Posted on 11/06/2006 12:43:07 PM PST by SmithL
Though Sen. Joe Lieberman expects to win a lot of Republican votes Tuesday, the Connecticut lawmaker said he won't feel especially beholden to the GOP if he is elected to a fourth term.
"I'll owe everybody and that's the point," Lieberman said Monday as he pressed for final votes at a senior center in Meriden.
Lieberman, whose Senate career was at risk just three months ago after he lost to anti-war challenger Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary, led Lamont by 12 percentage points in a statewide poll released Monday.
Lieberman is running as an independent and has enjoyed support from the GOP, including praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
But he said his comeback since the primary has convinced him that he needs to be a stronger independent voice.
"It's taken me as an independent-minded Democrat and really empowered me to be more independent," said Lieberman, the Democrats' 2000 vice presidential nominee. "Parties are important, but they're not as important as the public interest."
Potential gains by Democrats mean the Senate could end up in a 50-50 split, or something close to it. Republicans, who have already helped Lieberman's campaign, would likely court him in hopes of persuading him to switch parties.
Lieberman has pledged to remain a Democrat.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I always thought Lieberman was kind of cute with his char-pei jowls, but then that's just me...I like men with kindly careworn faces :)
Don't be too hard on him, please. The greedy alternative is not an option.
Yep, and Lieberman saying "I love Rush Limbaugh. I've crossed over, baby" is not the way for him to win tomorrow. Not in his state.
I don't expect Lieberman to change his spots... however he gets the WOT and to let some twit stuffed shirt idiot who doesn't replace him would be a huge huge mistake.
If Lieberman turned Republican, he'd be a RINO. His voting record on domestic issues is like Chafee's.
He has to hold his fire until Wednesday, but if he wins and the Republicans hold the senate, let's just see who gets the last laugh! In my opinion, the Clintons are owed a big finger from him for screwing his chance at VP in 2000. He would have the opportunity to stick it to Hillary if the above scenario plays out! Should be very, very interesting....
Joe is doing the smart thing....if he appears too much in debt to the GOP, the Defeatocrats will use it against him today and tomorrow.
Its sort of like putting Vaporub under your nose when you have to be near something that smells bad. It still smells bad but you feel better about it.
Lieberman has been feeding at the public trough for most of his adult life. Some may try to impute higher motives to his running as an independent after losing his party's nomination, but I attribute it to his desire to stay in the spotlight on the national stage and to continue to collect his federal pay check. It is all about power and ego. There are two Dems running for senator in CT and Lieberman is one of them. If he had any principles, he would have accepted the decision of the Dem voters and moved aside for Lamont.
If Lieberman turned Republican, he'd be a RINO. His voting record on domestic issues is like Chafee's.
So in other words, the dims have two candidates in the race?
Wrong. Lieberman has a lifetime ACU rating of 17 compared to Chafee's 37.
Lieberman voted against the confirmation of Alito.
Hey my friend some of us are as conservative as can be so please don't wish such ill will upon us. ;-)
What he says is not necessarily what he means.
I think the most important result will be that Lieberman has shown democrats that they do not have to be intimidated by Soros and the moveon.org types.
The people have the final say, not the fanatics, not the MSM, not the billionaires, not the movie stars.
Joe is with them on almost every social issue, but solidly GOP when it comes to national security. I wouldn't expect him to change everything he thinks. But if he stays in our corral on the War on Terror, more power to him.
...of course, he may reconsider when he sees how the backbiting bastards in the Democratic Party treat him like the fertilizer in the punch bowl after he kicks the @$$ of the Dem candidate in this election...
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