Joe Lieberman on his way to the GOP

[JoeChalupa]

Yeah but you said you disagreed whats what he was trying to do?

I disagreed on the independent thinking part. If Joe feels something is not the right direction, such as his view on the Iraq war, he goes with it. I agree with much more of the democratic party platform as I do the republican platform but that doesn't mean I'd vote democratic all the time. The majority of the time yes. I guess I don't always make my point clear which doesn't surprise me.

[MannyIsGod]

If you can't see how being a self-serving politician is wrong then there is no need for me to try to explain it to you. The reason congress has such a low rating is because they don't know how to act like children and act like adults and get the job done. And there is no ONE reason why congress has a low approval rating but the partisan way of governing is a big reason why I give them a low rating.

The reason congress has a low rating is because the way those ratings are taken. Most people give THEIR congressman a high rating while giving the others a low rating so its not really representative by any means. Everyone thinks congress sucks except for THEIR guy. These so called congressional approval ratings are nothing more than foolish media anecdotes which do not serve to give true views on public opinion. When you take a look at the rating of congressmen/women from their cons uents most people are very happy with their representation.

A political party going after a seat is not wrong Joe and that's what you said yet somehow you've managed to morph it into it being about a self serving politician.

[101A]

Thats a complete non sequitor (and its not the reason congress has a low rating) but can you explain why it would be wrong?

The Democrats are pissed at Leiberman because he was loyal to his own beliefs first, and those of the Party second.

It goes beyond that.

Congressmen are expected, even demanded, to do this regularly. Party first, Country Second.

Both parties do it. Arm twisting; largesse, threats... , probably blackmail. Stay in line, protect the party.

Chalupa was right. THIS IS an example of why Congress is SO unpopular.

, why is the Democratic Party seen as so liberal, and the Republican so Radically Conservative? Because the leadership is invariably slanted that way. Why is that? Because leadership has to come from long-standing members, which have to, by definition, come from "safe" seats. Safe seats come from areas that are heavily slanted one way or the other; who want a heavily slanted candidate. It's a ed up system. , the 2nd most powerful person in the Country is from San Fran ing CISCO!!!!! Most DEMS don't like her!!!! But she has the power.

Congress sucks.

[MannyIsGod]

Except congress is not unpopular.

Yeah, the democrats are pissed that he tried to undercut their candidate. And what the does he expect? They're not going to give power to him anymore than their going to give power to any Republican. That would be foolish.

Committee Assignments are power and Committee chairs are even more power. Why on earth would the Democrats give power to someone that doesn't support them? That doesn't make any sense. They know he's going to have to vote very liberally or his cons uents are going to vote him out.

No one is advocating Lieberman not stand by what he believes. But when that doesn't benefit the Democrats don't expect them to empower him out of some form of goodwill. They're in there to get things done, not make friends.

[DarrinS]

He should be put to death.


Sincerely,


boutons_

[MannyIsGod]

He should be put to death.


Sincerely,


boutons_

I LOLed.

[spurster]

I think Joe the Chalupa is having a "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for the rest." moment. He hasn't made to the second stage yet.

[101A]

Except congress is not unpopular.

Yeah, the democrats are pissed that he tried to undercut their candidate. And what the does he expect? They're not going to give power to him anymore than their going to give power to any Republican. That would be foolish.

Committee Assignments are power and Committee chairs are even more power. Why on earth would the Democrats give power to someone that doesn't support them? That doesn't make any sense. They know he's going to have to vote very liberally or his cons uents are going to vote him out.

No one is advocating Lieberman not stand by what he believes. But when that doesn't benefit the Democrats don't expect them to empower him out of some form of goodwill. They're in there to get things done, not make friends.

Yeah, but his vote is gonna be VERY important for Caucussing resons in 2 short years. Just ask the Republicans how much that ONE vote can mean.

[MannyIsGod]

Yeah, but his vote is gonna be VERY important for Caucussing resons in 2 short years. Just ask the Republicans how much that ONE vote can mean.

I completely agree with that. This level of senate dominance isn't going to last more than 2 years unless they really do incredibly well. I don't believe they'll do well enough to sustain it because thats simply the nature of politics, but I think if they end up at 50-51 seats in 2010 they're going to really want Lieberman back.

[rascal]

That weasel Lieberman called a conservative radio host in CT and asked him to give out a good word to the conservative listeners so he could pull the Conservative vote to defeat Lamont. Lieberman was defeated running as a democrat then switched parties to an independent and pulled enough Republican support to get re-elected to the senate.

The independant label is just there so he could have another chance to win his seat back.

[JoeChalupa]

The reason congress has a low rating is because the way those ratings are taken. Most people give THEIR congressman a high rating while giving the others a low rating so its not really representative by any means. Everyone thinks congress sucks except for THEIR guy. These so called congressional approval ratings are nothing more than foolish media anecdotes which do not serve to give true views on public opinion. When you take a look at the rating of congressmen/women from their cons uents most people are very happy with their representation.

A political party going after a seat is not wrong Joe and that's what you said yet somehow you've managed to morph it into it being about a self serving politician.

Again, I disagree and you are not understanding my point. I don't think "MY GUY" is doing that great if he/she cannot figure out a way to compromise and get things done. I don't give a rat's ass about party affiliation because it should not matter because the way I see it they are elected to work for us and not at each other so much that nothing gets done. My point is that if a politician is more concerned about power then they are self serving politician.
Go on with your bad self.

[JoeChalupa]

I think Joe the Chalupa is having a "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for the rest." moment. He hasn't made to the second stage yet.

Hey, I call it as I see it and the USA is the best damn democracy in the world. I'm no government expert and neither is anyone else in here. My voice will not be silenced!!!

[MannyIsGod]

Again, I disagree and you are not understanding my point. I don't think "MY GUY" is doing that great if he/she cannot figure out a way to compromise and get things done. I don't give a rat's ass about party affiliation because it should not matter because the way I see it they are elected to work for us and not at each other so much that nothing gets done. My point is that if a politician is more concerned about power then they are self serving politician.
Go on with your bad self.

Then that Lieberman you like as such an independent thinker fits your definition of self serving politician.

[JoeChalupa]

Then that Lieberman you like as such an independent thinker fits your definition of self serving politician.

If he is all about the power then yes, he is. My point was that he didn't just bend over and follow party lines with the democrats about the war or whom he felt was the better candidate for president. As a democrat I'd fight any attempt to re-establish the fairness doctrine.

[MaryAnnKilledGinger]

If he is all about the power then yes, he is. My point was that he didn't just bend over and follow party lines with the democrats about the war or whom he felt was the better candidate for president. As a democrat I'd fight any attempt to re-establish the fairness doctrine.

Lieberman is a scorced-earth campaigner. He survived it once. He shouldn't get a second pass. If he claims he'll always do whatever he feels is right, then it doesn't matter what side of the aisle he sits on. Might as well sit on the side he campaigned with.

[MannyIsGod]

If he is all about the power then yes, he is. My point was that he didn't just bend over and follow party lines with the democrats about the war or whom he felt was the better candidate for president. As a democrat I'd fight any attempt to re-establish the fairness doctrine.

Except he wasn't doing those things out of some principled beliefs - he was doing it for power Joe. The religious right and the election just happened to get in his way though.

I'm not even sure what the fairness doctrine has to do with this but ok.

[MannyIsGod]

And its fine if politicians don't want to follow party lines. By all means you should stand what you believe in and not some ideology. But if want the power allocated by the people in power then you better expect they're going to want something from you. If you want them to support you then you have to support them. That's not partisan ship that's common sense about how cooperation works.

[Galileo]

Judas Iscariot = Joe Lieberman = Benedict Arnold = Pope Urban VIII

[dg7md]

Despite the presidential issue, I doubt Lieberman would actually fit in at all with the GOP.

[Nbadan]

Except congress is not unpopular.

Yeah, the democrats are pissed that he tried to undercut their candidate. And what the does he expect? They're not going to give power to him anymore than their going to give power to any Republican. That would be foolish.

Committee Assignments are power and Committee chairs are even more power. Why on earth would the Democrats give power to someone that doesn't support them? That doesn't make any sense. They know he's going to have to vote very liberally or his cons uents are going to vote him out.

No one is advocating Lieberman not stand by what he believes. But when that doesn't benefit the Democrats don't expect them to empower him out of some form of goodwill. They're in there to get things done, not make friends.

Don't forget Lieberman's broad support for McCain...the Demos were perfectly happy letting Lieberman be Lieberman, but when he openly supported McSame over he made his decision to lay all his eggs into the GOP basket, so why should the Democratic leadership continue to want Lieberman in a powerful committee chair?

[Wild Cobra]

He votes his conscious and not always on party lines. Like we all should. But that is just my opinion.

This is true and why the democrats got rid of him! He's nobody's patsey, and thats all the democrats want. Still, he's too liberal to do any good as a republican. The republican party already needs to clean house of liberal republicans.

[MannyIsGod]

This is true and why the democrats got rid of him! He's nobody's patsey, and thats all the democrats want. Still, he's too liberal to do any good as a republican. The republican party already needs to clean house or liberal republicans.

Jesus you guys really don't do irony.

[Nbadan]

Jesus you guys really don't do irony.

True....looks like the electorate is doing that for them already...

[spurster]

Hey, I call it as I see it and the USA is the best damn democracy in the world. I'm no government expert and neither is anyone else in here. My voice will not be silenced!!!

Then quit whining about how democracy works. No one person can get anything done so you have to choose sides. Lieberman picked McCain, which I believe is not on the side of the Democrats.

[TheMadHatter]

I could care less that Lieberman supported McCain during the primaries. Every politician should be en led to do what they feel is right in their conscious.

But Lieberman went above and beyond supporting McCain. He absolutely shredded Obama Zell Miller style in the RNC convention and trashed the Democratic party as well. There was no need for that, Lieberman knew the ridiculous things he was saying about Obama were flat out wrong.

For that reason IMHO he doesn't deserve anything from the Democratic Party. He turned his back on them in a highly inappropriate way.