DSCC Chair Chuck Shumer: May support Lieberman even as independent

[Pale Blue Dot]

Isn't the DSCC supposedly a Democratic institution? Since when would they not support the Democratic candidate?

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/06/post_14.html

Schumer said that the DSCC "fully supports" Sen. Joe Lieberman in his primary bid, and he refused to rule out continuing that support if Lieberman were to run as an independent.

There were degrees of independence, Schumer said. "You can run as an independent, you can run as an independent Democrat who pledges to vote for Harry Reid as Majority Leader."

Schumer said he had neither sought nor recieved assurances from Lieberman that an independent bid would not ensue if Ned Lamont tightened the noose.

[Thickasabrick]

1. What's up with Chuck?

[eviltwin2525]

11. up-chuck, indeed

outlaw incumbency! federal, state, and local

[DODI]

2. Go to H E double hockey sticks Schumer! CT wants Lamont!

[journalist3072]

3. Why is the DSCC even getting involved in taking sides during a primary?

Shouldn't their policy and M.O. be to let the voters decide who goes on to the general election. And then the DSCC firmly get behind the Democratic nominee.

This just smells to me.

[LoZoccolo]

10. Because according to polls, Lamont would lose the general. n/t

[Pale Blue Dot]

12. That's why I'm hoping Lieberman runs as an independent

It would insure a Lamont victory.

[LoZoccolo]

14. Care to explain how that's consistent with this?

The poll found that if Lieberman runs as an independent, he would win with 56 percent of the vote, compared with 18 percent for Lamont and 8 percent for Republican Alan Schlesinger.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/06/14/lieberman_must_decide_whether_to_run_as_independent_candidate/

[Pale Blue Dot]

16. Easy.

If he runs as an independent, he's going to piss off the Democrats in this state. The Republicans, smelling blood, will vote for their own guy.

Plus, Lamont currently has little name recognition but is gaining in every single poll. In fact, the latest Rasmussen poll has Lieberman at 46%, Lamont 40.

I live in this state. Lieberman is done.

[LoZoccolo]

18. He hasn't even pissed off most of the Democrats now.

But if what you say is the consensus view of Lamont supporters, Lamont should be defeated simply to punish the unskillful approach to strategy held by the people propping him up. The Republicans are way more disciplined than that, and we can't be introducing an approach that ignores something as demonstrable as those poll results.

But I'm glad you've learned how to live in that state.

[Pale Blue Dot]

19. We'll see who has the last laugh.

Good luck! :D :woohoo:

[LaPera]

15. The same republican, Rove polls...The republicans love...

and are hoping Lieberman wins...nothing better than having a 'Dem" in name only voting as they do...It only gives the republicans more power having a "Democrat" (in name only) supporting their fascist corporate agenda...They love & need to be able to say, "see the voting for Bush's legislation was bi-partisan". It gives the republican agenda fuel and the power to proceed into complete fascism.

What's more dangerous (to what we have left of our democracy), a republican, or a democrat(in name only)voting as the same as the republicans? Remember Zell Miller?

[LoZoccolo]

24. Compare Liebeman's voting record to the Republicans...

...the entire voting record for, say, the past two years, and you might convince me.

[popculture]

4. chuck

Do you sometimes feel like Schumer is the biggest cheeser of all time? He steps forward on a number of good issues and debates, but sometimes I wonder his motive....

any thoughts? Thanks for the post!

[sweetheart]

6. he be wall street's baby

tar baby that is. He plays for the home team, and that team is "neo-liberalism" and
"corporate opportunism", classically known as on-the-way-out if the dems are to
have a prayer this year.

Gosh the world spins fast, and mosta these boys have lost their grip.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi popculture!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Art_from_Ark]

5. Lieberman should take a lesson from J. William Fulbright

arguably one of the greatest Senators of the 20th century. Senator Fulbright served for 30 years in the Senate, and had established quite a distinguished reputation for himself during those years. But in the 1974 Arkansas Democratic primary, he had competition from Arkansas' governor (then serving his second term), Dale Bumpers. Fulbright lost, and conceded gracefully. Mr. Bumpers eventually won the general election, and went on to become a pretty decent Senator in his own right.

[saltpoint]

7. Ok, but notice how ambiguous Schumer's language is. I think Schumer

knew Lieberman was in trouble before Lieberman did.

Many -- probably most -- of DU knew that Joe Lieberman was going to get crushed in the New Hampshire primary in 04, although it's certain that Lieberman expected to win. I think that loss really stunned him, and he still hasn't picked up the trend that his support of the Bush administration's legislative initiatives -- not just the war -- have subtracted from his base of support in CT.

Again -- I'm just hunchin'.

I think Schumer knew before Lieberman that Lamont's surge was unstoppable, that Lamont will win the primary, that Lieberman will have no real choice but to run as an independent, and -- this is the longer shot -- that Lamont wins the Senate seat.

We don't know Schumer's private phone records over the last 2 months or so, but my strong suspicion is that he would prefer Lamont to Lieberman anyway. Lieberman is NOT a plus for Schumer in the Senate. his job would be much easier if a younger team player were to come on board.

[dysfunctional press]

21. the problem is that the insurance industry can't afford to lose joe...

and those guys play HARDball.

:popcorn:
this could get reeeeeal good...

[saltpoint]

23. Hi, QuestionAll. I've been telling some of the Connecticut DUers

how lucky they are to be front-and-center for this primary race. It is a sizzler.

I'm kinda jealous.

[kaygore]

8. Does Schumer want to be the next to be replaced?

The Republicans listen to their base. Why don't the Democrats?

In Virginia, Miller is a lobbyist for the telecommunications industry. Net neutrality is a big issue. The turn out was small and it was easy for us to get out the vote for Webb. We are against the war. Webb is against the war. Lieberman is not only for the war, but he is willing to sacrifice the whole country for it. Plus, he is Bush's personal ass wiper. On issues that count, Lieberman is a Republican. In fact, he is pro-corporation over his constituents, as I bet Schumer and many other Democrats are (can you say, Feinstein?)

If the Democrat leadership doesn't start heeding the will of its base, then they may find themselves without a base.

Many of us are getting pretty tired of hearing that it is better to vote for a Democrat than a Republican even if we can't tell the difference between the two!

[LaPera]

9. Does this prove the long time Dem's (DLC) are happy

with the status quo, as long as it doesn't effective them getting re-elected? Man, I despise the NY senators DLC regressive ideology (and that goes for CA Feinstein, CT Liberman & DE Binden) and their selfish near-sightedness...As long as they get elected...such Bush ass-kissers ALL of them...They just don't get it(or care)...Such out of touch moderates at best!

[bdamomma]

13. you know

I think these veteran senators do not want fresh blood in their club, all the more reason to shake up the house and senate, and get some fresh ideas in there. Schumer supporting Lieberman give it rest Chuck.

[regnaD kciN]

17. Between this...

...and Biden's insistence that we really don't need to concern ourselves with Net Neutrality (and these are just today's news items), I'm getting the feeling that, before we can force the Republicans out of power in our country, we're going to have to force the pseudo-Republicans out of power in our party.

Seriously, I question whether the majority of Democrats in positions of power aren't more comfortable with Bush and his ilk than they are with us. They certainly seem ready, at the drop of a hat, to side with others in their own inner circle against the will of Democratic voters.

I wish this wasn't happening at the beginning of a critical midterm election, but I just can't trust our current Democratic "leaders." We need a house-cleaning, and we need it now!

:-(

[dysfunctional press]

20. hellloooo....

the dlc needs to be purged before the REAL democratic party can ever move forward.

[TheDecider]

22. I cannot agree more

the idea of promoting "neo-liberalism" as the new policy of the democratic is wrong on so many levels. only when we have cleared out these repug-demogs will we be able to move ahead with an agenda to put america back on the right track. we cannot survive with a country whose parties support the evil big business agenda. we at DU being the heart of the democratic party realize this and will fight for our party. it appears that my beloved senator is moving away from the true democratic party in order to make himself appear better for the rest of the democratic party. sigh.

[newyawker99]

26. TheDecider!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: