Lieberman: No Longer Favored Son? New York Times has endorsed LamontLink to NY TIMES editorial. "Senator Lieberman, if you won't challenge President Bush and his failed agenda, I will," promised Lamont. Lamont is anti-war and anti-everything President Bush. - Lieberman supports the President on the Iraq war. His position isn't helping him: 63 percent of Connecticut voters thought going to war was wrong. And 83 percent of Connecticut Democrats are against it. "I know I have taken a position on the war in Iraq that's not popular with a lot of Democrats, but I've done it clearly not as a matter of politics but a matter of principle -- because I thought it was right for the country," Lieberman said. The “Curse of the Kiss.” Perhaps no image has haunted Lieberman more than what happened at the President's State of the Union speech in 2005. It became known as "the kiss,” Bush giving Lieberman a supportive hug and what seemed like a peck on the cheek. The left-wing blogosphere went into overdrive. All of sudden there were websites like dumpjoe.com and kissjoegoodbye.com. There was even a "kiss" float made by bloggers in the Willimantic, Conn. Fourth of July parade. Lieberman has tried to distance himself from George Bush. "I've worked against George Bush,” said Lieberman. “I've even run against George Bush. But Ned, I'm not George Bush." Kelly Monaghan runs what is considered the most popular liberal blog site in Connecticut. I think Joe Lieberman has essentially lost his soul…” - Monaghan said. “There are a lot of people in the Democratic Party who have felt for a long time that Joe Lieberman has abandoned the party." Here's a look at the dissatisfaction timeline. In 1994, Lieberman didn't support President Clinton's universal health care plan. In 1998, Lieberman was the first Democrat to criticize Bill Clinton publicly over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. In 2003, he backed the war effort. In 2005, he supported Condoleezza Rice – Bush's choice for secretary of state. Also that year, he voted for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Just recently, in 2006, he wouldn't support a potential Democratic filibuster against Judge Samuel Alito. Like a lot of Connecticut liberals, Lamont sees all of this as too cozy a relationship with the President. "I think Democrats are going to come to this campaign,” said Lamont. “They're going to want somebody who stands up with the Democratic Party willing to challenge President Bush." In fact, some long-time Lieberman supporters, like former Democratic State Party Chairman George Jepsen now back Ned Lamont. "Supporting Ned Lamont was not an easy decision for me, but I flatly disagree with Joe on a number of issues of conscience," Jepsen said. On the Web, Lamont supporters are posting pictures showing him as “Benedict Lieberman,” or the President's puppet, even his lap dog. "When the Republicans need somebody to make an issue that no other Democrat will go along with,” Lamont said, “the See more like this at www.ProgressivePost.com |
