Specter: Lieberman is ‘practically’ voting as a Republican already.
Specter: Lieberman is ‘practically’ voting as a Republican already.
In his RNC speech Tuesday, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) referred to himself as a progressive, stating, “What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?” In a small RNC press conference yesterday that ThinkProgress attended, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) said that Lieberman is “practically” voting as a conservative now and should switch parties:
Well I would like to see him move a little closer to being a Republican. I’d like to see him vote with the Republicans when we go back in September. He’s practically there. That would have the consequence of giving us a Republican senator . We could confirm a lot of judges. We could do a lot of things.
Specter said he has talked to Lieberman about switching parties “over the past many months.” Lieberman responds with “a very winning smile” when discussing the matter, he added.
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Are you Connecticut voters having ‘buyers remorse’ yet?
September 4th, 2008 at 2:31 pmIf you aren’t, you should be.
Fine, let the dirtbag go. After November the republicans will so depleted they’ll be able to caucus in men’s room. oh wait…
September 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pmJoe is a traitor. No longer do I like the man.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:34 pmI TOTALLY agree with Sen Spector. Joe Lieberman has nobody’s interest at heart except his own ambition. How are we to trust him on anything in the future? We don’t need a turncoat caucusing with the Democrats; we need LOYAL Party members!
PLEASE GO, JOE!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:35 pmHe is not only a traitor to the Democratic Party, he is a traitor to America. I don’t think it’s America that he has in mind when he supports any war to kill Muslims.
Just sayin.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:36 pmThe good new is, by the time ol’ Holy Joe decides to ‘make it official’ and proclaim his undying love for the Republican party, the Dems will have picked up enough seats in the Senate that it won’t matter. He can be just as useless and bloodthirsty for war in the minority party as he is in the majority party.
GOOD RIDDANCE.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:37 pmP.S. A couple of months ago I signed the petition telling Congress to kick him out of his Charimanship, and now I’m even MORE glad that I did!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pmPopulist Joe, eh? The Man Without A Party.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pmWell, fortunately after November, Joe won’t be needed by the Democrats anymore to hold a majority. And the GOP will be so far behind that Joe won’t help them, either.
Joe may find out what it’s really like to be a man without a party.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pmKick the traitorous scum to the curb, get it over with.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:41 pmWhat Arlen seems to be forgetting is that after November, it will take far more than just one DINO Senator switching to the reupke party to give them a majority. For example, we in Virginia are about to replace retiring Sen. Warner (R-VA) with incoming Sen. Warner (D-VA), which is pretty much a done deal since the best the repukes could put up against Mark Warner was the failed repuke governor who preceded him, Jim Gilmore — he of the out-of-balance state budget (which Mark Warner fixed for him) and an utter failure as RNC chairman (if that isn’t being redundant).
September 4th, 2008 at 2:42 pmThe problem again has been the media. Lieberman has not been a Democrat since he, well, left the party. His speech was nothing more than a lie. He is not a Democrat and the press needed to call him on this. Just as in response to the Palin speech, the press seems to be oblivious to the truth.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pmI do believe that Arlin Specter is lying. Lieberman’s voting record hasn’t actually changed much since he became an “Independent Democrat”. He is a consistent voter in favor of issues that the Democrat’s care about. I would find it hard to believe that he could tow the Republican party line even if he joined their party. He is just not really a right winger.
That said, the Democrats have to kick him out of his committee leadership posts. They cannot allow somebody who is campaigning for a Republican to hold a leadership position within their caucus. Lieberman can decide what he wants to after that happens of course. If the Republican’s want to allow him to be minority leader on a committee then fine. More the better.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:44 pmOT, but too good not to share here:
On Metalife’s thread about the Palin pick, a user named goodnewsfortheinsane commented:
…maybe someone needs to remind Sarah Palin that Jesus Christ was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor.
Now back on topic. Lieberman, blah blah blah, who cares what he says or does as he fades into political purgatory.
PEACE
September 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pmSpecter, “He’s practically there.”
All it will take is one more blood-letting session in Cheney’s office followed by initiation rites being administered by Jeff Gannon.
I can’t remember where I heard the saying first:
Progress in America is a lot like driving. If you want to go forward, you select “D”. If you want to go in reverse then select “R”.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:46 pmLieberman, still trying to play both sides to try and gain the best advantage for himself.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:47 pm“We could confirm alot of judges”?
Is Spector on dope?
If LIEberman is voting as a Republican now, why would it affect votes on judges if he switched parties? Is it because Republicans are better at enforcing party discipline than Democrats?
September 4th, 2008 at 2:48 pmSo, how is Lieberman switching parties going to allow them to confirm judges. The best case scenario for the Republicans in the Senate is that they will have 44 after the election. That’s not enough to confirm anything.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pmfletc3her Says:
That said, the Democrats have to kick him out of his committee leadership posts. They cannot allow somebody who is campaigning for a Republican to hold a leadership position within their caucus.
He is not just campaigning for a Republican, he is campaigning against two of his so-called “fellow” Senate democrats, and lying about them in the process.
Haven’t seen husseintoasterhead today, so I’m guessing he’s busy making sure that Lieberman is toast.
PEACE
September 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pmmore republicRAT politics, INTERNATIONAL version:
US mum on Pakistan raid
September 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pmAFP – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The White House refused Thursday to comment directly on Pakistani anger at a cross-border raid by Afghanistan-based international forces just days before Pakistan’s presidential vote.
Video: Pakistan Volatility Ahead of Elections AssociatedPress
Pakistani parliament condemns US-led attack The Associated Press
A Patriot Acting Says:
I can’t remember where I heard the saying first:
Progress in America is a lot like driving. If you want to go forward, you select “D”. If you want to go in reverse then select “R”.
That would be me, Patriot, from my friend Sallye.
PEACE
September 4th, 2008 at 2:51 pmNot only did Benedict Arnold switch sides, he also switched to the losing side just before they lost.
Joe Lieberman shares his exquisite sense of timing as well as his sense of loyalty.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:52 pmLieberman can’t afford – yet – to switch parties, although for all intents and purposes his voting record is mostly republican.
He still wants his committee chairmanship, and he’ll lose that if he 1) switches parties, 2) blows any more critical votes for dems, or 3) loses his leverage as a member of the democratic caucus (which would occur if, say, the dems pick up two more seats in the Senate in November).
I predict when the dems pick up 6-10 new seats in the senate in November, he’ll switch parties.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:55 pm…and he’ll still be laughed at behind his back by his new colleagues.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:58 pmIn his RNC speech Tuesday, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) referred to himself as a progressive, stating, “What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?”
Let’s make this perfectly clear: “Democrat” is galaxies away from “Progressive.”
There are some progressive democrats, and some progressives are democrats, but the two terms are anything but interchangeable.
A progressive doesn’t vote to let the telecoms off the hook and pee on the Constitution.
A progressive doesn’t “take impeachment off the table.”
There are no progressives in the democratic leadershi(t).
Let us not sully the good name of Progressive by inextricably linking it to an ineffective, surrender-monkey group dominated by spinelessly pandering politicians.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pm.
McDuh…
.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pmLIEBERMAN IS A PROGRESSIVE?????? WTH?
A progressive would not speak at the GOP convention, against the Democratic nominee and in support for the regressive policies of the Republican Party.
Lieberman… just go, please, now, go… shoo!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pmThanks spencers mom! I thought I read it somewhere here at TP. I like the way your friend Sallye thinks!
September 4th, 2008 at 3:03 pm“Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) said that Lieberman is “practically” voting as a conservative now…”
Oh really? i suppose next he’s gonna tell us McBraindead was a POW.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:08 pmspencers mom Says:
Haven’t seen husseintoasterhead today, so I’m guessing he’s busy making sure that Lieberman is toast.
PEACE
September 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hey there!
Actually, I’ve been catching up on some old episodes of This American Life, but I’d say Lieberman is doing a fantastic job committing political suicide without my help.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pmJoe LIEberman says:
“What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?”
I says:
September 4th, 2008 at 3:26 pmBullshevik! I know Democrats. I am a Democrat. Democrats are my friends. You, sir, are no Democrat!
LIEberman won’t switch parties unless stripped of seniority by the Dems. He has no incentive to switch if his protectors (Schumer et al) manage to preserve his status. No way to the Republicans have anything close to a majority after November and no way the Republicans let him join with the seniority he had as a Dem. They need bodies but don’t trust him with anything important. Looks like a long lame duck period for GI Joe.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:26 pmI know that a Senator can change mind and is there to do what is best for his state…But I have a question is that when the candidate says he will run as Independent and assured voters that he was going to caucus with the Democratic party…Then candidate moves to Republican caucus turn the Senate by that choice would the State have a recourse?
September 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pmI wouldn’t mind waking up to headlines that they found Joe laying in a ditch somewhere; because that swelled head of his finally exploded.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pmHe is more useful to Republicans as he is now.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:52 pmHe is voting as a Republican but claiming to be an Independent.
This way Republicans are showing that they are loved by outsiders like Lieberman.
Bush and Cheney used his name a lot during press conferences as the rebel of the Demcorats who supported the war because he loved his country and has a lot of common sense.
But if he becomes totally a Republican, he will not be enjoying Republicans’ star treatment.
Jesus also didnt drop bombs on people or believe in [eternal] war.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pmHell, so is a third of Congressional Democrats.
And?
September 4th, 2008 at 4:48 pmLieberman is a declared orthodox Jew. By declaring this his primary allegiance is to a terrorist state (the elephant in the room). He supports a country that spies on America and sells American military secrets to China. He should be thrown into Guantanmo Bay for acts of treason and conspiracy to commit terrorists acts.
The f**cking world is turned upside down. Bad is considered good. Peace is war yadi, yadi. But Lieberman struts along posing as a true blood American.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:04 pmKapo Joe has got to go.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:09 pmjoe’s only useful to the republicans as a so-called “bipartisan” non-republican. the gop will let him buy drinks at the bar and sneer at townies but if he actually tries to join the club they’ll will show him what happens to useful idiots that outlive their usefulness. he’ll be as welcome as a used condom.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:02 pmAs long as Liebermann caucases with the Democrats, they get to name the committee chairs, and he gets to act as a mole for the Republicans.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:20 pmIn just occurred to me that Sen. Lieberman might just wait to switch parties until after the November election, especially if a “miracle” occurs and Republicans “win” enough seats to gain back control.
Definitions:
“miracle”–electronic voting machines “fixed” to register a Republican vote even though a Democratic vote was cast. The DHS/fusion centers/FBI arrest just enough Democrats in swing voting districts in swing states to flip just enough electoral votes to McStain/Palin, especially with Attorney General Mukasey relaxing FBI rules in October.
A Republican “win”–stealing another election.
Karl Rove, you see, has done “the math” again, just like before the 2006 November elections, except this time he is allowing for a larger turnout than he last calculated.
Karl Rove has no doubt been in communication with Sen. Lieberman.
Anyway, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see whether or not Sen. Joe Lieberman finally morphs into Benedict Arnold completely.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:42 pmIn theory, the Democrats could block all judges or anything else, since, as we have learned this year, it takes 60 votes to pass anything (except budgets) in the Senate. In practice, of course, Reid will let the Republicans get by with a majority vote. And, of course, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, David Pryor, Ben Nelson, Diane Feinstein, and Chuck Schumer will vote with the Republicans on judges.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:32 pmThis is an extremely important issue that Obama’s campaign and the Democrats must deal with during this campaign.sohbet The Republicans continue to degenerate to outright falsehoods. What are we to do when the press will not intervene to set the record straight?Bedava mp3 indir How do we cope with maintaining an offense versus wasting time and messaging on spurious arguments?
February 28th, 2009 at 12:20 amJust like the cold war when everyone who didn’t agree with the U.S. was either a communist or a communist sympathizer. toki This poor crazy guy spent half a decade being tortured because a bunch of stupid politicians araç sorgulama were sure the NVA was in bed with the Russians (minimal help) and/or the Chinese (ancient enemy of the vietnamese). ssk sorgulama You would think he would have learned from others’ mistakes. Guess not. Republicans need an enemy. key ödemeleri This century it apparently will be all Muslims, health all of whom must be alQaeda operatives.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pm