Lieberman Attacks Dem Critics On R/W Radio: They’re Invested In ‘Retreat And Defeat’ In Iraq»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/26/lieberman-bennett-iraq-defeat/

Lieberman Attacks Democratic Critics On Right-Wing Radio: They’re Invested In ‘Retreat And Defeat’ In Iraq»

Yesterday, Brave New Films launched a “Lieberman Must Go” petition drive arguing that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) no longer deserves a chairmanship or leadership role in the Senate Democratic Caucus because of his overt support for President Bush and John McCain’s key policies, especially on Iraq.

As if he was consciously hoping to throw fuel on the petition’s fire, Lieberman appeared on conservative stalwart Bill Bennett’s radio show this morning and assailed his Democratic colleagues on Iraq. Referencing a bellicose speech he gave at John Hopkins last year, Lieberman accused his former colleagues of being “invested in a narrative of retreat and defeat in Iraq”:

LIEBERMAN: Oh, about a year ago I gave a speech at John Hopkins and I expressed my concern about where my Democratic party was going on foreign policy and I specifically talked about Iraq, and I said that the party seemed invested in a narrative of retreat and defeat in Iraq, regardless of what was happening on the ground, regardless of the consequences of retreat and defeat. And unfortunately, too many of the leaders of the party have continued to have that approach to Iraq.

Listen/read transcript at link~

Lieberman’s shot at “leaders of the party” is surprising given that it is “leaders of the party” who are protecting him from efforts like the Brave New Films petition. Despite growing frustration within the Democratic caucus, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has continually said that Lieberman’s chairmanship will not be at risk next Congress.

But even Reid’s patience may be running thin. Last month he told MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann that he’s going to watch Lieberman’s conduct “very closely.” On Bloomberg TV last Friday, Reid hinted that Lieberman might not be with the party “forever”:

REID: So on issues that are important to this caucus, Lieberman has voted with us. Now, does this mean he’s in forever? I don’t know about that.

Continued vociferous attacks on the policies preferred by the “leaders of the party” are likely to only spread that patience even thinner.

[Swamp Rat]

1. Go back to Iraq Droopy, this time with a rifle.

Shut up and walk the walk, you chickenshit.

[Johonny]

2. Joe's narrative

apparently is to name call and pretend. Wow that's very 5 year oldish. How do you discus logically with a senator that behaves like a child?

I've seen Joe's Iraq approach for 6 years... it's not working Joe. Basically it appears the US can never leave Iraq without Joe calling it a retreat. Take that US troops. Thus regardless of what's happening on the ground the US can never leave or we've been defeated. Who says Joe gets to define for America, what is a retreat is or what defeat is? Who considers doing the same thing continuously, pretending the results are getting better, a victory?

[spanone]

3. joe has become that pain in the ass uncle who whines about everybody, and nobody cares

[InternalDialogue]

4. "Retreat and defeat"?

I guess we know that his talking points are partially written by Chuggo.

:eyes:

[KharmaTrain]

5. Joe Needs The Attention

He has no credibility with not only the Democratic party but most of the corporate media these days. You don't see Joe on the chit-chat shows like you used to...and be assured he'd love to be on them. He's truly a man without both a party and political barometer...he's in free fall and going for whatever gusto he can while he can.

Joe's been a staple of hate radio for years...always pretending to be the "concerned Democrat"...and for many years the game worked. Many of us looked the other way as he paraded on these shows...but those days are long gone and so are many people interested in hearing what Likudnik Joe has to say.

Joementum's only hope for any future power is to hitch his three-wheeled wagon to Gramps in hopes he'll get Sec. of State or Defense or some cushy gig. Joe's worst nightmare is a 60 seat Democratic majority...backbenched to freshman status and alone even further. He has no friends left on this side of the real world and if he doesn't "deliver" for his buddy Gramps, he'll be of no use to the repugnicans either.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

6. so joe's policy is to "stay and pay"

[Solly Mack]

7. a regular Nar Seuss