Blech Lieberman makes me sick to my stomach

[ringmastery]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11748-2003Aug18.html

In appearances before crowds of Democrats looking for sharp attacks on President Bush's tax cuts, trade pacts and foreign policy, Lieberman is sounding a bit like a Republican as he laments the "old" and "outdated" solutions advocated by many Democrats. "It's right out of Karl Rove's playbook," said Dean's spokeswoman, Patricia Enright. Some Democratic voters seem to agree -- he was the only candidate booed at recent candidate cattle calls.

By openly challenging the political adage that a Democrat must run to the left to win the nomination, Lieberman is pressing the case that only an unapologetic centrist strong on national defense such as him can beat Bush. Although many Democrats agree with much of his analysis of what it will take to defeat the president in a nation divided almost evenly between the two main political parties, others are angered by his decision to run hard against key Democratic constituencies. Some fault him for hurting the party to help himself.

"It's a bad strategy in a primary where Democratic activists are sort of on a shopping spree for someone who will fight and defend party principles in 2004," said Donna Brazile, the campaign manager for Gore-Lieberman in 2000. Brazile is not backing any of the candidates. "Alienating a large segment of the Democratic Party base will not bode well for the future. How do you bring back during the primary you made them feel like they were unwanted and unneeded? It's terrible for Joe."

Democratic strategist Joe Lockhart, President Bill Clinton's former spokesman, said it is "not good for the party," either. "I don't think anyone finds it helpful to be painted as an extremist," he said. Lockhart, who is not affiliated with any of the presidential campaigns, said many Democrats he has talked with consider Lieberman's recent string of attacks "over-the-top and counterproductive" to their efforts to oust Bush. "This can be calibrated a little softer," he said.

[Jivenwail]

1. Republican lite

ITA with your assessment. Pass the industrial sized barf bag, please.

[ima_sinnic]

2. "centrist"? He's the Republican wing of the Democratic Party

Lieberman is the ultra-right Democrat. I sent an e-mail to his campaign headquarters telling him off, will you join me? I predict his "appeal" will fade quickly and decisively as the other candidates become better known. The first few primaries ought to get rid of him altogether.

[Cascadian]

6. It's already happening.

He's getting booed everywhere he goes. Dean is way ahead of him. He really should just become a Republican "centrist". They have been lacking in those in that party lately.

John

[Bob3]

3. Joe peaked the day he announced

it's been downhill for old joe since then. He will finish, at best a distant 3rd in New Hampshire, and his support and what little money he has been getting will melt like snow in a blast furnace.

[Cascadian]

4. Proves that he is not going to get the nomination.

Lieberman has been acting pretty desparate lately. He has been lashing out a lot at Dean too. No. I expect by the end of the year, he will bow out and endorse Bush like he should anyway. If he thinks he has a sliver of a chance then he is delusional.

John

[sangh0]

5. Thanks for reminding us

I'm sure that many of us might have forgotten that if it weren't for the daily screeds