Does anyone on DU actually LIKE Joe Lieberman?

[ZombieNixon]

Not as in "agree with him on some issues," but "like what he stands for," "like seeing him speak," and "agree with him on 50 percent of greater of the issues?"

[NoodleBoy]

1. I think it's an accomplishment to stay sane in CT... does that count?

[ZombieNixon]

2. Uhhh, do you mean that the state of CT is insane as a whole,

or just insane for electing Joe-mentum?

[NoodleBoy]

6. I've driven through it a few times

and the whole way is the most boring thing imaginable.

how can anyone stay sane in that?

[ZombieNixon]

9. I've driven through it twice.

Once from Maryland to Maine. It was nighttime and I was asleep. The second time from Boston to New York, on a tour bus, and, aside from a stop at a Dairy Queen, I was asleep then, too, so I can't really make a judgement on the tedium of Connecticut.

[NoodleBoy]

10. did you take the Fung Wah or the other Chinatown busses?

I fucking love those things.

3 of the times I drove through was on one of those things (which, roundtrip makes it six) and then once from Boston to DC and once more back.

[douglasjkruse]

28. I live in Connecticut and it's not that bad...

I've lived all over the place -> Texas, Mississippi, New York (Manhattan), New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Germany, and Turkey (yes, Turkey!). Connecticut is one of the nicest places I've lived...nice roads, nice houses, plus it's a short drive to NYC or Boston...and best of all, it's all BLUE! Probably not as exciting as living in Europe, as far as things to see/do, but nice.

As far as Joe -> My wife and I always comment everytime we see Joe on local TV that he's no longer a Dem, at least it sure seems that way when you listen to some of his positions.

[rurallib]

3. I like his self-deprecating sense of humor.

that's about it. At least he's left of the zell man.

[vpigrad]

4. His voice is so annoying...

but Gore picked him to be his running mate so he has to be a very good person.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

19. Wow.

Are you serious? Hopefully that's not your only reason for classifying him as a very good person.

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Presidential candidates don't really get to pick their running mates.

:hi:

[vpigrad]

24. That's not true!

Of course they get to pick their running mates. It used to not be true since the electoral college used to pick the vice president, but now the president gets to pick. Amendment XII changed that.

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. Not "really" in the true sense. Think about it. Do you really believe

that Al Gore wanted Joe Lieberman as a running mate? Nothing in the party is that pure anymore. They're told who to pick.

[American Tragedy]

57. Well, Eisenhower notoriously did not want Nixon for VP

He did not choose him, and he desperately tried to drop him for both presidential campaigns, but was pressured heavily by the Republican party.

[w4rma]

5. LIEberman whines too much, among other things. (nt)

[purduejake]

7. No.

He doesn't stand for some of the issues most important to me, especially on gay marriage or equality. I looked on his website, and he doesn't even mention the issue.

[jdots]

8. I like one thing about him

he reminds me of a guy on "Laff In " a dorky show from the early 70s...not Arty Johnson but the other nerdy guy.Other than that Joe is the parasite on the back of a turd maggot.

[Kinkistyle]

14. You probably mean Henry Gibson

The guy with the really REALLY dry, monotonous speaking voice

[Moderate Dem]

11. If Joe Lieberman looked and spoke...

like John Edwards, I believe that he'd be the President now.

[davidwparker]

12. He's a decent man with whom I disagree.

[leesa]

33. He is indecent. Warmongering and supporting the unprovoked invasion

of a disarmed, UN compliant nation is INDECENT.

Get it??? He is indecent and immoral.

[mzmolly]

35. I actually agree.

:hi:

Don't go green! It's Dean or I get real mean! How's that?

[Walt Starr]

67. I cna think of many descriptions of Liebrman

"decent man" does not even fit into the picture. He is NOT a decent man. He is a traitorous bastard.

[many a good man]

13. Like his lips

[illini]

15. He is like a mole. You dont like how it looks but it eventually grows on u

[UTUSN]

16. Shrub Really Really Likes Him (a cropped, brightened version)

[zann725]

53. Could that be a tongue in the ear?! Yuck!

Guess that's what they call true "BI-partisanship."

No partisan politics there!

[Jacobin]

17. Yes.

I'd like to kick his silly ass out of office.

Does that count? :-)

[Jack Rabbit]

18. Lieberman has a Marching and Shouter Society at DU

They might even check in on this thread.

Both of them.

[dolstein]

20. I like him

I think he's a very decent, stand-up kind of guy. He's one of the few politicians who'll go on a talk show and actually answer the questions that are asked, rather than robotically spew out some canned catchphrases.

I also think it's important for the party that we have people like Lieberman who are deeply religious and can credibly speak about the moral foundation for liberal policies. I also think his foreign policy views are far more consistent with the policies of great Democratic presidents like Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and LBJ than the views of the typical DU'ers around here. Once upon a time, the Democratic Party believed that the United States was a powerful force for democracy and freedom around the world, and that as the oldest and strongest democracy, we had a moral obligation to confront tyranny wherever it was, including with military force. I think it's perfectly reasonable to debate the limits of force, but frankly I'm ashamed at the willingness of so many DU'ers to ridicule this view, which, after all, has fundamentally liberal underpinnings.

Finally, like his friend John McCain, Lieberman is not a viscious, mean spirited partisan. Many DU'ers who ought to know better, but obviously don't, jump to the conclusion that because Lieberman chooses not to rhetorically piss all over the Republican opposition, Michael Moore style, he must be a right wing DINO. As anyone who's looked at his voting record and interest group ratings over the years can attest, that's clearly not the case. He's compiled a liberal voting record. He simply doesn't choose to throw stones. Frankly, I think we'd be a lot better off if more Senators -- on BOTH sides of the aisle -- followed his lead.

[illini]

21. Joe also likes to go on Insannity's show and kiss his butt.

Why do you think insannity has him on. He thinks by punking out Joe he is punking us all out.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

31. I wrote several long replies to your post...

...and found myself editing them again and again to remove the profanity.

Then I stopped editing myself.

Let's just say that I disagree very strongly with your stated position. I find it to be full of the usual sound and fury, signifying nothing. It's so full of trite clichés that I'm not even convinced that you believe in it. If you really do, feel free to point out where it has been an effective one for the Democratic Party.

• I consider Lieberman to be nothing more than a Republican shill (less than a DINO).
  
• I used to have great respect for John McCain, but that disappeared around the RNC event.
  
• I really hope that the progressive part of the Democrats assumes power.
  
• I do not respect your position (in case that wasn't obvious).

[Zhade]

54. While most of your post is, IMIO, slightly divergent from reality...

...I actually partly agree with one thing you said:

I also think it's important for the party that we have people like Lieberman who are deeply religious and can credibly speak about the moral foundation for liberal policies.

I do think it is important that religious Democrats explain to other religious citizens why liberal policies are moral from their own point of view.

It may sound surprising from this atheist, but then I've never had a problem with, say, good Catholics who work for the poor. Their views on issues like health care and such do have a moral underpinning to them, for them personally, and it would be a good thing to connect that understanding to Catholics who are being duped by conservatives to abandon the poor.

What do you know, something I kinda sorta agree with you on. Probably the last time, but hey, enjoy it while it lasts! :D

[liberalpragmatist]

23. I don't think he's so bad

I don't think it'd be good for the Democratic Party were he president or so, but as a senator I think he's fine. We have a big tent and I don't think he's so bad. His voting record is fine and he has particularly good records on gay rights and the environment. He also is a religious democrat and while I find him sanctimonious, it's good to have some members of the party who aren't afraid to speak about faith.

I like to crack some jokes at his expense and he does make me roll my eyes a lot, but he votes with us far more than he votes against us and I think Dolstein is correct when he says that Washington would be a lot better place if there were more senators who were like Lieberman in that they really are pretty nonpartisan and do what they think. He's essentially very independent and while that annoys me often I respect him. I do think he's often naive about working with the Republicans - he's too enamored of bipartisanship for my taste - but honestly I don't think he's a bad guy.

[Chicago Democrat]

25. I think he is a Democrat

A very pro-Israel, pro-Iraq war Democrat.

[Geek_Girl]

26. I like him better than my Senators

Bill Frist
Lamar Alexander

I'll trade :)

[Hippo_Tron]

39. Yea I'd take him over David Vitter for sure

Hell I bet the people over in Idaho who have Crapo (what a GREAT name from a Republican Senator) and Craig would take him any day.

[LSdemocrat]

29. I don't mind him. I wouldn't quite say that I like him

[stevedeshazer]

30. I do

Using your standard, yes I do like Joe.

[leesa]

32. Why would anyone like an appeaser?

[mzmolly]

34. Yes, I like him. I just think he's lost his marbles when it comes to *

He's got a pretty solid voting record on Democratic issues actually:

Choice, environment etc.

He's just a friggen chicken hawk and I despise that about him.

I think he is a man of great integrity, I just disagree with him on some major issues as of late.

I would like to see him defeated in the next primary election however.

[TheOriginalAmerican]

36. No way.

I lost all respect for Lieberman when he slammed Dean for daring to say that we should be balanced in the Israeli and Palestinian issue.

[Zhade]

55. Yes...how DARE we take an honest, even-handed approach.

Lieberman's "Remember the 3,000 that died on 9/11" speech during the (laughably minuscule and pointless) hearings on Abu Ghraib really torqued me off, too. Way to willingly aid and abet the Iraq=9/11 Big Lie, Joe.

Actually, now that I remember that, I'm furious at him all over again. Dolstein, if you're reading this, an honest question: how did you feel when Lieberman said this? Not an attack, genuine curiosity.

[0007]

37. I can only speak for myself. IMHO I think he's on his own agenda!

[JI7]

38. i like him

i disagree with him on some things but i don't feel any hatred towards him.

[Hippo_Tron]

40. I don't give a shit about him, his presidential bid was a complete failure

And he won't ever have a successful one. He's a senator who votes like he feels, the people of connecticut elect him and frankly there's nothing I can or really care to do about it. Worrying about how he votes and acts is energy that I could be using to hate Bush.

[imaginary girl]

41. I think he did an awful job as a running mate for Gore --

Haven't been able to stomach him since.

It was his job to play the attack dog and instead he played poodle at * and Cheney's feet.

Not to mention the fact that he uses religion for his own political purposes as often as most Repubs.

[liveoaktx]

42. No

[Orangepeel]

43. Lieberman has a long history of good works, with a few big blind spots

he has an excellent environmental record, an excellent women's rights record, a history of solid voting on economic issues. He has a good civil rights record and a good record on labor issues.

He talks too much about 'values' for my taste, but I don't believe that he tries to legislate morality.

He's nuts on this war, though.

[imaginary girl]

47. nuts on the war AND private school vouchers

which would pretty much destroy public schools, (whatever's left of them, anyway).

But the other things you mention are good ...

[NecrotizingE]

44. He's ok

[RealDems]

45. No.

[gottaB]

46. I'm liking him less and less

It has been said that the Republicans of today represent a new kind of adversary for the Democrats. It is not the traditional clash of parties that formed the backdrop for the political sensibilities of New Democrat militarists like Joe Lieberman. The nature of the new conflict places a high premium on other factors, such as the ability to get straight answers from nominees in order to avoid further disgraces for the American people, and the willingness to put war criminals on trial. In my judgement, this new paradigm renders obsolete the New Democrats' strict limitations on the opposition to nominees, and renders quaint some of their ideas about affording nominees such things as "a nod and a wink," "sticking our heads in the sand," "glowing praise," and even "the benefit of the doubt."

A better metaphor for this paradigm shift: bebop. Just us --> Justice --> Evidence. Serious musicians will understand, even if Joe does not. This is not a game for amateurs.

[muse]

48. Yall have pretty much turned me against him.

I used to think he was a good Democrat, but DU posters are relentless about posting evidence to the contrary. Slowly, I have come around to the DU consensus.

[Negatron]

49. He's better than an actual Republican...

In the same way that Spam is better than Potted Meat Food Product.

[Skittles]

50. I certainly hope not

nt

[Zhade]

51. "like what he stands for"? Hell no. He loves PNAC and Ariel Sharon.

Can't get enough of the war, votes for torture and breaking international law - no, I can say he stands for many things I despise. The good he does is dwarfed by these things.

[zann725]

52. Even before he smooched-up to Shrub yesterday...

I considered him a royal suck-up for some time.

Question IS: was he THIS pro-Shrub when he ran as Gore's VP? If so...was he "in" on the fix?

[sandnsea]

56. He's better than Santorum

Hell I'd even trade him for my Republican Senator, Smith. But I shouldn't have to rate a Dem Senator by Republican standards. He's a hawk on this war and I think he truly believes he's right. But I'm sure glad I don't have to vote for him!

[Califooyah Operative]

58. I don't like some of the things he's done,

but i don't dislike him for his having a different view, he is after all a democrat.

[wheresthemind]

59. I think he honestly believes in everything he does...

and I'd say that is respectable no matter where you are on the political spectrum...

He is just a polar opposite Paul Wellstone.

[marcologico]

60. Integrity he's got, it's just that he's a wingnut.

He didn't do much for Gore's ticket either. Or at least that's how it seemed to me in CA, which is not exactly swing state central.

[Walt Starr]

61. He's a Republican

and should be considered as such.

[Disturbed]

62. Heard a rumor that Fox...

is going to hire him as a pundit. Is it true?

[blindpig]

63. he has a great environmental voting record

otherwise he sucks out loud. Sort of a mirror image of Robert Byrd.

[zulchzulu]

64. I'd LIKE him to lose in 2006 to another Democrat

He's kissed the Chimp. After kissing his ass so many times in private, what's the point.

I'd back Nader to run against him in CT. Or Paul Newman. Anybody...

Some say Joe is better than, say, Santorum...or DeLay.

That's like saying I'd prefer Freon in my coffee over Drano.

[LynneSin]

65. Who else gave us "Joementum"

:crazy:

[Freddie Stubbs]

66. I like him so do a lot of CT Democrats

considering that he was elected to the CT State Senate three times (and served six years as Majority Leader), twice as CT Attorney General, and three times to the United States Senate. Sounds like a popular guy to me.