the Barnum Festival’s Great Street Parade Sunday, Mayor John M. Fabrizi broke free from a steady stream of outstretched handshakes.
“Hey, I’m going to get blamed for holding up the parade,” Fabrizi apologized, pressing forward.
Applause, broken only by sporadic gaps in the 1-mile parade route, along with shouts of “Yea, John,” made the mayor’s day.
[…]
Also walking at Democrat Fabrizi’s side was U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.
[…]
The only negative shouts seemed directed at Lieberman, who is facing a primary challenge from Ned Lamont of Greenwich.
“Hey, look at that, a Democrat walking with a Republican,” came one shout to Lieberman.
“How’s the president,” shouted another parade watcher, giving Lieberman a thumbs-down sign.
Oh my.
http://connecticutblog.blogspot.com/
the 4th of July is a slow news cycle so an incumbent politician announcing he might lose the primary election and having to go to the “weird stuff” of petitioning will certainly be major news in Connecticut. His petitions are certainly legal but most voters will find it plain weird…
stick a fork in him – he’s done.
to continue with a mixed-up food metaphor: Joe can’t have his cake in one basket and eat it too. go suck eggs, Joe.
Jump Joe Jump!
If CT voters EVER had any doubt that he’s about him, not them . . .
CNN running it in the crawl as “Sen Lieberman to petition as a alternative”
woohoo!
So Holy Joe is going to get him some of those privately paid petition gatherers (whom we Californians have gotten to know quite well in recent years) in order to set himself to run *against* the winner of the Democratic primary, at the same time that he’s running *for* the Democratic primary?
At least the clarity and consistency of his moral vision is unchanged from the past.
Schumer needs to be made to understand that supporting “I lost the primary but I call myself a Democrat” Lieberman, even verbally, would be a slap in the face of every state Democratic Party member in the country. This not about “scruffy grassroots” vs. the establishment. This is about the DSCC vs. everyone else in the Democratic Party.
Amen Redshift 75
I had this vision of Romeo and Juliet.
Lovers of rival houses.
Joe wants to be Juliet, so he commits suicide
(political) first.
Can’t wait to see what happens next.
I bet the Democratic Party of CT is thrilled they are investing all their time,money, and effort in a Primary that Joementum has just rendered irrelevant.
R.G.Joe thinks this is a smart move, but I think the general public will see this as weak and disingenuious….This will backfire..I can feel it…….He thinks that others will think he is not running as an independent, but I think we just keep repeating it over and over
Joe Lieb…independent!
I suspect Joe’s been getting advice from Katherine Harris on how to drive his campaign bus…right off a cliff.
Nice that he is blackmailing the party. Swell guy that Joe.
bp #75
At least the clarity and consistency of his moral vision is unchanged from the past.
Yeah. That about sums it up, doesn’t it?
AP needs a fact check:
You know who’s going to sign those petitions for Lieberman–Rethuglicans.
Seems to me this should insure a landslide for Lamont in the primary, which will render Joe-netia practically irrelevant in the general.
I’m no fan of censorship, but when it comes to this, please register me as a conscientious objector.
A pre-teen magazine has been accused of recruiting its very young readers for the military.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..0bQ–
Associated Press article excerpts:
“Parents and teachers are complaining that the latest issue of a popular magazine for preteens amounts to little more than an early recruitment pitch for the Army … Most controversial has been a set of classroom guides that accompany [Cobblestone Magazine], which suggest teachers invite a soldier, Army recruiter or veteran to speak to their classes and ask students whether they might want to join the Army someday … [T]he guides looked exactly like the official recruiting material distributed at high schools.”
At the risk of sounding unpatriotic on a 4th of July weekend or being accused of not supporting our troops, I have to agree with those who’ve already spoken out in opposition: this definitely crosses over the line.
Holy Joe is using the winning Jacob Javits strategy of holding onto one’s Senate seat. Oh, wait…Javits lost.
Wow. How else can you interpert this except that Joe fully expects to LOSE to Lamont? This is a huge vote of “no comfdence” in himeself.
hehehehehe Lieberman’s “big announcement” is being preempted on all the cable news networks for foam problems for the space shuttle. He can’t even time his announcement properly. Anyone in CT? Any coverage up there on TV as yet?
So…does Joe have any actual, professional, paid political advisors? And did they sign off on this? I am just an archaeologist, not a political genius, but if I was an incumbent senator, I would a) NEVER publically acknowledge the strength of my primary opponent, and b) NEVER publically acknowledge the possibility of losing the primary and c) NEVER publically discuss the strategy I would use after my humiliating primary loss.
Most crucially, I would absolutely not do a, b, and c SIMULTANEOUSLY, in the midst of a slow news cycle, a week before a freakin’ debate. Sweet Mother of Pearl, how did this idiot get to be a senator in the first place?
Did I say “no comfdence”?
Obviously I meant “no confidence.” I forgot that preview is my friend.
“petitioning Democrat.”
WTF is that? more like “pissing-himself (former) Democrat”
Independence Day comes one day early for Joe-nertia
Shorter Lieberman: “Fuck the process, and fuck the voters, too.”
Goodbye and good riddance, Joe.
Oh man, I can’t WAIT for Thursday night!
Some NASA guy on all the news channels with a model of a big phallus. C’mon, give us the guy with a little one, Joe, Joe, Joe.
you aren’t calling Joe a little prick, are you?
foam meant democracy in CT
it will be very hard for the GOP to use its GOTV to help lieberman in the general election. I wonder what the 3-wat polling is showing. Who is the GOP nominee or likely winner?
Well yes, *ilson,I guess I am.
cut and run Lieberman
http://lamontblog.blogspot.com/
The timing of this is so incredibly stupid, words fail. Joenertia could have waited until the last week in July, and buried the story in a Friday news dump. Doing it two days before the first debate is political suicide.
op99 at 10:21
LMAO.
cleter at 10:20
All very good questions. This has to be one of the lamest political moves I have ever seen. He seems to be just asking to be ridiculed.
Won’t somebody give Joe a tissue?
“Sweet Mother of Pearl, how did this idiot get to be a senator in the first place?”
Joe almost got to the White House. Gore’s foot must be sore from kicking himself over THAT decision.
Just got this in my e-mail: “Sore Loserman” — ah, I see yard signs cropping up all over Connecticut as I type this…
people here sometimes forget there are three other really hot races races in Connecticut: there are three “liberal Republican incumbents” in very Democratic Congressional districts. How will Holy Joe running as a 3-way spoiler affect those other important races?
Has anybody seen polling for the CT primary? What are the numbers?
I hope you are right ck.
Maybe he was worried about having enough time to recruit 7,500 Republicans to sign the petition for him to run as an “independent” Dem?
I don’t think the timing is that odd.
He thinks this will work for him, so he is putting it out when it will get repeated for two days.
he is going to associate himself with independence day is some way in his speech. I am still a Democrat and want to give all of Connecticutt voters a choice to reelect their senator….balh blah.
The only odd part is to do it ahead of the debate, but he must have figured already that he is campaigning over the head of what he sees as activist Democrats.
Why do comments go from #40 to #68 and #41 through #67 appear at the end? Just askin’.
“Cut-n-Run Joe” — good one there!
mc 106, yeah, I bet Bob Graham woulda picked up Florida for him.
Here’s an obvious question. At what point, given that Lieberman enjoys incumbency over party loyalty, does Schlesinger, the other Republican in the race, simply drop out? He’s polling at 8% in a 3-way race.
Ron (64) – you’re right, a *normal* and traditionally savvy politician would *not* do this until he had to, especially right before a debate against his primary opponent – but Joe doesn’t fancy himself a normal politician (or, we’d say, a savvy one). I think what he’s doing is setting himself up for two things:
1) A “Sister Souljah” moment with the lefty blogosphere and Lamont supporters;
and
2) Making himself a martyr of the “responsible” “independent” “moderate” center, so that he can keep up his image.
This would strike any of *us* as a bad idea, but he’s going about it so bass-ackwardly that it’s probably his idea of a subtle ploy. I’d bet money that his message in the debate includes at least one of the above points (though in fairness, it’s entirely possible it would have anyway, even if he weren’t trying to shoot himself in both feet at once).
Peterboy — don’t you think that doing it two days prior to the debate — where he will absolutely get hammered with a question on it, and Ned will be able to respond — is politically tone deaf? I sure as hell do.
Morris at 112 — sounds like you need to refresh your whole screen. They are in order for me.
What he’s really saying is “I want to give you a choice in case I don’t like the choice you make.”
The only way this is going to play in the press is that Joe is pre-emptively admitting defeat and being a big baby about it.
maybe he figured he was going to get his ass kicked in the debate so that petitioning afterwards would be seen as a reaction to his trouncing?
I guess Ken and Karl instructed the cable news networks to ignore this.
J.P. Spencer, earlier polling showed Joementum won a “three-way” against Ned with Spencer in the race. Joe may need Spencer to stay in very weakly to keep up the sham that he is an “independent” Dem. JMO.
“don’t you think that doing it two days prior to the debate %u2014 where he will absolutely get hammered with a question on it, and Ned will be able to respond %u2014 is politically tone deaf? I sure as hell do.”
The flip side of that is that he doesn’t have to dance around it during the debate.
No. he is hanging a lantern on the issue when he can get maximum exposure for what he believes is the only way he can win–appeal to the GOPs, the independents and the Dems who still love him.
He has no other way to go if his polls show him losing. Why wait? Doing it on a slow news day and before the debate gives him maximum exposure to make his case. That is what he wants. He cant “hide” once he decides to go independent.
two questions: does anyone know the regostration/voter turnout breakdown for GOP, Dem, Independent in CONN.
and who is the GOP candidate?
I think Global Warming and its effect on NASA instructed the cable networks to ignore Whiny Joe …
At what point, given that Lieberman enjoys incumbency over party loyalty, does Schlesinger, the other Republican in the race, simply drop out? He’s polling at 8% in a 3-way race.
The moment Joe announces he’ll caucus with the Republicans.
Just woke up to this news (lazy Californian) and I’m thrilled but confused. I thought Leiberman couldn’t start his signature campaign until a few days before the primary! Well, whatever, he’s toast.
What a jerk. And I really do think he believes he’s making a martyr of himself to save the nation. He’s that deluded and egomaniacal. Boy oh boy, this is really something else…
“Petitioning Democrat” is a lame attempt to squeeze as much value out of the Democratic Party affiliation as possible. His strategy seems to involve deliberately confusing voters. How very GOP of him. I would hope the state party officials are really pissed about this and turn Turncoat Joe out on his ear. He deserves no support at this point.
To run as an “independent democrat” are the 7500 registered voters signing the petition required to be registered democrats? Or independents?
This Lieberman quote says it all…
Moulitsas will try to earn his stripes in the Aug. 8 Connecticut primary, where he and other bloggers have hammered Lieberman for his embrace of the Bush doctrine on Iraq. “If it were not for my position on the war in Iraq,” Lieberman tells NEWSWEEK, “I don’t believe there would be a primary against me.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13…../newsweek/
Both Ways Joe
The GOP candidate for governor in Colorado is being called Both Ways Bob, but the tag hurts Sore Loserman in the short term.
He really wants it both ways — he wants to be the Democratic nominee, but he wants to be an independent. He wants to be a JFK Democrat, but he loves him some Bush GOP war mongerin’.
Both Ways Joe — is a Sore Loserman.
conn registration in 2004 in 1,000s
438–gop
670–dem
876–unaffiliated
http://www.sots.ct.gov/Registe…..Enroll.htm
it is pretty clear that he sees any chance with the independents.
OT –
I just have to announce that the new Leonard Cohen documentary/tribute concert hybrid is unbelievably great. It just opened here on Thursday and I’ve seen it twice. Simply sublime. Go see!!!
Jenny from the Blog at 125: He just has to finish gathering the signatures by the day after the primary. There’s no limit on when he can start, other than not wanting to signal that he’s afraid he won’t win the primary.
Why are we surprised? Didn’t “Joe Duplicitous” do the same thing when he proved his confidence and dedication to winning the ticket with Al Gore by refusing to give up his Senate seat?
“Two-Way” also demonstrated his undying loyalyty to his “long-time friend” Bill Clinton by “Defending” him on the Senate floor while never changing the smirk on his face as he skillfully inserted the stilletto through his heart.
I had forgotten that Loverman ran simultaneously for VP and Senate in 2000. What a dick.
Several things I’m thinking.
1) The word needs to get out that any Democrat who supports Joe in the primary, including Obama, Hillary and Schumer, will NEVER get another dime.
After all, he’s just announced that he’s no longer a Democrat. I don’t want my donations going to support him.
2) I have NEVER been more committed against a candidate. Just when you think he can’t get any worse, he kicks you in the teeth! He has just shown me how low he is, and I will work harder than I have ever worked to get Lamont elected.
I’m sure a lot of people feel the way I do right now. As an indicator, my family decided they would vote for Lamont last week, after fretting it would split the ticket for months.
Joe is a scumbag. Always was, has just proved he always will be. The fact that he would do this is below low. God, I am so pissed!
after Hadassah saw Joe and George kissing and hugging, she’s been calling her husband “Both Ways Joe”
Petitioning Democrat Joe Lieberman’s post primary spin:
“I finished in second place but that Lamont guy was next to last!”
Jenny from the Blog –
He can start the petition drive anytime, but has to turn in 7,500 valid signatures by 5PM the day after the primary.
An almost impossible task, unless he starts petitioning before the primary.
Petitioning before the debate — not so smart.
I wonder if kissing Dubya infected him with the stupids?
If it were not for his on going approval and support of the disastrous moral, financial, strategic, ethical and military debacle that is Iraq, he’d be fine?
Kind of on a par with Dahmler opining, “If I had just quit eating my visitors, I’d be a free man today.”
*ilson at 118: That’s the only way I can read it. Presumably his polling shows him losing, and he’s at least not confident he’ll make a good impression in the debate, so he didn’t want to wait until he might appear even weaker.
with Joe in the role of the exploited young girl, this scenario is begging out for a tweaking of Sublime’s “Wrong Way”, excerpted here:
Davis X. Machina says
July 3rd, 2006 at 10:33 am
At what point, given that Lieberman enjoys incumbency over party loyalty, does Schlesinger, the other Republican in the race, simply drop out? He’s polling at 8% in a 3-way race.
The moment Joe announces he’ll caucus with the Republicans.
————————————————
He’s been doing that since 2002.
Robbie 139 – LOL
redshift and ck -
Thanks for the clarification. To tell you the truth, I suspect he will get those signatures without breaking a sweat. He’s got the organization in place.
No matter. HE’S TOAST.
I gotta agree with peterboy’s theory: Lieberman is doing this on *purpose*. That’s why he’s coming out with it now; that’s why what strikes us as “the worst possible moment” for this move strikes Joe as “the best possible moment” – because we’re seeing things 180 degrees apart.
Every email I get from the DSCC (including the one in Al Gore’s name) is now getting this reply:
BTW, I’ve been getting quite a stream of them lately. Maybe the response hasn’t been as strong as it used to be?
I agree, Jenny. There’s plenty of wingers out there happy to sign the petition to split the vote.
Both way Joe:
Lieberman said he will still be running as a Democrat even if he’s not the party’s nominee and plans to remain part of the Democratic caucus in the Senate if re-elected.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..0bQ–
So what is the primary for then, anyway?
*ilson at 118
Now that makes sense.
I wish I could have been at the meeting when his advisors floated that one:
FIRST ADVISOR: Now Senator, we need to announce your primary-loss plan BEFORE you lose the debate.
SENATOR: But..but..what if I win?
SECOND ADVISOR: Doubtful, sir. You’re obnoxious and disliked.
SENATOR: But..I came in third in New Hampshire! I am a powerful nationwide figure! I stand astride my party like a colossus!
FIRST ADVISOR: Fifth, sir. You came in fifth.
SENATOR: But… I could still win!
FIRST ADVISOR: Look at this internal polling.
SECOND ADVISOR: Here’s your bucket, sir.
SENATOR: Oh, my G….BLEEARGH! (SENATOR VOMITS INTO BUCKET).
FIRST ADVISOR: Shall I schedule a press confrence about the petition?
SENATOR: BLEEARGHH! BLACHH! GORK! (SENATOR VOMITS ON SELF).
SECOND ADVISOR: Here’s a tissue, sir.
A little late, but pretty good considering… There’s now a (mostly cut-and-paste) article on the press conference on the WaPo’s website:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..00544.html
We’ll see if anyone in the TV newsworld dares to cover it on the nightly news. My guess is: not.
Okay, let’s wargame this out. In a three-way race, who’s going to win? Joe gets a bump for being the incumbent, and he’ll siphon votes away from the other Republican in the race. But I think most Democrats will have to ask themselves: Will I vote for someone who’s sucked face with George W Bush, or will I vote for someone who hasn’t?
Bush looked into Joe’s beady eyes and saw one easily corruptible heart and so gave him the Judas kiss. Now Lieberman is tainted goods in the eyes of all clear-sighted democrats who are rejecting him in favor of Lamont. Unfortunately, Joe is too full of himself, like his idol Bush, and will make sure that NO democrat wins in Connecticut. Now who is the stupider politico, Bush or Lieberman?
cleter, that was good.
peterboy 10:27
“…he must have figured already that he is campaigning over the head of what he sees as activist Democrats.”
Right. He’s given up on actual Dems (just like he now realizes that they’ve given up on him) and is starting to make his pitch for the general. He understands that that’s his only chance.
The question is: What kind of shot does he actually have as an independent “petitioning Democrat?”
My take: Some Dems may stick with him, but not many, maybe 20-30%. Some of this will depend on the endorsements of Dem party regulars and the DSCC. Will they go with the actual Democrat? Let’s hope so. Don’t forget his views are not popular with most Democrats. Some independents may go for him and his perceived independent stance, but since even most independents in CT are against the war and against Bush I can’t see him getting more than 25% of them, either. Some Republicans, who are in fact his most loyal supporters and the bulk of his positive approval ratings recently may vote for him, but I’d guess not more than 20% here either. They might just see it as a chance to get a R in the Senate hoping Joe splits the Dem vote and go for the Republican, whoever it is.
So Joe gets 20 to 25% of the total vote. The more R’s that vote for him, the lower the R candidate’s share will be, the more R’s that vote for the R, the lower Joe’s total will be. The Rethug will get the rest of the R vote, maybe 80 to 90% of the 30% or so of registered R’s in the state and a few independents. Lamont picks up the rest. FInal score: Republican – around 30%, maybe 35%; Joe somewhere around 25 to 30%; Lamont the rest — as much as 45 to 50% and probaly no less than 40%, in any case enough to win in a three way race.
doesn’t “Petitioning Democrat” sorta sound like “Begging Democrat”? fits Whiney Joe perfectly !
yes–he is sold on the idea that he is bigger than the party and that a low-turnout election could deny the people of Conn their true Senator.
So he will run on the “righteous idea” to let all the voters of Conn decide.
ugly sit if you are a Dem. And I agree that we need to answer DSCC with a NO NO NO, unless they go with the winner in the primary.
BLEEARGHH! BLACHH! GORK!
Global warming justifies Lieberman decision (from WaPoo link above):
I would like to think that having a 3 way race help the dems down ticket in Nov. because of higher turnout.
I really have no idea how Joe thinks this could help his chances in Nov., but it certainly becomes clear why the unholy alliance (Hannity/Coulter/Malkin/O’Reilly) have been touting his Repug ‘creds.
It’s obvious he had made this decision a while back and co-opted Rove’s help to get out the message.
A real loyal guy, that holy Joe.
Christy @ 118
Thanks. Worked.
Morris Sheppard 154, here’s hoping you’re correct on your analysis of the unaffiliated vote, that sure looks to be the key.
Holy Joe is so filled with ambition, greed and self-importance — and worse than that he has a messiah complex. If any of the democrats still stand by him after today that means they’ve also lost sight of who they are and what a representative government means.
Today Joe gave them all the reasons they need to dump him. If they even give the slightest hint they’re standing by him, well, that’s all the voters need to know. I’d like to hear Boxer and Schumer speak out on this TODAY. They should not only turn their backs, they should speak out AGAINST him. Jesus Christ, I can’t believe this!!!
Gotta get a cup of coffee before I stroke out. heh.
nice to post after lurking for some time. gotta go do something and that doesnt mean visit eschaton.
love to you all.
thanks, urban pirate.
NYT: Lieberman Says He Will Run on His Own if He Loses Primary
peterboy — please post more often! :)
ixnay on the essiahmay omplexcay alktay — Joe’s Orthodox !
You go Jane! Shout out your questions and show whatever MSM gaggle deigns to cover his announcement what real reporting looks like!
WE MUST SEND BUCKS to Lamont
Just one buck will send a statement of netroots they can point to…”here we are… this is who we support..” and looks whats happening
Show your Solidarity against JumpnJoe!!
GO NED!!!!!!!!!!!!
Help Mr. Lamont ! http://actblue.com/page/firedoglake
ilson @ 168 -
hee hee! Hey, I can take liberties because I’m also Jewish. :)
new thread — sore loserman!
Lamont campaign
Contribute and celebrate!
*ilson: “monsieur A” complex
new thread
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…../#comments
op99 at 1632
I hope so, too. Disclaimer: this is an unscientific guess based on pure gut instinct and wishful thinking however….
Independents are 44% of registered voters in CT. IF 25% go for the R, and a third go for Joe, that leaves 42% going for Ned. Not unreasonable. If 80% of R’s go for the R and one third of the D’s go for Joe, Lamont still wins. Even if 40% of the Indies go for Joe and only 35% go for Ned, Ned still wins with 38% of the total, Joe with 33.5% and the R with 28%.
Only thing that gives Joe hope is if less than 25% of indies go for the Republican and a large majority stay with Joe. Don’t see that happening since support for Lieberman among CT independents has be falling steadily.
Lamont seems to be a great campaigner and I’m confident he’ll make a very good case to Democrats that they shouldn’t support Joe, but rather their party’s actual nominee — him, with whom they agree on most issues. The less support Joe gets from registered Dems the weaker his chances.
Honestly, did Joe Lieberman have a life before the Senate? Sure he did. And he will have a life after it as well. If Connecticut Democrats don’t support him, there’s plenty of other work for him to do. He’s starting to act like Milton Waddams from Office Space. He’s been laid off from his job, but he still wants to work from storage space B. “Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler…”
On Raw Story:
Liberal group MoveOn’s director, Eli Pariser, has blasted Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) today for announcing his intention to place his name on the November ballot as an independent in the event that he loses the Democratic primary on August 8th to challenger Ned Lamont.
“This decision reeks of arrogance,” said Pariser in a statement today, “Joe Lieberman is holding himself above the democratic process by which his party chooses its candidates.”
“But,” Pariser added, “clearly he’s reading the writing on the wall.”
z adura at 180 — Maybe Lieberman has a nice view of the squirrels from his Senate office windows? *g* (Sorry, couldn’t resist. I love that movie…)
Anyone who runs in the Democratic Primary and doesn’t support the winner in the general election is no Democrat.
Declaring his intention to run as an independent should be more than enough to kick him out of the party.
Ummmm, guys? that ’sore loserman’ actually has a history. called election 2000, and is a play off of the words Gore (sore) and Liebermann (loserman). Given that, I wouldn’t recommend it for a turnabout on this election- it gives the republicans one more thing to laugh about…
just a thought :)
If you like my Man ♥ Date graphic, check out some of my other designs. :-D
http://jcdesigns.blogspot.com/
I don’t like it.