
I'm sitting here in the press-room backstage at Quinnipiac University. Holy Joe cancelled his appearance at tonight's debate, so it's Ned and Alan Schlessinger. Maybe because Joe has finally realized that he's completely outclassed. Maybe just because he's a big chicken like Alan McKeon.
Today has been the first day of the Big Bad Bus Tour 2006, and I've gotten to meet a bunch of Connecticut citizens. I've learned a lot about this state and the issues facing its citizenry. I've learned a lot about Ned's platform on issues besides the war. But something else I've learned today? Joe Lieberman isn't just incompetent, a suck-up, and a political opportunist, he's also a hateful little bitch. The people I met today know and understand that. They know that Joe's not in this business for the people of Connecticut. He's not even in this for the businesses and corporations of Connecticut. He's in this race for himself. He likes being in the Peerage, having a title, and never having to open a door for himself.
I know this may be old news to a lot of you, but just talking to people from all over CT from all walks of life, it has really been made clear to me that the only time Rape Gurney Joe ever even tries to act like he likes his constituency is when his entitlement is at risk. It explains a lot that I couldn't figure out about him like why he found it so appalling that he had to participate in the Primary (and why it was no matter at all for him to bail on his party and run anyway), why he has staffed his campaign with thugs and compulsive liars, and why his behavior over the course of the race has been so vicious and despicable. If you asked Joe, he'd tell you that he IS Connecticut. Hell, in his head, he is The Cosmos.
Today, I got to see Ned Lamont in action, talking to students first at UConn, and then at a jam-packed town-hall meeting at Manchester Community College, as well as at tonight's debate. He remains the steadfast, soft-spoken, matter-of-fact candidate that I remember from the primary, but something else I noticed as I watched him shake hands and lean in to listen to what people were saying to him was that he is, above all, a gentleman. He was unfailingly gracious and polite, even as the LieberYouth who showed up in their College Republicans t-shirts and "Vote Joe" signs stood and booed loudly during his speech at UConn.
Maybe these aren't the ideal qualities for a campaigner. As we've seen this year, political contests can be brutal, ugly things (ask Mike Stark!), but in spite of Lieberman's mouthpieces' insistence that Lamont and his supporters are a bunch of lying, bomb-throwing, lefty lunatics, the overall vibe of this campaign is that while winning is crucially important, everything must be done in a way that's fair and above the board.
Holy Joe may send out his surrogates to lie and spin, to cast aspersions and distort the facts, but the Lamont campaign knows that the facts are on their side. The Bush Administration and its vanity war are crashing, dismal failures that have placed not just the fate of the US, but the entire planet at risk. Personally, I can't understand why anybody would vote for Joe at all, given that he votes like a Kennedy but lies like a Hannity. He's a disgrace. And a nasty, petty, vengeful man who thinks that vote-buying and personal smears are the way to carry the day. If there's any justice at all in the world, election day will bring some nasty realities home to Lieberman and Co. Karma's a bitch, Joe, and she knows where you live.
One of highlights of the day for me included the group of 18-20 year olds I sat with at Manchester College. They were so achingly fresh-faced and optimistic, so in tune with the truth of America's situation, both at home and overseas. They were deeply committed to peace, education, and health care, and excited about the possibilities that a Democratic Congress could bring. They reminded me of what was great about being that age, that sense that the world is full of opportunity and promise.
Something else that tickled me was that they listen to all the same music that I did at that age, R.E.M., U2, Radiohead. Has the world of rock and roll produced that little decent music in the last decade or so?
The debate just ended and it went really well. Funny, I didn't ever hear that annoying little squeaking sound that I remember from the other debates.
Must be the carpet in the auditorium.

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T-REX!!!
Dang, almost got it.
Yay TRex!
So glad you’re there T-Rex, have a great time.
So what’s Matt Stoller REALLY like?
Jane Hamsher @ 4
Adorable.
If he wasn’t so straight, I’d kiss him.
Guess Joe4Joe ain’t gonna be on your Xmas card list.
I so miss not getting to Late Nite very often.
OT ~ Show Mike Stark some luv: http://www.callingallwingnuts....../my-story/
The rabid Rethuglican trolls are wetting themselves with disgust in the comments.
And that would be the problem. Joe no longer works for these people, he works for the lobbyists.
Lobbyists for Lieberman!!!!
Hey TRex - Ned rocks! You can see why we love him so.
I think the bus tour is a great idea.
You’re right - Lieberman doesn’t like the people of Connecticut. He and his supporters are incredibly hateful folks. It makes me sad for my state.
Hope to see you on Saturday.
Pardon me for this late night fangirl moment…Lou Reed has a song on our blog. Uh. Mah. Gawd.
Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled snark. (And the Mountaineers are, alas, still down by ten with a minute and a half to go in the 4Q.)
Joe can’t be the Cosmos, because Chris Bell claimed that honor after leaving Big Star and writing “I Am the Cosmos.”
Tonight is our weekly put-out-the-trash night. I’m emptying every wastebasket, even the ones in the basement that we usually forget to do, and hoping it’s a good omen for CT and the rest of the nation.
It’s incredible, their disdain for the rules of fair conduct. They really are republicans in blue ties.
Trex and Stoller … what a duo!
I’m so glad you’re back in CT … I miss being there for the final push!
Soon, I hope to be able to introduce you all to my new canine friends, Pi and Tucker.
T-Rex,
I was kind of hoping for a little more info on the handsome David Sirota. Did you get to ask him about Dangerstain by any chance?
I thought I saw a dinosaur in that photo, but it turned out to be a Huskie.
For me, the most telling thing about Low Road Joe–other than, perhaps, THE KISS and the condemnation of Clinton–was seeing the photo of his car parked in the handicapped zone so he wouldn’t have to walk so far. Like, screw the handicapped, I’M JOE LIEBERMAN.
canine? whoa …
are those the pups at HQ?
neurophius @ 19
Exactly. I mentioned that in the draft of this post that got eaten by Quinnipiac’s dodgy internet connection.
UptownNYChick @ 9
No, actually, he works for Joe. He just uses the lobbyists in a mutually beneficial fashion.
Siun @ 20
Yup. Pi is a little terrier, just teeny, but totally sweet and laid back, and Tucker is a HUGE golden retriever, who loves to give kisses.
Gnome de Plume @
18
I’m with you. On first glance, I thought TRex was standing behind the next Senator from CT.
Face it Connecticut, Joe’s just not that into you.
I am hopeing there was a empty chair where “the bitch” was to be…it would have been a nice tv effect.
UptownNYChick @ 17
Tom Swan is trying to set me up a Dangerstein interview. I’m not sure I want that opportunity.
Sirota…sigh. I haven’t been able to say much to him since I keep seeming to be struck dumb every time I encounter the palpable force field of his charisma.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 11
Condolences to you and your Mountaineers.
Hope they make this game a tradition ’cause it was a really entertaining game and another scoring extravaganza by both teams like last year.
“Tom Swan is trying to set me up a Dangerstein interview. I’m not sure I want that opportunity.”
OMG!
So TRex, what are you rollin’ in in CT and what are you listening too?
You guys going headed to southwest Fairfield County (Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk)?
TRex @ 27
I kind of like the idea of TRex interviewing Dangerstein. For best effect, they should throw down on November 8.
TRex @ 27
I totally understand the Sirota effect — I have a crush from afar.
If you get to interview Dangerstain, please videotape it. That would be fuuuuuuunnnnn.
TRex @
5
Ooh. Good to know, from the het female perspective. :)
As for the lack of great music these days, I hate to burst bubbles, but it has ever been thus that the hip young ‘uns look to the past to point them toward the future. When I was young, it was the Beatles and Hendrix and the Doors, Led Zep (ugh!) and Roxy Music, and most people ignored some of the artists of the 80s who were about to become “big” names, like, oh, U2 and REM. I can remember putting U2’s October on my turntable at a gathering of friends in 1981, and people saying, what is that awful noise? Put on David Bowie (who had maybe 10 songs I liked)! But then, these were the same people who still didn’t get The Clash, or even the Sex Pistols (the latter required a healthy dose of cynicism about the music industry, and a twisted sense of humor).
Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose, and all that rot.
I wanted to share this comment (from the Lamont blog) by someone who was at the debate event.
Maybe just me, but I think the Liebertruck with the voting-booth in it looks like someone hauling a Port-a-potty? Better yet, it comes with a small group of paid ‘volunteers’ explaining why Joe can be found at the bottom of the thing…
Hey UptownNYChick
Didn’t mean to wig you out w/ that Lightfoot tune the other night.
It does have that eerie “stuck between this world and the next” kind of quality.
I hate to wimp out again, but I may be headed for bed, soon. I’m pretty tired. Last night was great sleeping until the hotel fire alarm went off at 2:30 in the morning. I woke up not knowing where I was but that there was this awful noise and strobe lights flashing in my room. Very unsettling. False alarm, fortunately, but falling asleep again wasn’t easy.
I hope you packed your Dame Edna glasses.
Oh the irony, to see a holdover from the cretateous period so utterly in its element as a 21st century schiziod man! Kudos, T-rex. You are a pleasure to read! Please, more about how the people you’ve met realize what narcissistic ass the man is.
Been noticing the iconography in Ned’s photos in past weeks. Maybe ephemeral to some, but they’ve been pushing the Mr. Smith Goes to Washinton button long before they did the explicit ad with Ned as Jimmy Stewart.
Great stuff, because it rings true. Hope you guys on the road in Connecticut help deliver the surprise we all pray for down to our toes.
TRex @
5
He’s pretty damn straight.
which lightfoot tune?[lightfoot junkie]
Late-Niters, check this out. Please, check this out.
My Mom sent her weekly ReThug racist scum email to all of her golfing racist rich-bitch Mark Foley loving scum friends.
She made the mistake of sending it to me.
My response, which will get me kicked out of the family and a multi-million dollar inheritance, was
I’m serious about this.
I’ll give you one guess….
snuffy @ 41
This could be bigger and uglier than Katrina the Dubai ports debacle.
short version: In an effort to justify Iraq War, Bush incompetently posts information on the net which helps Iran’s nuclear program.
long version: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11.....r=homepage
Heck, it might even be as big as Kerry letting the cat out of the bag about the long term career inadvisability of being a soldier in Iraq with insufficient body armor, working for a clueless commander in chief with no plan, breathing in depleted uranium dust while your family is on food stamps and your veteran’s benefits are being cancelled and your tour of duty extended.
Have you ever looked closely at Joey L. when he smiles? I mean look really close, especially the eyes. It’s enough to give any man, woman, child, dog, cat, or hapless bird in the vicinity the creeps. ick!
Can anyone get Olbermann to do a piece on Joe Liebermann - the turncoat Democrat - sleaze that masquerades as honest broker? Good for Paul Newman.
People keep criticizing Lamont’s campaign. I think he has done an incredible job and I don’t think that the slow start after the primary is the problem in the poll results at all. I don’t think CT is deep blue. I think this was the false assumption. For the sake of the country Joe should not be sent back as senator. Somehow the CT voters don’t seem to look deep enough.
I still think it can be won with the positive GOTV campaign. I am cheering you all on from the west coast.
Snuffy here.
Turning into pumpkin. ‘Nite all.
Balrog @ 42
I’m serious about this.
Oy. Family and politics are a tough combination. Hang in there.
TRex @ 36
Try counting Lieberman supporters. *wink
~
Or this might help: http://americablog.blogspot.co.....59467.html
obsessed - the NY Times article on the posting of nuclear SECRETS by conservative republicans is QUITE astonishing!
Good catch.
(whadda bunch of nitwits!)
T- at any time of the day,without warning lightfoot comes to my head.When I here the news lately,Its usually “pride of man”..which saddens me beyond words
The great thing about my family is that we’re all flaming liberals. My parents would never send out that kind of offensive material.
Balrog @ 42
I’m serious about this.
Don’t worry man, there’s always room around the fire down by the river with me and the boys. ‘Cept, you know, it’s under 20 degrees in Mpls. tonight. Maybe, tuck a little trust away for a rainy day.
Hey Balrog,
Balrog @ 42
Not even worth pointing out to your Mom that Iranians aren’t even Arabs?
I guess not, since half the people in DC don’t even know the difference between Shia and Sunni.
Ignorance is never appealing.
Oh, and TRex?
“Has the world of rock and roll produced that little decent music in the last decade or so?”
I must respectfully conclude that is correct.
(Oh, and a plea from a military guy who is legally bound not to work for political campaigns? GOTV. Thank you.)
If it hasn’t been already mentioned, Paul Newman, who is nothing but class, is featured in a spot for Ned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....&eurl=
This is a very good thing. Some people who won’t listen to anyone else in an ad will listen to Newman.
Hip hip!
Maybe Dangerstein should interview TRex.
HEY Y’ALL - It looks bad now, but the answer is GOTV. Look, I’m in Louisiana - how bad can it be??? GET OUT THE VOTE. GO DO IT. We need Ned. We (in LA) need Ned. Just like everybody in the US, WE NEED NED.
obsessed @ 44
Wow. I remember that release and how many months before N. Korea first tested nukes did this occur?
Scientists say all seafood will run out by 2050– right after the oil- so if ya wanna drive downtown for a lobster dinner- do it soon.
good night, pups - catch you on the flip
Most of my immediate family is pretty lefty, too. I do have the unique honor of having two of the first U.S. members of Opus Dei in the next concentric circle of relations.
T- @ 35
Oh no, I liked the video. I grew up near the Great Lakes region and I heard that song when I was little and it always scared me.
I have great respect for those waters and their histories.
neurophius @ 55
Absolutely not. He would lie about everything and then call me a liar and probably an anti-semite, too. Not on your life.
Respectful Dissent @ 54
Optimist.
Some people are compainin cause GW Clusterfuck posted instructions on how ta make an atomic bomb on a website- for terrorists.
Picky, picky- well sure he made SOME mistakes.
selise has organized a meetup for the MA irregulars and other FDL folks in CT.
We’re getting together for the Lamont rally (starts at 7 pm) in New Haven on Saturday
Then to Sullivan’s** for a beer or late dinner
* New Haven rally:
http://www.nedlamont.com/?s=standupforchange
http://www.nedlamont.com/page/.....llies/wrlg
**Sullivan’s on Chapel between York and Park
1166 Chapel St., New Haven
(203) 777-4367
If interested please contact me at dbharbor-blog at yahoo dot com or selise at speakeasy dot com.
rwcole @ 65
“Noo-kyoo-lar. It’s pronounced noo-kyoo-lar.”
–Homer J. Simpson
balrog,
I have an aunt and uncle like that. I just threaten to make a scene at the next holiday. I seriously smacked them down at Christmas in 2003. After that, they stopped sending their Bush porn to me.
Difference between sunnis and shia- Well let’s see- some of em think that the successor to the prophet was his nephew and some think it was his uncle- or somethin like that- but which is which? Who the hell knows? Why is it important? Well ya really had ta BE there.
Balrog, you should change the word Iranians to Republicans and send it back to your mom.
And below this quote is the Lamont tour Bus
with Ned making his Kerry speech yesterday…
This was on the Bob Geiger blog and pretty
impressive…I did send him a thank you for everyone in the Lamont campaign.
If you haven’t seen it, go the Americablog. and read the Keith Olbermann rebuke of Bushman for today…he is the most courageous man and he really knocked him big time. If you want a copy, let me know momaloney at comcast dot com.
I have saved it as it is amazing stuff.
Happy to hear the tour went so well…it is a different tale over at the whiners blog..pathetic. According to them, no Lamont supporters were around to listen to Ned’s five minute speech!! Ha!!
Have a good night….
I fished the lakes when refueling reactors at Keewaunee Nuke station…nearly fell in love and stay in wis…when fishing the lakes with a oldtimer once,he saw a small band of clouds on the horizen and made for shore FAST.I ,who had spent time on the sea,thought he was nuts….old man was right …by the time we got in it was way way worse than I ever want to be in a small boat on a big big lake…
OldCoastie @
50
And did you notice that this is not the first time?
EvilDrPuma @ 64
Sorry. 25%? 10%?
But remember! The adults are in charge now!
He likes being in the Peerage, having a title, and never having to open a door for himself.
Little Lord Fontle-Joe
UptownNYChick @ 68
My extended are all fundies from Texas, Okla and Kansas; but, they’re not stupid people by nature, just by religion. This is the first time in years I’m actually interested to hear their opinions…I’m hoping they will tell me that whomever is ’speaking’ to Jorge, it isn’t THEIR savior.
Imagine that- no seafood after 2050- none- nada- not an oyster or a clam- or a shrimp- or even a flounder anywhere.
Ever think about that? Seems like one or two seafoods could hide out somewhere.
An FYI about CT voters. Many folks don’t make up their minds until they step into the voting booth.
Lieberman was down 11 pts to Weicker the week before the 1988 election. The night before the election he was down 6 pts. (Sadly he won by 3 pts) And that was a “normal” election with two main candidates.
Who wins this next Tuesday is still anyone’s guess.
balrog:
I grew up in a family of Republicans. My grandfather was a legislator. I used to dread Thanksgiving because they would all gang up on me, knowing I was a Democrat.
Watergate gave me a certain morally superior edge that meant I no longer had to take their abuse; I would start talking about what Republicans are really all about and there was little they could say.
Over the years I just stopped talking to them about politics, as it seemed to make other things go better between us.
In 2004, my mother volunteered that she voted for John Kerry because she has grandsons who she does not want to see going to Iraq. I quietly celebrated a victory.
Do what you need to do, but next time you receive an e-mail like that, you might consider using the “delete” button and moving on.
Well here’s the thing about the fundies– God doesn’t LOSE wars- so if yer president is losin a war- he ain’t workin with God- so he must be workin with- well ya know- the OTHER side.
Ever seen a 666 on clustefuck’s hairline?
TPM guest poster DK has gotten flack from many quarters as a Ned naysayer, but these general observations are excellent:
When a style parody like Tenacious D rocks louder and hotter (IMO) than all of the emocore/nu-metal/eurodiscotrash fruitbags combined in a cement mixer filled with ball bearings and burning JP5, well…And of course, I blame Clinton.
;>)
Fuck these fame-chasing junkie wastrels and the execs who sign their worthless asses…Business deals set to music, bah!
rwcole @
77
right off the dock down the hill from my front yard. and I mean to fight to keep those fish alive.
snuffy @ 72
You don’t mess with Gitche Gumee. She’s cold in July but it’s a badge of honor to swim in her. It’s true, though, with the cold she doesn’t give up the dead. They sink and stay down. Funny Longfellow never mentioned that. Lightfoot did. Funny that they both have L…F… compounded names…funny like I should go to bed. Night all!
Balrog @
42
Most of the family spam I get is of the fundy-religious stripe, which is equally offensive in its own way. For a while, I just let it pass, but one came by that was too much, and I let loose with a blast like yours. Coming from not just a relative but a pastor-relative, it detonated rather loudly.
Best thing I ever sent, and I wish I’d sent it long before. Some of them wised up a bit, while the others just keep it more to themselves than they did in the past. Either way, my email box is a tad happier.
Friends, thanks for the response and concern.
Don’t worry about me. I
hateignore my parents. They are icky.If I may, the thing to take away from my post is this.
I’m mad as hell. Etc.
My Mom’s friends (45 were copied on the priceless Iranian/Muslim joke) are in for a rude surprise.
Priceless.
darkblack @ 81
and I thought it was just me growing a bit older..)
The moslem joke is a classic fear inspired one liner. The teller is pretending to himself that the US is so powerful that it could- if it wanted to- eliminate every person it found offensive from the planet without messing it’s hair.
The truth- as GW Clusterfuck has proven- is far different.
The smugness and smirkiness of the typical gooper is a cover for fear.
Truly offensive repug mailing.
Speaking of offensive/racist jokes.
rwcole @ 88
Kinda the inverse of the old “Don’t worry man. The world’s smartest person just jumped out of the plane with my backpack” joke.
Patrick- Yeah- maybe- I LOVE that joke by the way.
Balrog:
You could always ask them,
“What would Nixon do?”
Good night, kids. Another big day tomorrow.
Thanks, as always, for reading. Everybody pray for victory.
neurophius @ 93
Yeah, logic.
Ain’t happening.
These people are truly the unreachables, and I’m fine with that. I’m not trying to reach them.
Love FDL.
neurophius @ 93
I thought Joe Scarborough (who I generally have no use for) put down Pat Buchanan rather effectively tonight when he reminded Pat he had served with a bunch of felons…maybe it’s just my age, but I think Watergate still resonates. As I believe the GW Bush era will in the future.
Scarborough had a brain transplant months ago which won’t allow him to do wingnuttery for a prolonged period of time. Fascinating medical problem.
TRex - Thank you so much for doing the Nutmeg. Sleep well amigo.
punaise @
75
Blue Ribbon winner! Kudos, punaise!
I’m so out of the loop. Didn’t know there was a debate tonight. Never got to see the last one either. Anyone know if this will be online somewhere?
I signed up for 4 days of GOTV at a neighboring campaign. (My district is safely blue.) Yay me!
“I don’t think water boarding is torture,” DeLay said. “My definition of torture is you physically harm someone by cutting them, by cutting their fingers, sticking things in their eyes, sticking their fingers in electric sockets. Water boarding is a frightening experience. But the person does not have physical damage.”
I thought Joe Scarborough (who I generally have no use for) put down Pat Buchanan rather effectively tonight when he reminded Pat he had served with a bunch of felons…maybe it’s just my age, but I think Watergate still resonates.
I thought he was referring to the Reagan years.
so who won the debate?
David Olsen @ 102
Buchanan was Nixon’s press secretary. What was he under Reagan? I don’t recall.
If you’re gonna call someone a hateful little bitch, it better be a female dog that just bit your dick.
Sorry…but don’t even think of putting Lieberman in the female category. He’s male…all male…one of your kind. We want nothing to do with him. OK?
Signed,
Bitch Goddess
Random thoughts:
1. Time.com is reporting that one of the dog trainers convicted by a military court in the Abu Ghraib scandal is headed back to Iraq to help train the police.
2. Drudge Report finally has a Haggard headline up. But his biggest headline, the Uber-headline, is “Where’s Nancy?” That’s the latest GOP talking point on Hannity and Levin - Nancy Pelosi is AWOL. And they’re still talking about Kerry, God bless ‘em. A for effort.
3. Jeffreyw asked a couple posts back about the Obama/Rezko story. First, read the 11/1 story in the Chicago Tribune. Second, read John Kass’s 11/2 column in the Trib. Bottom line, people are wondering why Obama paid 15% below asking price for a Chicago mansion in June 2005 while Rezko (recently indicted on multiple charges by Patrick Fitzgerald) paid full price for the vacant lot next door; they closed on the same day. It looks an awful lot like a de facto gift from Rezko to Obama.
TRex:
Thank you for the upbeat news from the Lamont campaign. These last few days of the campaign are critically important. Ned needs to jump on the democrtic tidal wave bandwagon. The more Lieberman can be painted as a Republican, the easier he will be swept out of office.