Posted on 10/24/2006 11:43:53 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Trailing in the polls, Democrat Ned Lamont called the Iraq conflict Sen. Joe Lieberman's "war of choice" and compared his rival to former Republican President Nixon.
Putting a fresh focus on the issue that powered him to victory in August's Democratic primary, Lamont mentioned Vietnam in criticizing Lieberman, who is running as an independent in his re-election bid.
"Iraq is Joe's war of choice, and he's been its strongest and staunchest supporter every step of the way," Lamont said in a speech at the University of Hartford. "And in the greatest act of audacity of all, he is now asking Connecticut voters not just for a fourth term, but to hold him harmless for his role in the most dangerous foreign policy blunder of our generation."
The criticisms were some of Lamont's strongest yet of Lieberman.
Lamont recalled that during the Vietnam War, former President Nixon voiced support for bringing the troops home even as he continued to pursue the war at a cost of 9,000 lives. He noted Lieberman has spoke recently of wanting to end the war as soon as possible.
"That's about as credible as Richard Nixon was almost 40 years ago," he said.
Lieberman fired back Tuesday, arguing that Lamont's support for a timetable for withdrawing troops is tantamount to defeat.
"He has no plan for success in Iraq," Lieberman said while campaigning in Cromwell. "He's ready to give up, retreat, and mandate a withdrawal of all our troops by next July 1. I think that would be a disaster for us, and a tremendous victory for the terrorists."
Lamont favors a deadline of about 12 to 18 months for withdrawing U.S. troops.
Lieberman backs the Bush administration view that establishing a timetable for withdrawal would be disastrous.
The senator, however, says he does not support an open-ended deployment of troops in Iraq. He has also criticized the Bush administration for failing to have a plan to win the peace; for not putting enough troops on the ground; and for failing to win allied support before the war.
The war will be on Lamont's agenda again Wednesday when he campaigns with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee and a strong anti-war voice.
In recent weeks, Lamont has broadened his campaign message to include issues ranging from education to health care and the environment. Some Democrats have voiced concern that his wider message could undercut his core anti-war appeal in a state where the vast majority of voters oppose the war.
President Bush does too for a different reason. It's absolutely stupid to put troop removal on a timetable. Which is exactly what Ned Lament is for.
DemforBush compares Lamont to McGovern.
What Lamont doesn't understand is that Joe Lieberman has charisma. Lamont doesn't. People who are voting for Lamont are voting against Joe because of his stance on the war. Lamont is a negative. Joe is a positive. Joe is the ONLY liberal Democrat I like. I can't explain it except to say Joe's got the IT factor that other Democrats do not possess. I disagree with most of what Joe stands for but I like him.
If nothing else, Mr. Lamont is providing the voters with a clear choice in this election. Too bad Joe Lieberman is a democrat with a liberal voting record, outside of WOT.
Lamont reminds me of the old Adam Ant tune "Desperate But Not Serious."
I've had fun asking the leftists. If the USA population is 60% against the Iraq war, why is Lieberman beating the pants off the anti-war candidate?
The libs I've spoken to merely state:
"Liebermans a traitor to the party, if it wasn't for him Lamont wold be elected easily."
AND if you're Aunty had b*lls she'd be your uncle!!!!
Dude - please spend more of your money as you crash and burn!
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