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My letter to ABC News after tonight's repeat portrayal "the Far Left".

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Mugsy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:40 PM
Original message
My letter to ABC News after tonight's repeat portrayal "the Far Left".
Once again, ABC's "World News Tonight" falsely portrayed the results of the Lieberman/Lamont primary in Connecticut, to where I felt compeled to send them a little letter:
----------------------------

I was seriously bothered by tonights comments on your "World News Tonight" regarding the victory of Ned Lamont over incumbent Joe Lieberman in Connecticut's Democratic Primary last Tuesday. I am still hearing the ridiculous meme being perpetuated that Lamont's win is somehow the result of "Left Wing extremists that seek to push the Party to the far Left." Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Senator Lieberman has earned a reputation as THE LEAST Democratic senator in the Democratic Party, constantly siding with the Republican Neo-Conservatives in Congress over his own Party, often going as far as to chastise his own Party for not acting more like Republicans. He simultaneously bashes Democrats that bash him and his campaign... just a small taste of the Neo-Conservative hypocrisy that Connecticut voters have grown to loath in their Senator.

The Democratic vote for Ned Lamont was a vote for a RETURN to more Democratic principles. A vote FOR PARTY UNITY and a REJECTION of the Bush Doctrine... the REAL extremist position in our country (war mongering, Constitutional violations, extreme fiscal irresponsibility, and just an overall nasty demeanor that has permiated the public at large - "That racist, sexist, homophobic xenophobia you smell... you're soaking in it!")

"Anti War" is NOT "the extreme Left position". 60% of all Americans now want an exit strategy for the imminent withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, so please stop referring to "the anti-war movement" as "the far Left" because it's patently false.

A key reason for the selection of Senator Lieberman as the 2000 Vice Presidential nominee was his party-splitting vote to impeach President Clinton in 1999, even chastising him on the Senate floor. Selecting Lieberman was mostly a maneuver to attract both Conservative voters and Democrats dismayed over President Clinton's behavior.

But to now listen to Senator Lieberman repeatedly defend President Bush for committing crimes and defending atrocities resulting from his policies, only serve to heighten Senator Lieberman's detachment from the core principles of the Democratic Party... regulation of government and industry for the betterment of society; whereas the Republican agenda is the exact opposite: regulating people for the benefit of government and industry).

It comes as no surprise that Senator Lieberman hasn't yet questioned WHY he received so many ringing Conservative endorsements, including several by some of the most radical extremists hate-mongers in the Republican Party:

o Sean Hannity, of "Hannity & Colmes" on Fox - Publicly endorsed Lieberman on his show and organized a fund-raiser in CT (link).
o Ann Coulter - "He needs to just come on over (to our side)." (link)
o Bill Kristol, Editor of "The Weekly Standard" - "Is it too soon to consider him for the Republican Vice Presidential nomination in 2008?" (link)
o Karl Rove - "Whatever we can do, we will do (for Lieberman)." (link)
o Tony Snow - "A vote for Lamont is a vote for another 9/11." (link)
o Tom Delay gave his support for Lieberman "over Lamont" (link)
o NYC Mayor Bloomberg says he would campaign for Lieberman if asked (link)
o James Guckert (aka Neo-Conservative male prostitute reporter Jeff Gannon) - "(JFK would) more than likely be sickened by its treatment of Sen. Joe Lieberman, one of the few in his party who takes the threat of Islamofacism seriously." - (link)

VP Dick Cheney, GOP Ringmaster Ken Mehlman and former WH Press Secretary McClellan also all praised Senator Lieberman. And Joe didn't earn that kiss from President Bush because he was an impartial Independent. Speaking of which, Senator Lieberman's decision not to support the Democratic nominee in Connecticut, but instead run as an Independent, should only further illustrate the same disloyalty to the Democratic Party that Connecticut voters recognized in Joe long ago and voted out Tuesday night.

Joe Lieberman was near the bottom of the pack in 2004, drawing a pathetic 2.5% of Democratic supporters NATION WIDE in the Democratic Primary, further illustrating that Senator Lieberman has been out of the Democratic mainstream for a very long time. And no one was blaming "bloggers" for his unpopularity back then, now were they?

And still Senator Lieberman can't understand why he is so vilified by voters in "his own Party". The Party didn't reject Joe... Joe rejected his Party... long ago. Please stop perpetuating the falsehood that Democrats are "split", "in disarray" or otherwise being usurped by a "radical minority". You are only doing the Republican's dirty work for them by perpetuating the myth that Democrats "are in disarray". They claim, "Democrats can't agree on anything". Of course, half of that "disarray" was frequently The Good Senator from Connecticut. Now with Joe now gone, I think you're going to see a lot less of that.
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MadMaddie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:42 PM
Response to Original message
1. Mugsy incredible letter....
did you get the standard form reply back....
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bluerum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:43 PM
Response to Original message
2. Exxxcceeeellllleeeenntt. But don't waste it on ABC news - this would
be a GREAT lte with a little re-write!
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Skidmore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 03:20 AM
Response to Reply #2
26. Agreed. Send it to someone to distribute to candidates/spokespeople..
This is the way that Democratic Party representatives should be talking.
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Beaverhausen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:43 PM
Response to Original message
3. good job!
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Cleita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:45 PM
Response to Original message
4. Well said!
Also, the "extreme left" seems to encompass the majority of Americans who still believe that their Constitution should be honored.
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Nikki Stone 1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:49 PM
Response to Original message
5. Excellent letter!
:kick:
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AX10 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:52 PM
Response to Original message
6. K and R! Here's something to read!
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Generator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:54 PM
Response to Original message
7. I finally saw Lieberman speaking on why he must "fight on"
on Countdown. I was shocked at the language he used. "I'm not going to let THESE PEOPLE take over." WHAT THE FUCK? These people? These people-you mean Democrats, you mean we are the terrorists, the enemy, you mean what? "Left wing extremists." That's a lie. The "war" is bullshit based on PROVEN lies. I'm just stunned. Joe thinks that the majority of Americans are now "these people." And "these people" must be stopped. The guy is a true fascist, I'm afraid. If you don't agree with him, you are a threat that is taking over. And of course, the media spins it that way too,because until yesterday Lieberman was a Democrat. So if you aren't with Joe, you are the enemy. He's fucking creepy. And the media is AFRAID to DEATH of any real power in the hands of the people. Real Democracy is the biggest threat to this country. Maybe I will just re-name it the United States of Propaganda.


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AnotherMother4Peace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 08:10 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. These sound like GOP talking points, authored by Rove.
Edited on Wed Aug-09-06 08:28 PM by AnotherMother4Peace
Lieberman is a GOP operative
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zanne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 07:58 PM
Response to Original message
8. I'm amazed that all the PNAC members in the administration...
have never been dubbed the "right wing extremists" by the MSM, or even by the Democratic party! The hypocrisy is so obvious and the solution is so easy. All we have to do is play their game and start referring to them as the extremists on the right. What are we waiting for?
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AntiFascist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #8
36. Why not right wingnuts?

With representatives like Pat Robertson and Ann Coulter advocating violence against fellow Americans just for the way they think, they gleefully cross a line that most leftists would never dream to cross, stomping on the Constitution in the process.
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creeksneakers2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 06:37 PM
Response to Reply #8
40. Great idea!
Bush and the Neocons want to remake the governments of every nation in the Middle East and are willing to prosecute as many consecutive wars as it takes to achieve that goal. How extremist is that? I've looked for a poll to see if anybody anywhere in America agrees with Bush's extremist ideas but haven't found one. I guess it would be embarrassing for pollsters to call up normal people on the phone and ask them a question like that.

When I write the mainstream media, I'm going to ask them about Bush's extremist views and how few agree with them. I want to join your idea!
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debbierlus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 08:00 PM
Response to Original message
9. Well said!!!

Excellent.
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ananda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 08:06 PM
Response to Original message
10. A movement to the far left..
.. would be so good for the entire country.

So, yes, calling anyone or any movement in politics
a movement of, by, for, or to the far left is absurd.

People in the center now would have been far right
a few years ago.
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gully Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 08:10 PM
Response to Original message
12. Perhaps we should remind them that McKinney lost as well?
Nice letter, thanks!
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chill_wind Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
13. Bravo Mugsy. Well done. Well said!
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DanCa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 08:29 PM
Response to Original message
14. Excellent letter,
Keep it up.
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Atman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 08:33 PM
Response to Original message
15. Mild critique for those who want to write similar letters...
Don't say stuff like this...

"Senator Lieberman has earned a reputation as THE LEAST Democratic senator in the Democratic Party, constantly siding with the Republican Neo-Conservatives in Congress over his own Party,"

It can be dismissed with 20 seconds on Google. Lieberman has not "constantly sided with the Republican Neo-Conservatives in Congress over his own Party." He has voted with his party 90% of the time. However, 90% isn't acceptable when the other 10% are so hurtful to cherished American values. But when you start off with a meme that can be easily debunked, the rest of your letter carries diminished weight.

Otherwise, great letter!
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Mugsy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 09:06 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Two I forgot...
Edited on Wed Aug-09-06 09:07 PM by Mugsy
I forgot to include Michelle Malkin and David Horowitz among the Right-Wing wackjobs supporting Joe Lieberman.

Another point I just thought of... the hypocrisy of the MSM talking about a "rift" among Democrats for not supporting Joe, but not word one about Republicans rejecting Katherine Harris or Ken Blackwell.
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Mugsy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #15
20. Majority of "90%" not in past five years.
Edited on Wed Aug-09-06 10:56 PM by Mugsy
I forgot to mention that, the majority of that "90% with the Democrats" nonsense is based upon his pre-Bush voting record (IINM - If I'm Not Mistaken). Since then, he's been a regular GOP lapdog.
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fooj Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 12:58 PM
Response to Reply #15
35. No, Atman. His voting record is 50%! Here's proof.
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Mugsy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 09:38 PM
Response to Original message
17. Chicago Tribune is catching on.
There is a good article just posted on the Chicago Tribune website that suggests that *somebody* out there in the MSM is FINALLY catching on:

"WASHINGTON -- The reverberations from Sen. Joseph Lieberman's primary defeat were felt far beyond Connecticut on Wednesday as Republicans sought to divide Democrats by linking them to anti-war candidate Ned Lamont..."
(link)


Thanks for all the kind words folks! Hopefully, we can get this on the homepage for the rest of the world to read!

:)
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Straight Shooter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 12:27 AM
Response to Reply #17
24. Lamont is not a one-dimensional "anti-war candidate"
Lamont is "pro American citizen." He realizes that the average American is getting the shaft. The Iraq War is a big factor in the shaft, but it's the symptom, not the disease. Lieberman is part of the disease, the neocon cancer.

As soon as the MSM can figure that out, maybe I'll pay attention to what they're spouting on political issues. Until then, pfffftt!
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Anita Garcia Donating Member (869 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 09:48 PM
Response to Original message
18. Great letter and thanks for sending it k&r
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Bozita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 10:23 PM
Response to Original message
19. That gets my vote for "Letter of the Day" ...
... in the ESPN tradition of "Play of the Day"
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Raksha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-09-06 11:13 PM
Response to Original message
21. Great letter! n/t
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tomp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 12:20 AM
Response to Original message
22. wow! that's a great letter! nt
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upi402 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 12:25 AM
Response to Original message
23. good work!
i used to write news organizations repeatedly in the 80's and early 90's.
fair to say i didn't persuade them from their drift right, then march right.
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lebkuchen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 03:15 AM
Response to Original message
25. Your letter makes me miss CBC
Just over the border, other Americans have the benefit of news presented in a nonbiased fashion.
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monk24 Donating Member (38 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 07:38 AM
Response to Original message
27. Brilliant response - needs circulation
An extremely well-reasoned, well-documented response to the MSM's simple-minded and false characterization of "why" Lieberman lost the primary.

Senator Lieberman is Zell Miller sans the vitriol. Your letter thoroughly catalogs his litany of "Republicanisms" throughout the years, and deserves the widest possible circulation.

Thanks for a thoughtful, vigorous response Mugsy.
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bigwillq Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 08:04 AM
Response to Original message
28. That's a great letter.
Thanks for writing it. :hi:
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FourScore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 09:39 AM
Response to Original message
29. This should be submitted as an op-ed
In fact I think democrats should be submitting writings like this to newspapers all across the US!
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deaniac21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 09:47 AM
Response to Original message
30. You certainly set them straight!!
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slor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 09:53 AM
Response to Original message
31. Damn Mugsy !
That letter was devastating. Great stuff!
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Mugsy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 10:20 AM
Response to Reply #31
32. Thanks, but...
it appears the "powers that be" running DU have seen fit never to post anything I write on the homepage no matter how many votes it gets. I'm not sure what I did to tick them off. :)

I'm going to retool this for an LTE to a newspaper in CT.
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Quantess Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 12:25 PM
Response to Original message
33. Good for you!
I had no idea ABC had aired such a blatantly biased program. I wish I had seen it, so that I would have better ammunition to write a letter, myself.
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klook Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
34. Great job - you should be a pro speechwriter. (n/t)
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itzamirakul Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 02:02 PM
Response to Original message
37. This letter is simply terrific! I wish we had hundreds more like it.
Another poster suggested that you submit it for an op ed piece and I agree. It is really too good to be read only by the backstage crew at ABC News...it deserves more exposure.

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ninkasi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 02:34 PM
Response to Original message
38. That's a great letter!
Please consider writing more of them. You did a wonderful explanation of why Lieberman lost, and gave fair warning to other DINO's that we are sick of them wanting our votes and our money, only to turn their backs on us after they are elected.
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emmadoggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-10-06 03:53 PM
Response to Original message
39. Excellent!! Great job!
Very well done. You nailed it. This should be circulated to many in the media and press.

:applause: :applause: :applause:
:yourock:
:kick:
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