Lieberman Now Pro-Obama - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Tully Mars · 03-09-2009, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Sen. Joe Lieberman now sings Obama's praises

By ANDREW MIGA – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Joe Lieberman has changed his tune on Barack Obama. After campaigning across the country for Republican John McCain in 2008 and attacking Obama as naive, untested and unwilling to take on powerful special interests, Lieberman now showers praise on the popular new Democratic president.

"He's shown real leadership," Lieberman told The Associated Press in an interview. "Bottom line: I think Barack Obama, president of the United States, is off to a very good start."

The Connecticut independent, who faces re-election in 2012 in a state where Obama is popular, is eager to mend fences with Democrats still fuming over his criticism of Obama during the general election campaign.

Lieberman has applauded Obama's national security team. He gushed over Obama's "inspirational and unifying" inaugural. Lieberman even played a key role helping Obama win Senate passage of the economic stimulus plan.

As if to underscore the point, Lieberman has even clashed on the Senate floor with his pal McCain over the stimulus plan and a District of Columbia voting rights bill.

"I don't think of Joe as the independent, I really think of Joe as a Democrat," said Lieberman's home state colleague, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.

It's a striking turnaround from the days when Lieberman was a fixture at McCain's side during campaign stops. McCain had even considered making Lieberman, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, his running mate.

"Do I think it is more principle or politics?" said Quinnipiac University Poll director Doug Schwartz of Lieberman's moves. "It is a tough question."

Lieberman's campaigning for McCain hurt him with Connecticut voters, particularly Democrats, Schwartz said.

Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who is mentioned as a possible 2012 Senate Democratic candidate, would beat Lieberman by 28 points in a hypothetical matchup, a recent Quinnipiac poll showed.

Lieberman scoffed at any suggestion his embrace of Obama is more about political expediency than principle.

"I haven't changed ... I've always had a voting record that is more with the Democrats than with the Republicans," he said.

Many Democrats still chafe at how Lieberman needled Obama during his Republican National Convention speech with the line "eloquence is no substitute for a record."

Or when Lieberman cast the race as a choice between "one candidate, John McCain, who has always put the country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate who has not. Between one candidate who's a talker, and the other candidate who's the leader America needs as our next president."

Lieberman said he understands why he struck a nerve with Obama's backers.

"We were in the middle of a campaign and we just plain disagreed ... When I said those things not only did I believe them, but I believe looking at the records of the two people then, they were right," Lieberman said.

Lieberman said he never meant to suggest that Obama did not put his country first. Lieberman said his words were "too subject" to that interpretation and that he wishes he had spoken more clearly.

After the election at Obama's urging, Senate Democrats decided not to punish Lieberman. They voted to let him keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Obama was eager to strike a bipartisan tone for his presidency.

"President Obama played a very important role, he was very gracious," said Lieberman, who has since called Obama to thank him. "That obviously sealed the deal and I appreciated it a lot."

Liberal bloggers fumed. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, called it a "slap in the face" for millions of Americans who backed Obama.

But Democrats need Lieberman's support in a chamber where it takes 60 of the 100 senators to overcome the threat of a Republican filibuster. They feared punishing Lieberman could drive him to the GOP. Lieberman remains a registered Democrat and caucuses with Senate Democrats.

Lieberman was re-elected in 2006 as an independent after losing his state's Democratic primary to wealthy businessman Ned Lamont, an anti-war candidate.

Top Democrats like Dodd and Obama who had supported Lieberman in the primary instead backed party nominee Lamont in the fall race. Lieberman was disappointed that some old friends weren't loyal to him.

"Joe is gonna do what's in his interest politically because he had a near-death experience," said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist who advised Lieberman in 2000. "Losing the party nomination has given him enormous freedom to think and to do as he wants."

Is it just me or does this guy change his tune with the political wind or what?

I listen to old Joe and can't help but think of Mayor Joe Quimby...

"Well if that is, err, the way the wind is blowing do not let it be said that I do not also blow."

Derwood · 03-09-2009, 06:53 AM

Yeah, he's dead to me. He's managed to piss off both sides now and I hope he isn't reelected. Talk about transparent motives.

Willravel · 03-09-2009, 12:11 PM

moron.

shakran · 03-09-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

Is it just me or does this guy change his tune with the political wind or what?

Or what.

The guy has one issue that he gives a shit about. Israel. As long as you're doing what he wants in that aspect, he'll probably leave you alone regarding all other issues.

Tully Mars · 03-09-2009, 01:29 PM

Guess I never really followed old Joe that much. Just see him talking about this and that and it seems to change regularly.

asaris · 03-10-2009, 04:09 AM

I'm no fan of Lieberman, but to be fair, his complaint during the campaign was that Obama was untested and lacked experience, so we didn't know how he'd do, right? So it's not really inconsistent to say that now that he is president, he's doing alright.

Derwood · 03-10-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asaris

I'm no fan of Lieberman, but to be fair, his complaint during the campaign was that Obama was untested and lacked experience, so we didn't know how he'd do, right? So it's not really inconsistent to say that now that he is president, he's doing alright.

if that was his argument, that's fine, but it didn't require him to actively campaign for the other side (including speaking at their convention and being snarky at that)

shakran · 03-10-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asaris

I'm no fan of Lieberman, but to be fair, his complaint during the campaign was that Obama was untested and lacked experience, so we didn't know how he'd do, right? So it's not really inconsistent to say that now that he is president, he's doing alright.

yes, Obama was untested becasue he'd only been a senator. Not at all like Lieberman's running mate John Kerry who'd been tested as a . ..senator.

roachboy · 03-10-2009, 07:31 AM

opportunism.
it's a good word.

jimmy1s269 · 03-22-2009, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

yes, Obama was untested becasue he'd only been a senator. Not at all like Lieberman's running mate John Kerry who'd been tested as a . ..senator.

the difference between obama and kerry was that kerry had been in gov't since just after getting back from vietnam. while obama had been there less than one term.

that being said, lots of people will be negative about someone running for office, then support them once they are in office and have been there for a little while. pretty common actually. especially amongst other elected officials who have to brown nose to some extend to advance their own agendas.

Seaver · 03-22-2009, 07:56 AM

Easy on this guy... I more or less have the same opinion of Obama. I thought he was a political opportunist from one of the worst politically corrupt cities in the nation when he was running. If he keeps it up with those AIG guys and their bonuses hell I might even start liking the guy. Honestly Obama's been impressing me, and god knows if I can change my opinion Lieberman should be able to change his mind on a guy within the same party.

shakran · 03-22-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy1s269

the difference between obama and kerry was that kerry had been in gov't since just after getting back from vietnam. while obama had been there less than one term.

True, but that's fairly meaningless to me. Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms were in office for like 3,000 years and they still sucked

jimmy1s269 · 03-22-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

True, but that's fairly meaningless to me. Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms were in office for like 3,000 years and they still sucked

hah, nobody said experience always breeds skill

The_Jazz · 03-22-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy1s269

the difference between obama and kerry was that kerry had been in gov't since just after getting back from vietnam. while obama had been there less than one term.

Actually, none of what you said is true. Kerry's first elected office was Lieutenant Governor of MA in 1982. He didn't get elected to the Senate until 1984.

Obama was an Illinois State Senator for 12 years before being elected to the US Senate.

jimmy1s269 · 03-22-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

Actually, none of what you said is true. Kerry's first elected office was Lieutenant Governor of MA in 1982. He didn't get elected to the Senate until 1984.

Obama was an Illinois State Senator for 12 years before being elected to the US Senate.

picky picky. obamas federal experience at the time of his run was next to nothing compared to kerry.

and kerry getting in office "shortly" after returning from nam, could still be true depending on your view of time.

edit: ok, i didnt say "shortly" originally, but i should have.

The_Jazz · 03-22-2009, 11:04 AM

I don't call 15 years "shortly" except in glacial terms. It took him 15 years to come back from Vietnam in 1970 to go to Washington in 1985. That's a long time in terms of human lifespans.

But really, I don't see what any of that has to do with your original point. Kerry and Obama were both tested in the Senate. But historically, Americans don't elect Presidents out of the Senate. The last one before Obama was Kennedy, and before that you have to go to Harding.

jimmy1s269 · 03-22-2009, 11:37 AM

my point was in response to the original discussion of lieberman not being supportive of obama but running with kerry before. he didnt support obama because he was untested. he ran with kerry on the other hand who had almost 20 years govt experience. pretty simple statement from me, just throwing my thought into the arena. not intending to have this whole thread become a treatise on my shallow knowledge of the entire history of our political system (kennedy and harding)

The_Jazz · 03-22-2009, 02:25 PM

Sorry if I made you feel intellectually inferior. That wasn't my intention, but apparently I managed it. Again, my apologies. I'm trying to play well with others, but I don't always manage it.

Where you see Lieberman as a good ol boy (he supported both of his buddies in Kerry and McCain), I see a political gamble that didn't pay off. Lieberman's been slowly moving right for about 10 years, and I expect that he'll eventually abandon his independence and proclaim himself a Republican in time for re-election - assuming that the national party gets their shit together, which is no small task. The break from the Democrats was timed to inflict maximum damage, and it was only larger movements that stemmed the bleeding that he caused.

Then again, I didn't like Joe before he ran for VP, when he was running or afterwards. My opinion's that he's always been more than a bit of a douche. But that's me.

jimmy1s269 · 03-23-2009, 06:35 PM

hah, you didn't make me feel intellectually inferior. if you threw my knowledge in the mud about something i thought i knew a lot about, then maybe. but i dont claim to be a political expert, so it doesnt hurt my feelings to be shown that i am in error about something.

lieberman, i dont have a whole lot of opinion about him either way to be honest. just trying to be a part of the conversation.

MSD · 03-26-2009, 06:27 AM

As great as our system is, everyone would probably be better off if CT didn't have a say in anything.

03-09-2009, 01:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Guess I never really followed old Joe that much. Just see him talking about this and that and it seems to change regularly. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

03-10-2009, 04:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
asaris Mad Philosopher Location: Washington, DC	I'm no fan of Lieberman, but to be fair, his complaint during the campaign was that Obama was untested and lacked experience, so we didn't know how he'd do, right? So it's not really inconsistent to say that now that he is president, he's doing alright. __________________ "Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht." "The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

03-10-2009, 07:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	opportunism. it's a good word. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

03-22-2009, 07:56 AM	#11 (permalink)
Seaver Junkie Location: Fort Worth, TX	Easy on this guy... I more or less have the same opinion of Obama. I thought he was a political opportunist from one of the worst politically corrupt cities in the nation when he was running. If he keeps it up with those AIG guys and their bonuses hell I might even start liking the guy. Honestly Obama's been impressing me, and god knows if I can change my opinion Lieberman should be able to change his mind on a guy within the same party. __________________ "Smite the rocks with the rod of knowledge, and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth." - Ashbel Smith as he laid the first cornerstone of the University of Texas

03-22-2009, 11:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	I don't call 15 years "shortly" except in glacial terms. It took him 15 years to come back from Vietnam in 1970 to go to Washington in 1985. That's a long time in terms of human lifespans. But really, I don't see what any of that has to do with your original point. Kerry and Obama were both tested in the Senate. But historically, Americans don't elect Presidents out of the Senate. The last one before Obama was Kennedy, and before that you have to go to Harding. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

03-09-2009, 06:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	Yeah, he's dead to me. He's managed to piss off both sides now and I hope he isn't reelected. Talk about transparent motives.

03-09-2009, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	moron.

03-22-2009, 11:37 AM	#17 (permalink)
jimmy1s269 Tilted	my point was in response to the original discussion of lieberman not being supportive of obama but running with kerry before. he didnt support obama because he was untested. he ran with kerry on the other hand who had almost 20 years govt experience. pretty simple statement from me, just throwing my thought into the arena. not intending to have this whole thread become a treatise on my shallow knowledge of the entire history of our political system (kennedy and harding)

03-22-2009, 02:25 PM	#18 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Sorry if I made you feel intellectually inferior. That wasn't my intention, but apparently I managed it. Again, my apologies. I'm trying to play well with others, but I don't always manage it. Where you see Lieberman as a good ol boy (he supported both of his buddies in Kerry and McCain), I see a political gamble that didn't pay off. Lieberman's been slowly moving right for about 10 years, and I expect that he'll eventually abandon his independence and proclaim himself a Republican in time for re-election - assuming that the national party gets their shit together, which is no small task. The break from the Democrats was timed to inflict maximum damage, and it was only larger movements that stemmed the bleeding that he caused. Then again, I didn't like Joe before he ran for VP, when he was running or afterwards. My opinion's that he's always been more than a bit of a douche. But that's me. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

03-23-2009, 06:35 PM	#19 (permalink)
jimmy1s269 Tilted	hah, you didn't make me feel intellectually inferior. if you threw my knowledge in the mud about something i thought i knew a lot about, then maybe. but i dont claim to be a political expert, so it doesnt hurt my feelings to be shown that i am in error about something. lieberman, i dont have a whole lot of opinion about him either way to be honest. just trying to be a part of the conversation.

03-26-2009, 06:27 AM	#20 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	As great as our system is, everyone would probably be better off if CT didn't have a say in anything.