For DUers Who Supported Lieberman

[JeffR]

This may seem to some a golden opportunity to get snarky with those of you who hoped Joe would win the nomination. What I want to say to you is sincere, however.

You backed the guy you thought was best. Many of us disagreed with you, and so did a majority of Democratic voters in the great state of Connecticut tonight. But you had a choice to make and you made it. That's what electoral politics, what democracy, is supposed to be.

You needn't support Lamont as the candidate going forward. You needn't urge Lieberman to put aside the divisive, self-absorbed notion to run as an Independent. Do as your head and your heart guide you. I fully expect that you will show more good sense and grace than Lieberman himself just showed in his concession-but-not-a-concession speech.

Just remember that some of us out on the far left believe there's room in the tent for the moderates and the centrists. As someone personally quite convinced that the changes America needs would be much better effected through revolution than through electoral politics, I nevertheless cede that the idea is a pipe dream. So politics, with the attendant compromise, incrementalism and inevitable disappointments, will have to do for now.

So let's pull together. Let's take back Congress this year and the White House two years hence. For whatever that will facilitate in terms of a Truth and Reconciliation moment for America, it's worth trying.

My condolences, and my regards as a fellow Democrat.
:patriot:

[rep the dems]

1. Maybe nobody here supported him after all.

[JeffR]

6. It's quiet.

Too quiet.:)

[Critters2]

8. They've got a campaign to work on

Not a Democrat campaign, but still...

[JeffR]

11. Yikes!

:)

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

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

[NanceGreggs]

2. Well said!

:kick:

[JeffR]

9. Did someone put you up to this response, Nance?

:rofl:

[The Magistrate]

3. Well Said, Sir

[JeffR]

7. Thank you, Sir

[SaveElmer]

4. I think you will find that most, if not all, Lieberman supporters here...

Are committed Democrats, and will support Lamont going forward.

[JeffR]

5. I have a lot of faith that that is true

Although it's a damned shame Joe himself doesn't feel the same way.

I just worry that some may find the current carnival atmosphere on DU a little off-putting. Having said that, back to the celebration!
:toast:

[Zhade]

16. Yo SE, props for taking that stance...

...and your coming to realize Lieberman was not worth supporting.

Kudos!

[dweller]

10. oh, and here.

:beer:

:toast:

you look like you could use one.
dp

[JeffR]

27. Back atcha

:toast:

[Zhade]

12. Very gracious of you.

That took class.

[JeffR]

28. We stand together, or we will most most assuredly

hang separately.

[gully]

13. My condolences as well. JL was a good Democrat, BUT he kissed Bush ass.

And, for that - we must bid him adieu. Farewell Mr. Lieberman, best wishes in your pursuit of that non-political.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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

[IChing]

18. Of Course not, the DLC would not allow that

Joe showed that as Chairman of the DLC where he and the DLC stands

like a Twinkie (ghetto word) , you can smell it from here and the taste , substance, and vitamin value is fluff

[Zhade]

19. No, but they're really fringe, so fuck 'em.

:rofl:

Now, what was it I was going to do if Lamont won...? Oh yeah! GLOAT!

HEY LIEBERMAN SUPPORTERS! Um, your guy didn't win, but you gave it a shot. So, er, thanks for taking part in democracy! Yes, that's it!

:)

[T Town Jake]

21. Unlike the simpering hardcore left savants...

...who start screeching "I'M GOIN' GREEN!!!" every time an election doesn't go their way, we genuine Democrats abide by the results of Democratic primary elections, and get behind the Democratic nominee.

You ought to look into it. Being a genuine Democrat, that is.

[deadparrot]

15. Well said.

I'm a die-hard Lamont supporter, but Lieberman wasn't (isn't) all bad, IMHO. He did a lot of good for civil rights. Personally, though, I hope that he'll find his conscience and bow out of the race in short order.

[Carla in Ca]

41. I appreciate what you are saying, deadparrot

and he will definitely NOT run as an independent. The turnout was huge and that says it all, IMHO.

[T Town Jake]

17. Excellent post - I entirely agree. And I was rooting for Lieberman. BUT...

...the voters in the Democratic primary in Connecticut have spoken, and it is time for party unity going into November.

[readmoreoften]

38. Can I ask, respectfully, what you *liked* about Lieberman over Lamont? nt

[skeeters2525]

20. Here A Thought

I never supported Lieberman. But do you really think Joe Lieberman was the cause of all the problems in the world?

If you do, the Liberals are Morons.

Would've been nice if the great Netwonks would have supported Kerry and Gore like Lamont.

But I guess Lamont did more then Gore in Kerry for the past twenty years.

Want a Reality Sandwich. Better work this hard to defeat Republicans.

Wait. Maybe Nader can run in 2008 and we will all be in nirvana

[JeffR]

26. Two thoughts

1) Apparently you didn't read the OP. Lieberman, IMO, is not the cause of the nation's problems. His pal George is. Joe is less a cause than an effect of the malady in America.

2) What on earth does Nader have to do with this? Oh wait, I've got it. His egomania got the better of him and sucked away votes that might otherwise have gone to a Democrat in a vitally important election. Sort of reminds me of Lieberman...

Oh, and a third observation. The post was intended as a gesture of conciliation to DUers whose worldview is light years away from mine, but whose party affiliation and fervent desire to depose the Republicans this fall I wholeheartedly share. That you could use the occasion for this spiteful little rant should but probably won't embarrass you.

It's a crying shame we never got around to putting acid in the reservoirs all those years ago. It might have done you some good.

[eridani]

22. If the outcome had been the reverse--

--I would have sucked it up and voted for Lieberman in the general election. From feral cat to yellow dog in just two short years, I wouldn't have liked it, but would have chosen to build the institutional strength of the party which had 59% of its members vote against the war, Lieberman's antics notwithstanding.

[JeffR]

29. It sure ain't pretty sometimes

but it beats cooling out heels in a gulag, right?:)

[demdiva]

23. This was a nice post! Thanks!

I'm not sure who I would have voted for today if I lived in Connecticut. I used to like Joe so much, but have disagreed with him so much lately.

I know people who have worked for Joe. They adored him as a man. They respected him as their boss. And they are crushed tonight. I know they are.

As a former supporter I am also sad. To see a once highly respected member of our party pushed to the fringes. To see him attacked by members of our party and adored by the people who hate us. It is sad. Don't get me wrong .... I understand why ...but it is sad.

Regardless, I hope you'll indulge me a very short, cheesy rant ...the people have spoken! Is there a more powerful symbol of the turning tides then this??? Let's hope this movement continues where we really need it in the fall ... with the Republicans.

[JeffR]

30. "the people have spoken!"

It's incredible how frightened that fact makes some folks.

And if that's a cheesy rant, I'll take extra cheese, please!

[BrightKnight]

24. I'm yellow dog but I bet a lot of Repugs voted for Lamont today.

I can not stomach what Lieberman did. If you lose the primary you drop out!

He is essentially the Repug candidate now. They will be lining up behind him.

It is unfortunate that we need to waste time and money on this seat. He was far from ideal but he did some thing right.

[IChing]

31. So you blame repugs for Joe's choice for his desertion to the party?

That the repugs made Lamont win?......it didn't happen my brightknight of ignorance

"but I bet a lot of Repugs voted for Lamont today."


the system doesn't work that way in Conn.

[JeffR]

32. And if only 49 other states could do things the way Conn. does

well, then we'd be on our way to some sanity in the country.

[IChing]

33. Believe me California knows

We may seem flakey to some but we do know
and are changing this state.

[JeffR]

34. ..

:toast:

[Donald Ian Rankin]

45. I think you're speaking too soon.

Lamont won a primary, not an election. He was endorsed by the Democratic party, but he's still got to win endorsement from the electorate as a whole for that to mean anything.

[BrightKnight]

37. No, Joe is turncoat scum

He showed us all what he was about today. He values his seat above party or principle.

I suspect that he feels that keeping an influential voice in the Senate is more important than absolutely anything else. He supports Repugs because he needs to remain as influential as possible.

This is not really acceptable because he was elected as a Democrat to serve his constituents.
-------------

What Lamont did was very impressive any way you look at it. He defeated a very well funded incumbent with the support of all of the Democratic heavy artillery.

The repugs appeared to be very pleased with the Lamont victory. I don't know how the primary system works in Connecticut. I hope that he did win without any Repug mischief. IF Lamont wins the seat the Repugs will not have anything to be pleased about.

As a red state Democrat I can tell you that moderate red state repugs would want nothing to do with a Lamont Democrat. I do not know how it would play in purple areas but I have my doubts. You can not force feed voters what they don't want to eat. What works in Connecticut might not work everywhere.

[Kickin_Donkey]

35. How the fuck could Repubs vote for Lamont?

It was a closed primary. Only Democrats could vote in that contest.

[Eurobabe]

36. Oldest trick in the book, change their declaration of party

by the deadlines set in CT. I could do it in OH too if I wanted.

But I don't think this was the case, the Dems in the Nutmeg State have spoken loud and clear.

[SaveElmer]

39. They would have had to change in May...

Lieberman was well in front in the polls then...

[readmoreoften]

40. Yeah but why would they want to?

I can't see a Lamont win helping the Republican candidate in any scenario. If they just wanted Joe to win the general, they could have switched to vote Joe.

[BrightKnight]

43. I was apparently wrong about that.

We don't have primary rules like that in Texas. You can do whatever you want to do.

Lieberman is a high profile and very well funded incumbent with excellent political skills and the support of all of the Democratic heavy artillery. He lost to an underfunded relatively unknown guy with mediocre political skills.

I shouldn't be so cynical but I found it difficult to believe at first.

Clearly Lieberman has not been representing the Connecticut Democrats.

[DeepModem Mom]

25. K&R

[mhatrw]

44. The time has finally come for the centrists to take one for the team.

I've sucked it up and worked for less-than-perfect Dems plenty of times.

Will you please consider returning the favor -- just this once?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

46. I hoped Lieberman would win, even though Lamont will be better senator.

I think that Lamont's political opinions have a lot more to be said for them than Lieberman's, but I worried (and worry) that ousting Lieberman will cost the Democrats votes in other states that they can ill afford to lose.

I worry that a non-trivial number of voters will interpret the result as showing that moderates are no longer welcome in the Democratic party. *I* don't think that's the case, but what matters is not whether it's true but whether people will believe it.

Still, it's an ill wind that blows no good: Lamont *will* clearly make a better senator than Lieberman will. I just hope choosing him doesn't cost the Democrats other good senators.

[cmkramer]

47. Thank you

I continue to support Lieberman's run and will as long as either he or Lamont are winning by a strong margin. However, if it becomes apparent that Joe's run would cause a Republican victory, then I become a Ned Lamont girl.

[fuzzyball]

48. I support ALL LIFELONG democrats and thet includes Lieberman..

however if he runs as an independent, I am not
so sure I want to supoort him.