Karl OFFERS TO HELP LIEBERMAN. Not a joke.

[yodermon]

:wow:

George Stephanopoulos: Can Karl help Joe?

According to a close Lieberman adviser, the President's political guru, Karl Rove, has reached out to the Lieberman camp with a message straight from the Oval Office: "The boss wants to help. Whatever we can do, we will do."

http://abcnews.blogs.com/theworldnewser/

found via firedoglake: http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/08/09/the-new-math/

[jsamuel]

1. Bush endorses Lieberman

[Oceansaway]

5. must have been that kiss.....n/t

[walldude]

59. Bwhahaha The kiss of death!! n/t

[bananas]

36. Permalink to the abcnews blog item

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2006/08/george_stephano.html

[Critters2]

2. So now he's *'s favorite Independent? eom

[gully]

3. Does that mean Bush will campaign for Lieberman instead of the Republican

candidate, or that they'll help him be a "spoiler?" I think I know the answer.

[insane_cratic_gal]

16. Yes

because the Republican candidate can't win CT.. They know this.. so better to keep Joe the Lap dog then empower the the people of CT and the democratic party by allowing Lamont in.


Lamont used some very strong words against this administration last night during his acceptance speech. He's the newest head of the party and people are paying attention. Lieberman hasn't spoken badly about Bush (ever)

Now will Bush show up to campaign for him, probably not.. but lets pay close attention to who and with what pac donates to Lieberman's campaign.

[long_green]

25. Fighting for Joe is the best way to hurt the Dems in November

If this is legit, it means that the urgency of getting Joe out of the race is greater than I thought.

A vote (or a check) for Joe is a vote for George W. Bush.

Get the message out.

[gully]

35. I want to see an all out endorsement from *. If he's "supporting"

Lieberman, his support must go beyond how they supported Nader.

I think a Republican may win if the Dem vote is divided, and that is their intent - no doubt.

[AndyA]

4. Big surprise there. They can snuggle up together someplace private

and make campaign plans. Bush can whisper them into Joe's ear while they're making out.

[liberal N proud]

6. That justifies yesterdays actions.

The fact that KKKarl is reaching out to help him after he has been defeated signifies just how important Joe was to the regime.

[hippiechick]

7. Of course he does - divide and conquer.

Splitting the opposition party is the only way the GOP can guarantee a win (Diebold excluded, of course) ...

[Skidmore]

8. Wonder if there was a similar memo to Nader?

[Sir Jeffrey]

9. Good thing he ran against Bush in 2000 right?

Makes you wonder just how close Bush and Lieberman really are.

[long_green]

17. What was Al Gore thinking?

It gets harder to figure that out everyday.

[Sir Jeffrey]

28. "The Clinton Factor"...

Al thought he needed to distance himself from the Clenis scandals. In doing so, he did what our side usually does: listen to stupid dinosaur advisors like Shrum, Cahill, Brazille, etc.

How these professional losers continue to get any work is beyond me.

[Jim Lane]

48. In defense of Gore's 2000 VP choice

First, Gore was acting on Lieberman's record then, which didn't include support for a war of aggression against Iraq. I think the general consensus is that Lieberman has moved to the right since 2000.

Second, Gore's strategy of wanting to distance himself from the Clinton scandals had some merit too it. I persnally think Gore carried it too far by not being emphatic enough in identifying himself with the substantive achievements of the Clinton administration. The choice of Lieberman, who had criticized Clinton on personal grounds while largely supporting his program, could've helped Gore draw that distinction, which was the right approach for many swing voters.

Third, the Gore/Lieberman ticket received more votes for President/Vice President than any other ticket ever had.

Fourth, Lieberman was popular with Florida's large ex-Northern population, especially the Jews. Without Lieberman on the ticket, Gore might well have actually lost Florida.

Of course, if Gore had picked Kerry instead, maybe Kerry's over-the-border strength would have picked up the few additional votes needed to swing New Hampshire. Then Gore would've been inaugurated regardless of what happened in Florida. We'll never know. But let's not carry the anti-Lieberman backlash so far that we apply obvious hindsight to criticize Gore.

[Sir Jeffrey]

56. ...

Point 1: Lieberman started in politics as a centrist. As the country shifted to the right, so did he. Voting records are deceptive because many times votes cast are meaningless i.e. if something has no chance of passing, it is a safe vote...likewise if something is going to pass regardless, this is where professional moderates like Lieberman make their "principled stands". It is well known in politics that professional centrists have no political compass...as such, they will stab you in the back when they see the opportunity. CHoosing one as a running mate makes no sense.

Point 2: I wasn't indicating in my statement that avoiding the Clinton scandals was bad strategy. The Clinton Factor was the divide between job approval and personal approval. Read the polls from that era and you'll find that people liked CLinton's policies...they didn't like the Clenis.

My point was that choosing a center-right VP doesn't do anything as far as separating yourself from personal scandals. Gore keeps his pants on and I think that would have been enough. I blame his ignorant advisors for dressing him in "earth tones", telling him to pull his punches in the first debate, and making the election waaaaaaay too close when the competition is an illiterate with the worst resume for the presidency in history.

Point 3: And they just barely won the popular vote when all indicators should have led to a rout.

Point 4: And it is arguable that choosing Lieberman and staying in the center drove too many into supporting Nader. We'll never know.

Finally, I wasn't criticizing Gore. I was criticizing his professional loser advisors. I have great respect for Gore and I think if he'd been himself he would have wiped the floor with Bush.

[itzamirakul]

30. I will always believe that the DLC made the choice of Lieberman

to run for vp and Gore was forced to accept.

[ronnykmarshall]

46. Al's probably saying the same thing.

I wonder if Al will endorse Lamont?

[Fridays Child]

10. Shameful.

[KoKo]

50. Kind of confirms in my mind that Lieberman knows more about 2000 Election

than the Bushies want to let out. For Bush to go this far out says he's owed a favor back to Lieberman. Interesting....

[long_green]

11. This is good news

This must be brought to light as soon as possible. Let Bush be seen offering a helping hand to Holy Joe and Lieberman's Democratic support will wither away even faster.
This could even have a boomerang effect with some of Connecticut's Republican voters.

[Guaranteed]

39. ABSOLUTELY. Everything we can do to get the Repukes

publicly supporting Lieberman will help.

[Generic Other]

12. The boss?

Bruce Springsteen?

[bdamomma]

13. Joe is selling his soul to the DEVILS

[plasticsundance]

14. Three Stooges: Bush/Lieberman/Rove

What desperate idiots! Even Republicans are avoiding Bush's coat tails. The very thing that got Lieberman defeated yesterday (aligning with Bush) is the very thing that these idiots want to promote. What have they all been doing? Sucking cement through a straw.

[Timbuk3]

15. Freep this!

If The General Election Were To Be Held Today, For Whom Would You Vote?
Lamont (D) 29%
Lieberman (I) 55%
Schlesinger (R) 17%

http://www.wtic.com/index.php?

[insane_cratic_gal]

21. Don't you mean DU this?

Freep this? Do we use that term here to go after a poll that's already been freeped?

Because whatever poll we post here.. ultimately ends up on FR which ends up being freeped because it was seen here by a lurker.

[Timbuk3]

60. I stand corrected

Thank you.

LOL

[TahitiNut]

24. It's already been freeped.

:shrug:

[Critters2]

31. It's being freeped

But I Du'd it.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

44. that adds up to 101%

[mmonk]

18. 'nuff said

:rofl:

[Junkdrawer]

19. "The boss"? Wonder who that is - can't be Bush. Perhaps...

it's KKKarl's little way of referring to himself, as in "The boss is feeling a little randy tonight. Guess I'll give Jeff a call."

[smokey nj]

20. Doesn't Rove's offer to help just prove that Lieberman is the

defacto repuke nominee?

[mmonk]

55. Yes

because CT is a heavy democratic state along with independents.

[calico1]

22. Good. I hope it is widely reported. n/t

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NewJeffCT]

26. Wonderful news - Bush has a 24% approval rating in CT

the last time it was reported.

[Subdivisions]

27. Sheer desperation

They can see the writing on the wall.

[YankeyMCC]

29. Just all part of the plan

to paint the image of a dangerous 'radical left' - "Poor Joe is a good man, we're not partisan and we want to help this POOR VICTIM of the radical left."

[Gregorian]

32. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

[smoogatz]

33. This tells you how important Joementum is to Bush.

They need at least one prominent Democrat to endorse their agenda, otherwise they lose any claim to occupying some kind of mythical political "mainstream." Bushlicker Joe has been enabling W and his cadre of idiots since before day one--going back to his attempt to censure Clinton. I'd love it if Joe was dumb enough to accept money/help from Rove; it would be the end of his political career in CT.

[Straight Shooter]

34. Good grief. Has a GOP henchman ever offered to help a *cough* Dem before?

Please tell me this is unprecedented.

Talk about selling your soul to the devil, and getting pennies in exchange.

[oxbow]

37. Good. Now spread this far and wide

I don't care how much money the White House and the RNC throw in Lieberman's warchest. In the end, Bush will still be the kiss of death to his campaign. That is, if Lamont refuses to let this stay "under the table."

You bet your life there's going to be a fight...it's just gotten started in CT.

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. Why would Lieberman's staff disclose this?

I don't doubt that it happened, but I don't understand why they would be letting it out.

[Swamp Rat]

41. Someone can see THEM!

:hide:

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

42. Good question---makes no sense at all.

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. There are a lot of reasonable theories posted in this thread

that explain why dubya would be reaching out to Lieberman. But I still don't understand why Lieberman would be letting us know that Rove contacted him.

[Swamp Rat]

40. Told y'all!!

:D





:hi:

[Symphony of Freedom]

43. Holy fuck...

Any "Democrat" who supported Loserman should be expelled from the party.

[AlCzervik]

47. i think if he took that help it would ensure his defeat, Rove publicly

offering his help imo is a kiss of death.

[Az_lefty]

49. self delete

[Rosco T.]

51. Tell me again why Joe is still a Dem and should keep his committee seats?

[Liberal_Dog]

52. Rove's Words...

have been coming out of Liebermann's mouth for the past several days.

Would it really be a surprise if this "Independent" crap was Rove's idea all along?

[ReadTomPaine]

53. This makes sense, since Joe is running against a Democrat. n/t

[Generator]

54. Oh my God

Ya know, I just read somebody from the DLC said we were "demonizing" Lieberman. No, it's holding him accountable. Just like we "hate Bush". No, we despise what he's doing to the country. It's not a cult of personality. It's what they do that hangs them. I'm never forgiving Lieberman if he doesn't get the fuck out of this race.

[WiseButAngrySara]

57. Snow(job) was asked today if B* would be supporting Lieberman, and he

adamantly denied it. Which makes me believe it!

[GeorgeGist]

58. True Love

Never been no fragile flower
I always got too much to say
Never had much luck with love and romance
I guess it's always been that way
But I've been seriously thinking
About slippin' on the velvet gloves
I know it's strange but my lucks about to change
Cause what we got here is True love, yeh, yeh

-Pat Benatar

[Nikki Stone 1]

61. If Joe wonders why CT voters threw him out, this is why

WHat other Dem would Rove offer to help!

Makes me really believe that Lamont was the right choice.

[dweller]

62. ...

dp

[Iniquitous Bunny]

63. Go ahead and make a deal with the devil, Joe.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of Republican support. :banghead: