Lieberman: Dems Must Shun Gov't Programs Mon Aug 4, 4:24 PM ET By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman (news - web sites) warned Monday that his Democratic rivals threaten to send the party "into the political wilderness" with a return to big-government programs and less-than-strong stands on national security. Determined to persuade Democrats that he is the only candidate capable of defeating President Bush (news - web sites), the Connecticut senator said the party must focus on strengthening America's security and economy and will, in turn, win over moderate voters. "Some Democrats, on the contrary, still prefer the old, big government solutions to our problems," Lieberman said in a speech to the National Press Club. "But, my friends, with record deficits, a stalled economy and Social Security (news - web sites) in danger, we can't afford that." Lieberman did not name any of his opponents but took a shot at their political stands on a range of issues. He criticized Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt (news - web sites)'s plan to provide health care for nearly all Americans and his opposition to trade treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. He assailed those who opposed the U.S.-led war against Iraq (news - web sites) — former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Sen. Bob Graham (news, bio, voting record) of Florida, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton. Lieberman is positioning himself as the foil to Dean, whose campaign has taken off on his criticism of Bush's tax cuts and the conflict in Iraq. Lieberman said those positions "could really be a ticket to nowhere." "If George Bush and his bankrupt ideology are the problem, believe me, old Democratic policies like higher taxes and weakness on defense are not the solution," Lieberman said. "We need to reclaim the vital center of American politics for the Democrats." While Lieberman goes after the center to take votes from Bush, Dean says Democrats must take a stand against Bush's policies to win. "Unlike some Democrats in Washington, Governor Dean believes that the way to beat George Bush is to stand up to him and to give people a reason to vote," said Dean spokeswoman Tricia Enright. In a question-and-answer period after the speech, Lieberman said he respects Dean's opposition to the war, but, "I just plain disagree with him." Lieberman, who ran as Al Gore (news - web sites)'s running mate in 2000, was also asked if he would choose Gore as his vice presidential nominee. "I would guess that being vice president is something one does once in a lifetime, so I don't think that's in the cards. Lieberman had promised not to run for president this year if Gore was in the race. He also he doesn't expect Gore to change his mind and get in now, but won't drop out if he does. "I've crossed a bridge," he said. "I'm in this for the duration." http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=sto...4/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_lieberman_2&printer=1
Lieberman = Republican lite. The Democrats only chance in 2004 is to stand up against Bush and provide the voters with a real choice, whether it is Dean or anyone else. If Lieberman got the nomination, he would be trounced easily.
This is the strongest imaginable endorsement of Dean. I am now starting to believe Dean can win. Pleiberman is the definition of nowhere. He is the political equivalent of boiled melba toast with a diluted miracle whip topping. Blech.
You've missed a lot. Kerry, Pleiberman, et al., have all come under fire for supplicating under Bush's war boot. Too many threads to reference.
But like half the dems are for war.... They don't find any fault in the way W is handling it. Yet, it seems to be the only thing besides the economy (which if you actually look at numbers, sorry I agree w/ TJ on this one, is going up, and besides, thats the way the economy goes, it goes up, and then it goes down, and then it goes up again). So it seems like the media is the only one who is really concerned with the war... why, because they have nothing else to talk about... Kobe's not interesting, they are just trying to make something... which has two effects, people trying to cash in on bashing the war, and the war now getting hyped again.
Lieberman's desperate and this is the only case he's got left to make to save his floundering campaign. Having begun with a large lead due to name recognition, his numbers (both polling and fundraising) are down in every area. All he's got left to do is frame himself as the 'electable' moderate. Problem for him is there are other candidates who can carry that mantle and are polling better and raising more money than he is. After embarassing showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, he'll be on the ropes. And he can't expect to do any better in South Carolina (which is make or break for Edwards as well), which is probably when he'll have to drop out. If no one else gets in (Clark, Biden, Gore), it'll probably be a Kerry-Dean race by then. The dark horses there are Edwards and Gephardt, who could still make noise, but Lieberman's already over and everybody but him already knows it.
twhy-oh-why77, No offense, but I can't go on proving to both of us that we live on different planets anymore. Best wishes.
Did you figure that out yourself or did you have to check with the pope first? Nice one, mc mark. Any opportunity to quote Zappa to thick zealots is a good one. Here's the whole song: DUMB ALL OVER Whoever we are Wherever we’re from We shoulda noticed by now Our behavior is dumb And if our chances Expect to improve It’s gonna take a lot more Than tryin’ to remove The other race Or the other whatever From the face Of the planet altogether They call it the earth Which is a dumb kinda name But they named it right ’cause we behave the same... We are dumb all over Dumb all over, Yes we are Dumb all over, Near ’n far Dumb all over, Black ’n white People, we is not wrapped tight Nurds on the left Nurds on the right Religous fanatics On the air every night Sayin’ the bible Tells the story Makes the details Sound real gory ’bout what to do If the geeks over there Don’t believe in the book We got over here You can’t run a race Without no feet ’n pretty soon There won’t be no street For dummies to jog on Or doggies to dog on Religous fanatics Can make it be all gone (I mean it won’t blow up ’n disappear It’ll just look ugly For a thousand years...) You can’t run a country By a book of religion Not by a heap Or a lump or a smidgeon Of foolish rules Of ancient date Designed to make You all feel great While you fold, spindle And mutilate Those unbelievers From a neighboring state To arms! to arms! Hooray! that’s great Two legs ain’t bad Unless there’s a crate They ship the parts To mama in For souvenirs: two ears (get down!) Not his, not hers, (but what the hey? ) The good book says: ("it gotta be that way!") But their book says: "revenge the crusades... With whips ’n chains ’n hand grenades..." Two arms? two arms? Have another and another Our God says: "there ain’t no other!" Our God says "it’s all okay!" Our God says "this is the way!" It says in the book: "burn ’n destroy... ’n repent, ’n redeem ’n revenge, ’n deploy ’n rumble thee forth To the land of the unbelieving scum on the other side ’cause they don’t go for what’s in the book ’n that makes ’em bad So verily we must choppeth them up And stompeth them down Or rent a nice french bomb To poof them out of existance While leaving their real estate just where we need it To use again For temples in which to praise our god ("cause he can really take care of business!") And when his humble tv servant With humble white hair And humble glasses And a nice brown suit And maybe a blond wife who takes phone calls Tells us our God says It’s okay to do this stuff Then we gotta do it, ’cause if we don’t do it, We ain’t gwine up to hebbin! (depending on which book you’re using at the Time...can’t use theirs... it don’t work ...it’s all lies...gotta use mine...) Ain’t that right? That’s what they say Every night... Every day... Hey, we can’t really be dumb If we’re just following god’s orders Hey, let’s get serious... God knows what he’s doin’ He wrote this book here An’ the book says: He made us all to be just like him," So... If we’re dumb... Then God is dumb... (an’ maybe even a little ugly on the side)
"Sad humans. By the time you realize the true nature of our rogue operative, Zgyuopiout, (you call him "Cheney"), your planet will be ours! And then you will all go to work in the new global peanut butter factories! Mwha-ha-ha!"
Course, once I get started it's hard to stop. Here's another, twhy: THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT NOTHING Some take the bible For what it's worth When it says that the meek Shall inherit the Earth Well, I heard that some sheik Has bought New Jersey last week 'N you suckers ain't gettin' nothin' Is Hare Rama really wrong If you wander around With a napkin on With a bell on a stick An' your hair is all gone . . . (The geek shall inherit nothin') You say yer life's a bum deal 'N yer up against the wall . . . Well, people, you ain't even got no kinda Deal at all 'Cause what they do In Washington They just takes care of NUMBER ONE An' NUMBER ONE ain't YOU You ain't even NUMBER TWO Those Jesus Freaks Well, they're friendly but The **** they believe Has got their minds all shut An' they don't even care When the church takes a cut Ain't it bleak when you got so much nothin' (So whaddya do? Hey!) Eat that pork Eat that ham Laugh till ya choke On Billy Graham Moses, Aaron 'n Abraham . . . They're all a waste of time 'N it's your ass that's on the line (IT'S YOUR ASS THAT'S ON THE LINE) Do what you wanna Do what you will Just don't mess up Your neighbor's thrill 'N when you pay the bill Kindly leave a little tip And help the next poor sucker On his one way trip . . . SOME TAKE THE BIBLE . . . (Aw gimme a half a dozen for the hotel room!) ========================================= And just one more: HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT And if these words you do not heed Your pocketbook just kinda might recede When some man comes along and claims a godly need He will clean you out right through your tweed ("That's right, you asked for it, remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over . . .") He's got twenty million dollars In his Heavenly Bank Account . . . All from those chumps who was Born again Oh yeah, oh yeah He's got seven limousines And a private plane . . . All for the use of his Special Friends Oh yeah, oh yeah He's got thousand-dollar suits And a Wembley Tie . . . Girls love to stroke it While he's on the phone Oh yeah, oh yeah At the House of Representatives He's a groovy guy . . . When he Gives Thanks He is not alone . . . He is dealin' He is really dealin' IRS can't determine Where The Hook is It is easy with the Bible To pretend that You're in Show Biz (And a-one, and a-two, and a . . . ) They won't get him They will never get him For the naughty stuff That he did It is best in cases like this To pretend that You are stupid (DOH . . . ) He's got Presidential Help All along the way He says the grace While the lawyers chew Oh yeah They sure do And the Governors agree to say: "He's a lovely man!" He makes it easier for Them to screw All of you . . . Yes, that's true! 'Cause he helps put The Fear of God In the Common Man Snatchin' up money Everywhere he can Oh yeah Oh yeah He's got twenty million dollars In his Heavenly Bank Account You ain't got nothin', people You ain't got nothin', people You ain't got nothin', people Thank the man . . . oh yeah
Great post Batman, lets see you managed to bag on the Pope, me, Catholocism, and everything else I hold dear in life. I won't make fun of you. I'll just point you to my new thread and hope that we can agree on something.
Dean isn't that liberal. He's against gun control, is for a balanced budget and favors smaller government. I live in Vermont, and he's definitely got a strong libertarian/conservative streak. What makes him unique is that he's also a proponent of women's rights, universal health care, better wages, and stronger environmental regulations.
Poor dorky Lieberman. If he would somehow win, then the election is over the Republicans win whoever wins. I guess Lieberman is getting desperate. He will be one of the first to bite the dust. Just because he got the Iraqi war he wanted so badly from Dubya and his fellow neocons , does not mean that he has a clue about national politics. Just because Al Gore chose him doesn't mean that he has any sort of following in the Democratic Party.
