Lieberman Attacks Democratic Critics On Right-Wing Radio: They’re Invested In ‘Retreat And Defeat’ In Iraq
Lieberman Attacks Democratic Critics On Right-Wing Radio: They’re Invested In ‘Retreat And Defeat’ In Iraq
Yesterday, Brave New Films launched a “Lieberman Must Go” petition drive arguing that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) no longer deserves a chairmanship or leadership role in the Senate Democratic Caucus because of his overt support for President Bush and John McCain’s key policies, especially on Iraq.
As if he was consciously hoping to throw fuel on the petition’s fire, Lieberman appeared on conservative stalwart Bill Bennett’s radio show this morning and assailed his Democratic colleagues on Iraq. Referencing a bellicose speech he gave at John Hopkins last year, Lieberman accused his former colleagues of being “invested in a narrative of retreat and defeat in Iraq”:
LIEBERMAN: Oh, about a year ago I gave a speech at John Hopkins and I expressed my concern about where my Democratic party was going on foreign policy and I specifically talked about Iraq, and I said that the party seemed invested in a narrative of retreat and defeat in Iraq, regardless of what was happening on the ground, regardless of the consequences of retreat and defeat. And unfortuantely, too many of the leaders of the party have continued to have that approach to Iraq.
Listen here:
Lieberman’s shot at “leaders of the party” is surprising given that it is “leaders of the party” who are protecting him from efforts like the Brave New Films petition. Despite growing frustration within the Democratic caucus, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) previously said that Lieberman’s chairmanship will not be at risk next Congress.
But Reid’s patience may be running thin. He said “I’ll consider anything” when asked in May about Lieberman’s future in the caucus. He also told MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann that he’s going to watch Lieberman’s conduct “very closely.” On Bloomberg TV last Friday, Reid hinted that Lieberman might not be with the party “forever”:
MR. HUNT: And you expect him to be in the Democratic caucus next year?
SEN. REID: Well, unless something untoward comes up. You know, I – these votes are important. And, as we know, when Obama’s elected, he’s going to wind down the war so that will become much less of an issue. So on issues that are important to this caucus, Lieberman has voted with us. Now, does this mean he’s in forever? I don’t know about that.
Continued vociferous attacks on the policies preferred by the “leaders of the party” are likely to only spread that patience even thinner.
Transcript:
BENNETT: Let’s start with the third, which is Iraq and the thing everybody’s looking at Joe, which is Barack Obama, your colleguage’s going over to Iraq. This is a good thing, right? We do want him to see what’s going on on the ground and talk to Petraeus.LIEBERMAN: Yeah, it’s absolutely a good thing. Look, somebody once told me when you’re a senator and you start to quote yourself, you have to watch out, you know, so, but forgive me, I’m about to quote myself.
BENNETT: Please. If you don’t, we will. Go ahead.
LIEBERMAN: Oh, about a year ago I gave a speech at John Hopkins and I expressed my concern about where my Democratic party was going on foreign policy and I specifically talked about Iraq, and I said that the party seemed invested in a narrative of retreat and defeat in Iraq, regardless of what was happening on the ground, regardless of the consequences of retreat and defeat. And unfortuantely, too many of the leaders of the party have continued to have that approach to Iraq, even as the new policy, the surge, has been implemented by a great general, David Petraeus, and violence is down, the Iraqis have reconciled, the economy there is coming back. Things are doing better. And with all respect, Sen. Obama has continued to be part of that because he insists on ordering, promising that if he’s elected, he’ll order that retreat, which I think would bring about defeat, regardless of what’s happening on the ground. So, yes, I take it to be a very good sign that he’s going to Iraq, that he’s going to see it, that finally he’s going to talk to Gen. Petraeus, Gen. Odierno. Because, you know, the position he’s taken, that started three, four, five years ago, so far he has refused to alter based on actual events on the ground. So, yeah, it’s a good thing that he’s going.
BENNETT: Yeah, John Maynard Keynes quote, “when the facts change, I change my mind, what do you do sir?” You know.
LIEBERMAN: Worth remembering.
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I thought the “retreat” part is why Lieberman is an Independent right wingnut at current.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:10 pmOh please…..just get rid of him! Can’t stand his whiney voice anymore!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:11 pm“With all rspect” my arse. You self-centered, egotistical, traitor to those who supported you.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:12 pmMiserable traitorest basteeeeeeeerd…Blessings
June 26th, 2008 at 5:12 pmWitch1, I prefer to categorize him as bas-turd.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:13 pmLieberman will not be reelected to the Senate in 2010. He will lose his committee chairmanship within the next seven months. This is his last hurrah. He will be known as a traitor to his party for the rest of his life. And he should have realized by now that he will very shortly outlive his usefullness to both Democrats and Republicans. I’m sure he’ll end up a lobbyist for a defense contractor and or Israeli government/business interests.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:14 pmLieberman chose to invest in AIPAC,PNAC, NeoCons ideology instead, in addition to that he became a follower of McCain’s theories of war.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:15 pmrogerse Says:
So publicly critisizing your former allegiance is bad…
Not necessarily rogers.
For example, when you come to your senses and realize that you’ve been defending the dark side (the party of people like Cheney) and you then criticize the republicans, well, that would be good!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:19 pmThe problem with this false argument is that there wouldn’t be a retreat and the ‘defeat’ part is the supposed consequence. There is no evidence to back up the jump to that conclusion. Any change does not constitute ‘defeat’. Besides, if the mission was accomplished, how can it be a defeat?
June 26th, 2008 at 5:25 pmThe dark side now controls both sides.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:25 pmYour correct Marie, from now on I’ll refere to him as lie-berman the niserable traiterest bass-turd…Thank’s for the idea of a good correction…LOL..Blessings
June 26th, 2008 at 5:26 pmAnd for Jibber-Jab Joe’s next outlandish stunt of depravity, he’ll tattoo a Holocaust serial number onto his forearm!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:27 pmRogerse: There is nothing wrong with criticizing your former side. Thus, I would expect Liebermann to admit that he has totally changed his party alliegence and to voluntarily resign his chairmanship positions within the Senate. What we object to is his full support of the Republican party, his attack against the Democrats and his support of McBush for president while remaining within the Democratic caucus. Now, the Democrats should expell him from the caucus. Current Senate rules would permit the Democrats to retain control of an equally divided senate through the elections. Rogerse: You know that more seats will come to the Democrats because everyone now knows that Republicans and conservatives such as yourself are nothing more than disloyal scum.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:27 pmReid hinted that Lieberman might not be with the party “forever”
Was he ever?
June 26th, 2008 at 5:28 pmLoc-jaw said;
June 26th, 2008 at 5:30 pmSTFU Troll
Uh, the troll on site seem’s to think no attack since 9/11 is a valad point..Can someone remind the mindless parasite all this mess was caused by bull shit bush including 9/11 by neglect or intent he’s guilty…Jeebos it’s both tireing and boring to explain to troll’s….I’m gonna go pull some bush’s out of my yard…Blessings
June 26th, 2008 at 5:32 pmOl’ Joe is just making a fuss so his book sells more copies. He knows he will become irrelevant after the election and he’ll never hold another office. All he’s doing is seeding controversy to add value. I say ignore him in contempt like a troll. Don’t give him the satisfaction of our outrage.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:32 pmradiodujour – you may have a point there, but, I think the republicans are still a lot worse than the democrats.
btw, nice web site! Scary, but very well done and full of important information. I’ll be back.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:33 pmrogerse Says:
So publicly critisizing your former allegiance is bad…
So you were supportive of McClellan’s book?
June 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pmrogerse Says
June 26th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
So publicly critisizing your former allegiance is bad…
____________________________________________________
No, you don’t get it. First of all, Lieberman isn’t a Democrat, he wasn’t elected as a Democrat — he’s officially an Independent. Yes, he chooses to caucus with the Democrats (he has more power and a committee chairmanship by doing this than he would by caucusing with the GOP, even though that would change the majority party). But he has a lot of chutzpah if he thinks he is still entitled to say “my Democratic party”.
He can criticize the Democrats. He can suck face with the Republicans. As an independent, he can pretty much do whatever he wants. But he shouldn’t pretend he’s a Democrat, or has any allegiance to that party whatsoever.
Furthermore, once the Senate has a safe Democratic majority, Lieberman will lose his chairmanship and bid a not-so-fond goodbye from the party. No matter what Ried is saying now.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pmWith all due respect, TP, it’s Johns Hopkins, not John.
PEACE
June 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pmCome on lock box, we are waiting…
June 26th, 2008 at 5:38 pmMan…with a rhyming slogan like that, how could it NOT be true!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:39 pmlock_box Says:
The libs would love noting more than defeat in Iraq. It’s not about the troop death toll, its all about who was right and who was wrong. We know Bush has done something right their hasn’t been a terrorist attack sense 9/11 .
Do you really believe what you said? WTF does Iraq have to do with terrorism? They never attacked us. And what is ‘winning’ anyway? We blew up their country and now wonder why the civil and religious war erupted.
Your butt-buddy Bush and his fellow scumbags in the NeoCon BushCo Cabal are the real terrorists.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:39 pmdumber than a box of rocks Says:
“The libs would love noting more than defeat in Iraq. It’s not about the troop death toll, its all about who was right and who was wrong. We know Bush has done something right their hasn’t been a terrorist attack sense 9/11.”
“Germany was a failure?”
what a bunch of nonsince!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:41 pmno, but you are a complete and udder failure!
what a maroon!
You’ve got to kind of feel sorry for ol joe.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pmI mean, for him, it’s late in life, and he’s ALWAYS looked like that.
Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
It’s pretty sad that the reich-wingers worship LIEbermann so much. He was tossed out of the Democratic Party. He’s equivalent to trash. Reich-wingers evidently love trash.
A couple of years back, I was involved in a “board” largely run and infested with very Right Wing types. Even the “moderators” were drawn from the Righties, and there were only a handful of liberals. The Righties all loved Lieberman, even then and often said he was the only Democrat they’d ever vote for. But when I suggested that this only proved he was just as Right Wing as they were, I was chastised repeatedly. “No, no, we just respect him because he is an honorable man, unlike any other Democrat.”
Haw haw.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pmI said that the party seemed invested in a narrative of retreat and defeat in Iraq, regardless of what was happening on the ground…
And what exactly have you been invested in, JoeLie? *spit*
June 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pmLock box:
June 26th, 2008 at 5:44 pmI am sorry. I think many chances were offered. You are indeed Pussy for Life.
lock_box Says:
Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
In a cave scared sh!tless !!
Laughing his arse off is more like it. Watching BushCo play chase their tail and destroying our country from within.
If he really is there, why are we in Iraq, why aren’t we looking for him with all our best effort?
June 26th, 2008 at 5:45 pmKeith H. Says:
You’ve got to kind of feel sorry for ol joe.
I mean, for him, it’s late in life, and he’s ALWAYS looked like that.
It’s the sort of thing that makes people, er, bitter.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pmlockedbox didn’t bring his A game today. He is just mailing it in.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:47 pmupside99 Says:
“lockedbox didn’t bring his A game today. He is just mailing it in.”
that is his A game. that’s as good as it gets.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:49 pmlock box of climate hoax fame now seeks “proof”
June 26th, 2008 at 5:49 pmlock_box Says:
Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
So you’re claiming Bush has been a complete failure at keeping Al Qaeda out of our country after 9/11? Where is your proof?
How about $4 gas, how about a 350 DJ drop today, how about a $100B repair bill for our military, how about the loss of our moral compass and the distrust of the rest of the world?
See, alQaeda has already been here, and done that, with BushCo’s complete and undying support.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:51 pmSo, locky-bocky, do you have enough points for a McCain baseball cap now??
YAY!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:53 pmAnd Joe?
Drop dead, you traitorous scraggyass POS.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:55 pmeven as the new policy, the surge, has been implemented by a great general, David Petraeus, and violence is down, the Iraqis have reconciled, the economy there is coming back.
Boloney.
There has been no substantive progress at reconciliation, in fact, they’re as politically polarized as ever.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:57 pmrogerse Says:
#25 misshusseinmolly Says:
So I guess if he was a democrat, it’d be bad criticizing your party…
I have to wonder if rogerse might have been provided with a macro that starts “So I guess …” and he merely has to insert complete gibberish and hit “submit”. Because none of these comments ever seem to relate to much of anything, much less anything anyone has written in a previous comment.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:59 pmLieberman knows Iraq was a mistake and the real war on terror is in Afghanistan. Lieberman also knows Iraq’s real purpose was twofold, one to increase Israel’s power in the region and to control the oil trade. These are beyond any doubt the reasons for the illegal and immoral attack on Iraq. Democrats are the good guys willing to end this lie and genocide.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:59 pmWhy in Hell would anyone go to the risk and expense of attacking the U.S. directly when Chimpy gleefully provide them with several hundred thousand convenient targets camping in their front yard. As much as I despise their tactics I’m not stupid enough to think the “terrorists” are stupid.
There is no tactical or strategic benefit to attacking us directly. Of course, the Reichwing school of thought on tactics and strategy falls flat after “shock and awe”. The poor bastards think with all the subtlety of a wood chipper.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:00 pmlock_box Says:
After 9/11 how many American citizens have died by the hand of Al Qaeda on American Soil?
Yo, dum dum. How many American citizens had died by the hand of Al Qaeda on American soil prior to 9/11?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:03 pmbarfly says:
There has been no substantive progress at reconciliation
No, I believe the wingnuts are correct progress is being made towards political reconciliation. Those divided are coming together and rallying around their shared hatred towards their occupiers:
MADAIN, Iraq — A U.S.-allied Iraqi council member sprayed American troops with gunfire Monday, killing two soldiers and wounding three and an interpreter, Iraqi authorities and witnesses said. The attack occurred minutes after they emerged from a weekly joint meeting on reconstruction in this volatile town southeast of Baghdad…
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/v-print/story/41895.html
June 26th, 2008 at 6:03 pmlock_box Says:
What are the blogging points worth? Do you get some McCain campaign swag? Budweiser baseball caps?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:04 pmHow much longer is this clown going to parrot Republican talking points while pretending he’s something other than a Republican?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 26th, 2008 at 6:06 pmWell, hey, Lokidog – Herr Boosh *IS* a uniter, after all!!
He’s uniting the entire WORLD against him (and by extension, us)…
June 26th, 2008 at 6:08 pmAnd Bush has not caught the Anthrax mailer because, as in the CIA outing, it is Bush that authorized the Anthrax attack, that is why no one was caught.
Just look at who was mailed the Anthrax…sort of obvious who was responsible.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:09 pmOops! Posts are going buh-bye.
Buh-bye lock-box. Don’t rush making a new sock puppet.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:10 pmrogerse Says:
So publicly critisizing your former allegiance is bad…
You must be alluding to Scott McClellan blowing the whistle on the lying, traitorous, criminals in the White House.
Thanks for playing “Really Bad Ana1ogies”!
June 26th, 2008 at 6:10 pmrogerse Says
June 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
#25 misshusseinmolly Says:
So I guess if he was a democrat, it’d be bad criticizing your party…
____________________________________________________________
Don’t ask me why I’m bothering, but here goes.
There is NOTHING wrong with criticizing your party. Democrats can be a rather diverse lot, and it’s rare to find one who will march in lockstep with the party line 100% of the time. (That’s the GOP shtick — Republicans who criticize their party are dealt with rather harshly.) Therefore, you’ll find Democrats disagreeing with positions taken by their fellow Democrats quite often. There is no problem with this.
So why is Lieberman the target of our ire? Lieberman has gone beyond criticizing his party — he’s completely abandoned it. He’s basically a Republican who only caucuses with the Dems because his seniority allows him a nice committee chairmanship in that position. And because if he were to caucus with the GOP, the Dems would lose their majority, so Lieberman basically has that majority held hostage. But no matter how you slice it, he’s not a Democrat — he’s just using the party for political power.
Now, is it bad for a former Democrat, or an Independent, or even a Republican to criticize the Democratic Party? Well, Lieberman has a right to criticize whomever he wants. We just want him to quit using phrases like “MY Democratic Party.” It’s not his anymore. And once the Senate gets more Dems, Lieberman won’t have his bargaining chip anymore.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:10 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Don’t ask me why I’m bothering, but here goes.
Why are you bothering?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:13 pmgummitch Says:
——————————————————————————–
lock_box Says:
After 9/11 how many American citizens have died by the hand of Al Qaeda on American Soil?
Yo, dum dum. How many American citizens had died by the hand of Al Qaeda on American soil prior to 9/11?
How many American citizens had died by the hand of Al Qaeda on American soil during Bush’s first 8 months in office?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:13 pmgummitch Says
June 26th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
misshusseinmolly Says:
Don’t ask me why I’m bothering, but here goes.
Why are you bothering?
____________________________________
Geez — I said don’t ask! :-)
But the truth is, it’s been a long day, I’m tired of working, and I’m just counting the minutes until I can go home. And responding to a troll didn’t take too many brain cells.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:16 pmMore proof of the fact that Lieberman isn’t that smart. He’s taking a political walk on the plank with his support of the Iraq fiasco. Now he’s destroying the last of his support in the Democratic Party. Brilliant…and get used to political oblivion Joe. You’ll be there in 7 months when your no longer useful to the Democrats.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:16 pmYeah, back then he was a Democrat, so he was evil. Now that he’s an “Independent” who spouts Rovian talking points, you love him.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:22 pmCat box leaves, Tanqueray shows up…interesting.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:29 pmHmmm. Maybe cock_sock headed out to pick up his brand-spanking-new McCain Beer Cooler!
YAY!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 6:32 pmAnnie, if lock-jaw’s posts earn him anything more elaborate than a McCain ‘08 Mouse Pad, then we can see that as evidence that McSame’s no more a “fiscal conservative” than Chimpy..
June 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pmUh, Holy Joe was also on NPR saying the same shit and is now wondering why Obama “stuck with” Wright so long. Speaking of sticking with things, why has Zell stuck with a religion that mutilates infants’ genitals?
June 26th, 2008 at 7:16 pmHoly Joe needs to be able to define victory in Iraq. We lost this thing the day they lied their way into it. Holy Joe has a little place in hell awaiting him.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:17 pmHoly Joe is more rethuglican than he has ever been democrat because he is a delusional liar…and is comfortable in his skin telling lies on a pretend cable network.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:20 pmLieberman – the epitome of someone who can’t decide who he is. He is a role model for the confused, the undecided, the flip-floppers. Oh, and the deceitful, because in reality he is definitely a right-winger & Repub. Does he really think no one notices? What a fraud.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pmJohn Kerry Says:
Dude! You are such a bada$$!!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:48 pmStickin’ your head in here and shouting obseneties after everyone has already left!!!
Cool!!!!
You totally showed everyone who the real pussies are!
Thanks, JK!
BTW- You and LIEberman totally rock and are cool and good looking… jk, lol.
Hey Joe, you pompous, ignorant ass: Saddam has been EXECUTED and there are NO WMDs.
The war is done. Bring the troops home to their families. All the rest is just security and police work.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:56 pmol’ john kerry is such a cutup. I bet his mom loves having him in the basement for all the entertainment he brings her.
Gotta be tough to not have the sack to actually go fight in a war, but then maybe that permanent cheeto rash on his fingers are holding him back.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:01 pmNo, you TEENY LITTLE PUTZ, you chose defeat and retreat when you hitched your wagon to the neocon dirtbags who lied the country into this war. arsewiper.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:01 pmLIEberman,
You are PURE SCUM!!! You know, a boy-touching RePugniScum!! The worst of the worst…the drag on integrity…the noose on freedom…the fascist sh!t spewing idiot!!!
Move to Israel you stupid a$$ unAmerican traitor!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 8:09 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
loc_cox doesn’t care
I think that should read lic_cox
June 26th, 2008 at 8:19 pmLeft Coast Mike Says:
Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
loc_cox doesn’t care
I think that should read lic_cox
June 26th, 2008 at 8:19 p
I believe that particular troll is sewing a new sock-puppet. Unless the head office assigns him another blog. I sure hope they don’t leave poor rogerse here all alone. I’d almost feel bad about pointing out how he refutes his own arguments. When I can figure out what the hell those “arguments” are.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:33 pm.
BRAVENEWFILMS
LIEBERMAN MUST GO!
.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:15 pmI am not one who discriminates on race or religion, but I truly believe that if Gore had picked somebody else for VP, we would not be in the mess we are in. I don’t want any AIPAC suporters attacking me. I just think Joe is nuts.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:29 pmThe device to measure how much animosity I have towards Joe Lieberman is yet to be invented. Not for one second do I think Joe has the best interests of this country in mind. He only has HIS best interest at the forefront. Right now, way too many people are watching him, and believe me, he loves every minute of it. This man deserves nothing, except ridicule.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:08 pmUSA:
June 26th, 2008 at 11:54 pmFEAR
EATS
THE
SOUL
Joe, Luck you Fieberman.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:06 amWhat an ignorant moron. NO ONE, ecept the retard 25%, believe that “retreat and defeat” BS.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:47 amJohn Kerry cracks me up. I really look forward to a chitchat with him. Problem is he is too much a sissy to stick around
June 27th, 2008 at 2:22 amLieberman should switch to the Likud party. The whiney little prick isn’t like any American I’ve ever seen.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:32 amLieberman should switch to the Likud party. The whiney little prick isn’t like any American I’ve ever seen.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:32 amLIEberman’s days are numbered, especially if Obama wins and the Dems don’t need a veto-proof majority for important bills. And even moreso if the Dems pick up more Congressional seats this fall.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:38 pm