If the race for CT. Senator came down between Lieberman and Shays

[WI_DEM]

who would you want to win?

There is alot of criticism on DU regarding Joe Lieberman--It made me wonder how our rank and file would see a race between a moderate Dem like Lieberman and a moderate Republican like Chris Shays.

Overall while Joe is quite a hawk on FP, his domestic record is considered fairly liberal. Lieberman is especially strong on environmental issues and solidly pro-choice. Finally, losing Lieberman would make it that much harder for Dems to win back the Senate.

but, for some that is a chance they would be willing to take--so the alternative:

Shays backed Bush on Iraq but has not been as outspoken as Lieberman in support. He also is a strong supporter of gun control and an outspoken opponent on a ban on same sex marriage. He also voted against President Clinton's impeachment and is pro-choice.

[Dave Sund]

1. He wouldn't

Lieberman's got unbelievable favorables among Republicans. Shays would sooner run for Governor.

[WI_DEM]

4. The GOP governor according to polls I've seen is even more

popular than Lieberman. Besides Independents and Democrats may want a change in Ct. They outnumber Republicans in the state.

[davidinalameda]

2. Shays is a better Democrat than Lieberman is

The Repukes hate Shays

[DaveinMD]

13. not true

Shays voted for Hastert and Delay. He's an enabler.

[davidinalameda]

27. never mind

sarcasm is lost on certain people

[DaveinMD]

28. sorry

I am usually quite sarcastic myself. Sorry I missed it.

[davidinalameda]

35. as well you should be

jeesh!

:evilgrin:

[wyldwolf]

3. I don't believe DUers are "rank and file" Democrats

On average, we're more involved and informed.

Also, when it comes down to it, I don't believe Democrats in CT will vote for a Republican over a Democrat.

However, I'd like to revist this after the midterms and see what the breakdown was on Lieberman's win (or defeat - though unlikely.)

[WI_DEM]

5. I'm talking about our "rank and file" here on DU

[DaveinMD]

6. people have no clue how the Senate works

any Dem that votes to install a Dem leadership is better than the most progressive Repblican.

[WI_DEM]

9. I honestly think that in the end is the key

If I were a citizen of Ct I would probably vote for Joe quite reluctantly on that very issue.

[Padraig18]

11. Thank you!

:thumbsup:

[DaveinMD]

12. your welcome

:-)

[chieftain]

7. I don't like Joe one little bit , but the key is to elect enough

Democrats to organize the Senate and give us the power to investigate.

[ArtVandaley]

8. No frikkin way would I vote for Shays, and here's why:

He'd vote for Frist, Joe would vote for Reid.

I hate Lieberman as much as the next man, but come on, let's get our priorities straight.

[chieftain]

10. For an architect , you are incredibly politically astute.

[Rowdyboy]

14. No more "liberal" Republican New Englanders, please....

Collins, Snowe, Chafee, and Spector all march in lockstop with Frist/Hatch/McConnell. Just because they occasionally cast a bone to liberals by voting pro-environment or pro-choice doesn't make them out friends or allies. They deserve contempt for refusing to stand up to the trash that leads their party.

The Republican party needs to show its TRUE face: ugly, bigoted and FAR right. These moderates only serve to make the party seem reasonable.

[fujiyama]

23. Well said

These people are window dressing and are powerless and meaningless among their party.

Chafee, Snowe, etc are hardly moderates when it comes to questions of corporate power. They usually side with the administration on those issues (like bankruptcy reform).

Voting for Lieberman's opponent in the general election is a vote for Frist as majority leader, a vote for ending the filibuster, and a vote to make it easier to get far right nutcases on the supreme court.

[JHBowden]

15. Lieberman caucuses with us,

Shays caucuses with the Talibornigans from Georgiastan, Texastan, et cetera.

[ProgressiveConn]

16. Shays without a doubt.

At least we could run someone against him in six years. Connecticut seriously messed up when they replaced Wieker with Lieberman... =(

Lieberman is as big of a part of the Iraq War as Bush, Rummy, Wolfowitz, etc. People need to realize that Lieberman is NOT a moderate democrat. He is a member of Likud.

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. Lieberman votes with *us* on party-line issues.

When it comes down to a party-line vote, Lieberman lines up with us; Shays won't do that.

[ProgressiveConn]

18. And Lieberman sponsors the legislation that sent us to Iraq.

Shays will lose his seat in the house and be replaced by Dianne Farrel. And Blumenthal would beat Shays in six years anyhow. =)

[Cuban_Liberal]

19. And for 6 years, he'd vote with the Repubs.

It's a stupid choice.

:eyes:

[ProgressiveConn]

21. *shrugs* I say the same about anyone who would choose Lieberman.

Lieberman being in office just means that is one less seat we can challenge with an actual progressive.

[Cuban_Liberal]

26. You'd be wrong, then.

An examination of the facts shows that Lieberman supports the Democratic leadership on party-line votes; Shays does not support the Democratic leadership on party-line votes, nor would he do so as a Senator.

Like I said, it would be stupid to replace Lieberman with a Republican.

[ProgressiveConn]

29. *shrugs* Guess the slaughter of 100k+ Iraqis and 11.5k American Casualties

means more to me than it does to you.

Fuck Mr. Lieberman's war and fuck anyone who supports it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. Does that 'Fuck' go out to Mr. Kerry also?

:shrug:

[Dave Sund]

20. Then again, so did Tom Daschle

[ProgressiveConn]

22. Same thing that happened to Daschle should happen to Lieberman.

Personally If you advocated war in Iraq I have no use for you. If you went along for political reasons I can forgive that. Lieberman has been wanting this long before 9/11.

[Cuban_Liberal]

31. Lose his seat to a Republican, you mean?

Yeah, that'll show Mr. Bush we mean business!

"There are none so blind as those who will not see."

:eyes:

[JI7]

24. maybe if Shays (or Chafee) etc would change parties

and vote with Democrats on things like who to lead Congress such as Jim Jeffords did. they don't even have to switch to Democrat, they can switch to Independent.

but i have a serious problem with those who remain Republicans and support right wing candidates during elections and in leadership positions. yeah , they might speak out at times, but they supported these people knowing what their agenda is.

it's like christie todd whitman who supported bush and waited until AFTER the elections to be critical of him. and i think part of it has to do with her wanting to sell books to those who don't like Bush.

i know where Lieberman stands on issues, i know he is a foreign policy hawk. but i also know he will vote for Dems in leadership positions, and that'so ne of the most important when it comes to what issues are voted on.

[fujiyama]

25. Lieberman without a doubt...

He would never recieve a dime from me, and if there were a strong opponent in the primaries, I'd definetely vote for it...

But as much of an annoying sanctimonious hawk Lieberman is, ultimately I'd hold my nose and just before I passed out, reluctantly vote for him.

I'll take Reid over Frist as majority leader, thank you very much.

[jsw_81]

30. Lieberman

I disagree with him on a few issues, but for the most part he is a loyal Democrat and a skilled legislator. Electing Shays or any other "liberal" Republican only strengthens Bush, Frist, Santorum etc. When tempted to vote for certain Republicans we should always remember that the majority party controls the agenda and every single committee.

[aldian159]

33. Lieberman

A moderate Democrat is far better than a moderate Republican, any day of the year.

[LimpingLib]

34. I NEVER thought Id vote for Liebermann before , guess I was wrong.

Shit.

The way things are going today , a super nova might not be out of the question in our solar system.

[loro mi dicevano]

36. In ideological terms, I'd rather vote for Shays, but I couldn't do it.

I won't vote for any Republican anymore. If there's a Republican worth voting for, they SHOULD be a Democrat. If they won't make the leap, I won't vote for them, because their party is too far to the right and sticking with that party is an endorsement of those far-right policies.

Unfortunately, it'd be Lieberman.