John Kerry continues to amaze me. In a statement explaining why he is not giving outright support to CT Senator Joe Lieberman, his spokesperson explained:
Brundage said that this year, Kerry is endorsing only candidates in contested primaries who are veterans.Huh? Forget the issues, as long as they are veterans they get his support, and if not, they don't? I understand, though I disagree with, one-issue voters who decide who they will or will not support based solely on one issue (national defense, abortion, gay marriage, Israel, economy). But "being a veteran"?! Why should that be the primary reasoning behind whether or not someone supports a candidate?
``Since Kerry has made his personal mission for 2006 electing veterans to the House and Senate, he's likewise only taken sides in Democratic primaries to back candidates who are veterans," she said. ``Connecticut will choose the Democratic Senate nominee, and John Kerry will support him."
Well, on the other hand, if I'm Joe Lieberman, I'm probably pretty happy to not be getting John Kerry's support.
Let me get this straight. Kerry will endorse ONLY veterans in the primary, Reagrdless of their stances on other issues, but will oppose Republican veterans in the general regardless of their stance on other issues?
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Kerry's stated stance is stupid, I agree. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, one could argue that he wants the Democrats to be seen as the choice favored by people who know what they're talking about (i.e. veterans, who have both credibility and, usually, some immunity to criticism.)
ReplyDeleteIt's worth noting that Democrats are understandably reticent to endorse Lieberman, considering he's threatened that he'll run as an independent if he loses the primary. Not to mention the fact that he supports Republicans on most issues and has cozied up to Bush.
Funny quote from the WaPo:
In an interview on CNN's Larry King Live Thursday, Bush said he was not going to weigh in on Lieberman's primary race and declined to say whether he would support Lieberman if he ran as an independent.
"First, the Democrats have to sort out who their nominee is going to be and that's going to be up to the Democrats. And the rest of it's hypothetical," the president said.
When pressed about his liking Lieberman, Bush responded, "You're trying to get me to give him a political kiss, which may be his death."
DAG - Pretty much. :)
ReplyDeleteJA - Veterans running for office shouldn't be immune to criticism, and I'm not sure why the assumption is that veterans "know what they're talking about"...
That's a great quote. :P
Ezzie, are you really so concerned with people of below average intelligence "depending" on kollel, or are you pleased with yourself that you'll be working in a "top" accounting firm this September, instead of learning? How about you get off your high horse?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wouldn't even be so sure that a veteran would even want Kerry to support him. That also might be the kiss of death. Kerry thinks that he'll be helping the democratic cause by getting as many veterans as possible elected, so they can repay his magnanimity by talking out against the war as... you guessed it, Murtha veterans. They're veterans, and as Ms Coulter pointed out, so they they can't be attacked. Good thinking kerry. Too bad it's going to back-fire on your swift-boat butt.
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These guys are tearing themselves apart. It's amazing. I watched parts of the Lieberman debate last night. His opponent knows nothing about local Connecticut politics. he is running an entire election on the anti-war thing.
ReplyDeleteFor the 30 years of service he has given to his state now he is being tossed aside for one issue? If they are gonna make all the elections across the country about the war they are going to lose widespread.
I don't understand 50 percent of this country thought he was good enough to be within a breath of the presidency, but now they don't even think he can handle Connecticut?
Ezzie:
ReplyDeleteJA - Veterans running for office shouldn't be immune to criticism,
I agree.
and I'm not sure why the assumption is that veterans "know what they're talking about"...
I think they do have more credibility than a bunch of chickenhawks -- it seems they wouldn't take the decision as lightly.
chaim:
I don't understand 50 percent of this country thought he was good enough to be within a breath of the presidency, but now they don't even think he can handle Connecticut?
1) Gore picked the VP nominee. Lieberman did not get a particularly large share of the vote. Most people vote based on the top of the ticket.
2) Lieberman has moved far to the right since 2000, or at least it's perceived that way, which amounts to the same thing as far as voting goes.
The military would have been better off without Kerry the traitor.
ReplyDeleteChaim - Good point. It will certainly be interesting to see the shock on Dems' faces when they realize that local elections have little to do with national politics.
ReplyDelete1) Gore picked the VP nominee. Lieberman did not get a particularly large share of the vote. Most people vote based on the top of the ticket.
Yes and no. Gore jumped about 10 points when Lieberman joined his ticket.
2) Lieberman has moved far to the right since 2000, or at least it's perceived that way, which amounts to the same thing as far as voting goes.
I think in perception only, but yes.
Rebbecca, I second that.
ReplyDeleteEzzie, I think it's going to be a massacre over the next 2 years. I know there are some who will mock me, but I really do think we may be seeing the final years of the Democratic party. Which is really sad, because this country needs two strong parties to survive.
JA, Lieberman added a lot to that ticket. Like Ezzie said, Gore was a nice jump from his addition. We need MORE people like Joe Lieberman who don't always see thigns in terms of Right of Left. I applaud him.
He hasn't gone to the right, he isn't Zel Miller you know. The only thing is that he believes in finishing the job in Iraq. I really don't think mainstream Americans will agree with Liberals about just picking up and leaving. Most Americans, even those who don't like the war agree that we need to leave in a way that will not plunge the country into a war.
Last thing, Lamont was beat real bad during that debate if you ask me. At one point when Lieberman reminded him that he had donated to Joe's campaign THREE times AFTER his vote on the Iraq war, Lamont had no answer.
There was also a great line he had that I need to find on YuoTube.
I really like Joe Lieberman, put him on a Unity08 ticket with a moderate republican and I would really think about voting for them.
Great comments. More to say, but I don't think it will be a massacre, but a slow killing... and I also think it's sad because we need a strong second party.
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