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Because nobody could have predicted it -- Joe Lieberman will be campaigning with GOP candidates Jodi Rell and Rob Simmons today at the Groton sub base (the one that Holy Joe claims to have singlehandedly saved). Simmons, you'll remember, is the GOP candidate running against Democrat Joe Courtney for one of those hotly contested Connecticut House seats. You know, the ones where the Democrat is supposed to be helped by Lieberman's indy bid, right? At least according to the DCCC and the email that reader ems forwarded to us yesterday:
From: DCCC [mailto:dccc@DCCC.ORG]
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 10:09 AM
To: XXXXXXX
Subject: RE: CommentsWe apologize for your frustration. It is actually very likely that this competitive race will actually help Congressional Democrats by making sure every Democrat is out at the polls. Rather than a bland race where Lieberman will surely win and no one will care, there is now a heated race that will bring every Democrat out to the polls, thus increasing the chances of a Democratic sweep of the Connecticut House seats.
If it's in the bag like this, one has to wonder why Rahm Emmanuel will take to the state to campaign with Dianne Farrell today. Perhaps he too has heard that the foliage is lovely in Connecticut this time of year.
Or maybe the DCCC has come out of the ostrich tuck. I have no way of knowing what constellation of influence led them to a Come to Jesus moment, but ems has now forwarded this:
Mr xxx,
My name is Joseph from the Online department. I am one a several people that check the DCCC Inbox. I apologize for having sent this email. I had not realized that I had sent this email to you until I saw it on a blog this morning. I had written this draft intending to send it to our Online Editor, Jesse Lee, for approval and instead accidentally sent it to you. This is not the official policy of the DCCC and should not be taken as such. If you have any further questions email lee@dccc.org directly.
Thanks for your understanding and apologies for my mistake.Joseph
Right-o. I've only had two beers and I'll lrespect you in the morning too, honey. Promise.
You can contact the DSCC and let Chuck Schumer know how happy you are about this turn of events here.
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FITZ for good luck
so the DCCC is doing a little “walking on a razor’s edge” to drive turnout? riiiight…
time to saddle up the troops and let them know that CT is Ned or bust
NED for good government!
So why is it exactly that the DSCC thinks that J-Lie is going to caucus with the dems IF he gets elected?
Because he’s shown such loyalty to the dems in the past?
I don’t get it.
Why not - his winning could result in a cabinet appointment (thanks Karl for the heads up phone call) and thereafter Rell appointing a republican senator from CT, among the bluest of blue states.
What a way for the pubs to rub the dems’ noses in it. The dems need to slam him down hard.
Swan!
What? Short Low Ride is campaigning with Repubicans? Yeah, Jane. You did call that coattail. What a freakin’ idiot - Benedict Lieberman.
Rahm also said that since Whiney’s poll numbers have been going up, he thought if the election would have taken place just a couple of days later, Joe would have won. Honestly, I think the desperation is getting to them.
No one would have guessed that Been-a-dick Lieberman would don his Bush/Coulter Republican elephant suit so soon?
Surpirse, surprise, surprise.
OT.
More on Iran. The Jeruslam Post is running an “Israel may have to go it alone” against Iran story.
You will notice the “It is 1938 and the Iranians are Nazi’s” theme.
War, war, war, war all the time. It is the permanant war for permanant peace.
Jerusalem Post
-GSD
Any Dem who has not come out swinging against Joe at this point is a turncoat. He should be removed from the Democratic arty all together at this point and he should step down/be removed from Democratic appointed committees.
No mercy.
meta @
6
Meta — where was that?
Hmmm, perchance they’re finally cottoning onto RevDeb’s and windje’s points … or at least “Joseph & boss” are? Good plan on their parts. At last.
Damn those low-level staffers…
Professor Foland @ 9
I’ll second that!
Sooo, if the original e-mail was not official policy, and the second e-mail was to apologize for sending the first, where is the e-mail where the DCCC responds in accordance with their official policy? Or are they still trying to figure out what that policy is?
Why do I think they will figure it out on November 8th?
Is it possible that Reid will see that Joe should have his chairmanships taken away now?
Fer cryin’ out loud, what’s it take to get a stake driven through Lieberman’s black flabby heart, anyway?
Ah, American slang in unexpected places (see GSD’s linky):
Jane, he was on Charlie Rose a couple of nights ago, so no link.
RevDeb @ 4
They are either in serious denial or they just don’t give a damn. I don’t know which one is worse.
Howard Dean on Hardball:
I will not be supporting Joe Loserman (my word)in his Re-election campaign. Ned Lamont has my support.
Ned was the candidate selected in the primary because he has a great grasp on the issues. Joe, well Joe is out of touch with Connecticut and America.
On the flip side, Dean did say that Joe would be welcomed back into the Dem Party if he wins.
OK, now my head is exploding…..If Joe wins, it is very likely that a Dem Majority in one or both of the Houses would not be achieved. The Repugs in CT will be riding Joes coattails and the Repugs would retain control.
When will the Dem leadership cast this albatross off their ship?
JOE - IT is TIME FOR HIM TO GO
Jane, maybe it’s because I haven’t had my coffee this morning (which I’ll fix forthwith), but I don’t see a web link in your article for the fact that Lieberman is campaigning with 2 Republican candidates at Groton today.
Where did I miss it?
As mad and frustrated as I am about all this, the good thing is we can see who the cowards are, and who needs to purged.
prof 18 — there is no link. We’re reporting that.
meta 16 — thanks.
Jane, based on what? Conversation? Inside information? Source? Unnamed source? 2 sources?
Is “campaigning” your interpretation or snark?
Just wanting to be sure that such a potential bombshell is not a dud.
Shameless behavior. Like his actions in the August primary, this event is served up to Team Lamont on a tee. I hope they hit it hard.
Prof — it’s solid, and based on on-the-ground information. We don’t report rumors without clearly labelling them as such. That has always been our policy.
This election can be won by democrats if the entire democratic party can stand united behind lamont.
First thing they need to do is to expel Lieberman from Democratic party, take away his caucus membership and loudly attack him for his betrayal. Make him an outcast and not some “nice man” that they keep proclaiming him. Lieberman is not a nice person and needs the same kind of treatment. Lieberman’s recent statement that a win by Lamont will be a win for terrorists should have been challenged and he should have been made to apologise for this outrage. This issue should have been hammered every single hour.
Unfortunately This election will be lost by democrats because of their cowardice instead of issues.
Of course, there is this from last Monday:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/.....KM6HG1.DTL
Schumer and Reid should burn their bridges, on principle. They should announce something like, “Joe Lieberman is betraying the Democratic Party and has been for several years. In the current campaign, hardly a day has passed when he has not found a new way to make common cause with Republicans. The Republicans are treating him as their candidate. So must we. Senator Lieberman has amply demonstrated that he no longer wishes to be a member of the Democratic Party. We respect his decision, with regret, and are taking action to accommodate him. His seats on Senate committees will soon be occupied by loyal Democrats. We are throwing the full weight of the party, including the support of every single Democratic Senator, behind the campaign of Ned Lamont. More important, in the unlikely event that Mr. Lieberman wins in November, he will not be invited to caucus with the Democratic Party. He’s made his decision. We cannot trust his word and no longer intend to try.”
joe and company are also coming to Millstone Nuclear Power plant (where i work) today. i am convinced he has a deal with the repubs. either caucus with them or take SEC/DEF so Jodi Rell (repub) can replace joe with a thug. i will try to say hello but this is one highly scripted visit. i suspect my ned lamont sticker at my office will keep them away from me…
OT but it looks like that dutch “terrorism” scare is going to be a case of a US pilot piddling his pants over a bunch of brown skinned holidayers daring to speak their native tongue to one another.
What does the General call it “The Dark Stain of Courage?”
Of course, after your revelation, Holy Joe might just miss the train like Biden?
Or no chance of that?
Speaking of Joe: I thought this was worth bringing upstairs from the late night thread. CT-Sen: Tech vendors turn down Lieberman,
Milliner’, (this is gonna sound rill doofus, but) somewhere in my catch-up reading over the past few days, something you said really affected me and I gave you a shout-out nobody could hear. Now, of course, I can’t recall whether it was over your insight or funniness or something-it-turns-out-we-have-in-common-and-I’d-like-to-ask-you-about or just what.
Anyhow, whatever the hell it was — SALUD!
BTW the foliage sucks this time of year in CT.
I can’t wait till all of those long term Sens retire.
Golly gee, why won’t Schumer do the right thing?
hey Prof here is a link.
http://connecticutblog.blogspot.com/
I live in Thomaston CT and our GOP town committee just endorsed Lieberman. Read it in the Waterbury paper.
I think the people in CT should have statewide Halloween contests mocking the little monster named Joe.
51 votes. If a Lieberman win assures them 51 seats Schumer, Reid, Clinton and Obama would all blow the S.O.B. on alternating days for a month after the election. Don’t believe any crap about Joe getting put on some sort of shit list or being booted from the party. 51 votes. That’s ALL that matters. Today’s Dems are a cesspool of cowardly invertebrates. LBJ would’ve taken Lieberman aside and informed him defying the party meant he was soon to be the most miserable bastard roaming the halls of Congress. He’d have to swim a stream of shit just to get to his desk. No chance for that type of enforcement with this crew.
LindyH, that Gilliard report is HI-larious! Gawd, those poor mopes.
Alice Marshall @ 34
Because he and joe are members of the Isreal first wing of the only politcal party in this country that matters, “The War Party.”
Prof, just fyi, because you may have missed it.
Back when Jason Leopold kept
lyingclaiming he had five sources that Fitz had indicted Rove, FDL was deluged. Every other newbie commenter wanted to know why Jane and Christy would not publish what Leopold had already published inFakeOutTruthOut. Everyone was saying that Rove would get indicted, but no one would go as far as Leopold and say they had anonymous sources. Even MSNBC’s David Shuster said he thought Fitz would indict Rove.Jane and Christy never budged. As the epicenter of Plame news along with some other blogs, that took some serious guts.
I think people should start turning up at Lieberman events in redcoats for Turncoat Joe. Having spent time in New England during college, I’m fairly sure that everyone would get that symbolism right up front. As if the Bush smooch weren’t enough…blergh.
lotus @ 30
Thanks lotus! I’ve been a little busy the past couple days so I haven’t keep on top of the comments. I’ll see if I can catch up since I remember what threads I briefly have visted.
Stuart at 29. What. You. Said.
Exactly.
Lieberman needs to RETIRE - he will really screw things up if runs as an I we can’t afford to lose this seat to a rep
Christy Hardin Smith @ 39
It’s worth a trip back to just to do this.
cfeddy, how will Waterbury cotton to that, d’ya think?
I think the people in CT should have statewide Halloween contests mocking the little monster named Joe.
And start ‘em a week before Halloween!
(M, ’twas prolly something like this that I was hallooing ‘n’ hohoing over before)
On the subject of errant e-mails, check out this story in the weekly Nashville Scene. Governor Bredesen, the Democrat running for re-election, returned from a vacation in the West and was hospitalized with some kind of illness. An official in the state Republican party composed an e-mail speculating (with an exclamation point) that it could be something as serious as Lyme Disease. This would incapacitate Bredesen during the Fall campaign, presumably helping the weak Republican candidate opposing Bredesen.
To top it off, the Republican mistakenly sent the e-mail to Bredesen’s press secretary. Now that would call for an exclamation point.
When the e-mail became public, and who could have imagined that happening with the governor’s press secretary being the recipient, the Republican claimed that he was only voicing his concern about the governor’s health.
pete @ 37
Thanks, pete.
Devastating.
During an election year, to appear with a candidate is to endorse him or her.
Period.
In other news,
Plan B Approval Said to Be Near
Adults Could Buy ‘Morning-After Pill’ Over the Counter
from WaPo.
I’ve been on vacation. How does Lamont stand against Lieberman in the most recent poll?
lotus @ 44
And have a giant Halloween party on the Green in New Haven with the winner being crowned. And being escorted by a troup of redcoats.
Redd at 39 –
Oh, I like that one.
Holloween for CT.
All day. Every day.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 39
I put all of my red clothing away after the 2004 election. I can’t bear to wear it—except for my new “Canada is looking better every day” red and white t-shirt.
Been buying a lot of blue the past 2 years.
OfT, klyde, fyi Jewish Voice for Peace
“Opposed to Bombing Civilians? Sign Jewish Call to Action Petition”
John Casper @ 42
Yes, and that’s precisely why I asked.
As someone once said, “Trust your mother but cut the cards.”
I am pleased to see more confirmation of Jane’s breaking news here:
Lieberman (CFL) to campaign with Rob Simmons (R) today
J.Donne at 47 — the last Rasmussen poll had Lamont within the margin of error — closing a double digit gap to a 2-3 point one. I’ll see if I can dig up a link…
bg @ 54
Hollow-weenie
RevDeb at 51 — I have to say, I’m awfully glad the Dem color is blue. With my hair, red has never been a particularly good choice. *g*
J. Donne @ 47
Lamont trending up. J-Lie trending down. Two new polls now show them within 2 or 3 points, both within the margin of error.
J.Donne, the most recent I’ve seen was a Reuters report (linked somewhere mid- to late-last night’s Late Nite thread, I think) that has them essentially tied (Joe only 2 pts ahead now) in Rasmussen and another poll. This was fresh news yesterday.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 55
I hear you. But with mine going silver, red did look great. Oh well, I just got a cobalt blue polar-tec jacket from LandsEnd to replace the red one I can’t wear. Cobalt works.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 43
Or for those with no red coats in the closet (i.e., Yankees fans who would have nothing to do with the color red on their coats, sox or other articles of clothing), simply turn your coat inside out . . .
And when you do, smile for the cameras - they’ll love it!
tnh post about CT polls with links.
CT Senate Race Tightens? Nah, It’s Just Getting Started
by DemFromCT
From CNN:
(CNN) — A new poll by the American Research Group indicated a statistical dead heat in the U.S. Senate race in Connecticut between upstart Democratic nominee Ned Lamont and incumbent Sen. Joseph Lieberman….”
Oh, and RevDeb — glad to see you back from your travels. :) Can’t remember if I thanked you for the pix from Quebec City, but they were much appreciated. We have got to take a trip up there at some point — my hubby has never been, and it’s just too gorgeous a city to miss it.
And have a giant Halloween party on the Green in New Haven with the winner being crowned.
Yay-ezz, and wi’ plenny cider & donuts! WAAAAAAAHHHHHH, I wanna go!
Peterr at 59 — hehehehehe Good idea! :)
I miss my red plaid flannel sport coat.
I used to wear it with my leopardskin pillbox hat.
lotus @
53
You could call them, “GO AS JOE!”
parties
Pach at 64 — why am I having visions of Nathan Lane in The Birdcage? *g*
Christy,
I’m back to making crepes again. Hadn’t for a while. I’ll have to send you pics of a dream chocolate dessert from a Belgian place down by the waterfront. To. Die. For.
Note LindyH’s comment about the tech vendors’ dissing Joe.
Even money on one of a small number of tech vendors to step forward shortly.
Like one that handles VFF’s website.
The question out there is if ths people power thing continues and the power boys in DC are screaming into their own echo chamber.. can the dem party be reborn as a responsive and progressive one which listens to and speaks for the people?
Since retail politics is a pretty pricey biz unless the grass.netroots can continue to win against the deep pockets and the media insiders not much will change.
We are met on the battlefield of that great war for the character of the party. To win that battle the people really need to do more than post and work some shoe leather and get the message to the people and the people to the polls.
The Ned thing seems to be a vision of the future where the people get to decide who represents them. This is obviously not playing too well with the beltway blowhards. But one vistory in the battle is nothing to retire on. The primary win was a wake up call.
In NYS we have HillaryBot refusing to debate Tom Tasni… This is com pletely unacceptable. This is not democracy and this is not giving the people the chance to make their own choices.
We need to get money out of politics… Public financed and cost limited campaigns. Until this happens it will be an uphill fight unless progressive deep pockets candidate are willing to largely self fund these expensive campaigns.
We have already seen evidence that the net IS a very cost effective means of consciousness raising and can be the way to reach the people with the truth.
Imagine if the truth ruled the day? What would a reality based world look like…? You have to admit we are living in one largely of “manufactured” consent, mis and dis information.
The Lierberman thing is emblamatic of the entire problem in politics today… lies, power, money, influence peddling… ICK
Pachacutec @ 68
We want pics!
Of course, if you don’t have any, I’m sure darkblack could scare one up for us!
Pachacutec @ 64
Now there’s fetching.
Like the tech vendors who won’t work for Joe because they only work for Democrats, he’s likely having to use GOP pollsters for the same reason.
As for campaigning with Republicans, he’s obviously glomming onto Rell’s cross-party popularity and trying to be wherever he thinks the most media coverage will be. The question is whether it helps him or hurts him with the voters to be constantly at the side of Republicans. Where it should hurt him is with the Democratic leadership, but I don’t see that happening. Leaving the Senate race aside, the leadership should be having a hissy fit over the damage Joe is doing to the chances of CT taking three very viable House seats.
I think the attack – if the leadership can actually get it together before the election – should focus on Joe putting self ahead of party, his own misguided sense of ownership of the Senate seat ahead of working for a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress.
With respect to Dean’s comments last night on Hardball, I wasn’t thrilled about his “sure, we’d welcome him into the Democratic caucus” comment, but the rest of what he said was spot on. Some memorable sound bites: “Ned Lamont IS a Democrat.” “Ned Lamont is the future. Joe is a good guy, but he’s the past.”
Dean also really stuck it to George Allen. Said he’d worked with Allen when they were both governors, and in his opinion, Allen should not be in public service. Why? He shoots from the hip and caters to the worst instincts in people.
Oh, I also read in the Courant that Lieberman will be listed down several if not five positions down on the ballot. He may be hard to find.
LindyH @
33
Clueless!
Helpless!
Hopeless!
Priceless!
cfeddy @ 72
His stench will always give ‘em away.
http://americanresearchgroup.com/ctsenate/
42-40
Is ARG any good?
cfeddy @ 75
Hopefully on a butterfly ballot, with his name next to Pat Buchannan’s.
Thread Theorist @
49
So, is it the Cheney Junta’s strategy to use poison to knock off intransigent democrats instead of the time tested “small plane crash”?
-GSD
RevDeb, you just please hesh about crepes and dream chocolate desserts from Belgian places down by waterfronts. Torturing us innocent bystanding lambs ain’t Christian, y’know.
Prof. ARG is a NH based pollster and I believe they are non-partisan and reliable.
-GSD
Stuart Eugene Thiel @
29
They may well burn their bridges. But this won’t happen before Labor Day. We need to keep the pressure on. I really don’t think that Holy Joe is gonna trend well, and that will make it easier for them. But they won’t do it now.
re DCCC
I wonder whether Joseph from the Online department cleared his response to ems with his boss Jesse Lee? Seems to me that Jesse’s inbox might get pretty full today . . .
Stuart Eugene Thiel @ 29
Agreed–on principle, a good politician will wait until the last minute to take a stand, but no longer. It’s awfully late…
But even more than on principle, on practicality. A 51-49 Senate with Joe’s vote will (a) cost the caucus an arm and a leg and (b) last for only a few weeks until Rumsfeld resigns “to spend time with his family” (I can’t help but giggle typing that) and Hadassah suddenly gets offers to join corporate boards…
(PS Glad to see you here! Speak of the devil, and he appears…)
Good morning!
Howie just wrote and asked for a “Lieberman” version of “Had Enough,” at the Lamont campaign’s request.
Somehow, responding with “my pleasure” doesn’t come close to conveying my actual feelings.
OT - Stop the presses!!!
From CNN: Leading astronomers say Pluto is no longer defined as a planet, The Associated Press reports.
Now we have to change the way we remember the planets.
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine…
Just doesn’t work
Back to regular programming.
:-)
Prof.
ARG Link.
-GSD
Dr. Bong,
Has the status of Uranus changed?
-GSD
I guess this means Joe’s “impromptu” diner stops were not working out. I smell desperation.
The biggest surprise is really not that this is happening but that Joe is going to this so early in the Campaign. Not even waiting for Labor Day. You would think some ambiguity would be an important part of a staged campaign as an Independent. But I guess the CFL party is desperate enough to reveal now its candidate cavorting with the Repubs and with pundits like Glenn Beck. I suspect that this particular step was decided on about two days ago. I smell disorganization.
And here is why Plan B is being approved over-the-counter:
An approval would also open the way for von Eschenbach to be confirmed as permanent FDA commissioner. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) put a hold on the nomination last year because of what they said was the agency’s refusal to make a decision about the drug. They accused the administration of politicizing science regarding Plan B by not accepting the recommendations of an expert advisory panel and the FDA’s own scientific staff.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....00002.html
Sorry Lotus,
But I’m back to reality now. We all need a little vacation from it once in a while—except that I hear the RNC is all over our leader Kos for taking a vacation and making a living, oh my! I guess it’s only repugs that are supposed to take vacations and make a living.
Christy,
Pictures coming your way. If you want scenery I’ve got a couple of good ones too, but . . .
I hope that the Lamont campaign or somebody (Spazeboy?) is videotaping Loserman constantly, in case he still has the temerity to describe himself as a Democrat, or an Independent. He’s neither, and action should be taken against him for continuing to mislead.
GSD @ 86
Nope… Still seaching for Klingons, too.
:-)
Jane & Christy & Prof.–
I was looking for this info. in the MSM as well–b/c it is a bombshell and if Dems don’t deonounce him over this, well, I give up.
My question for you is has someone told the Wash. Post, the NYT, the Hartford Courant about this rumor?
Peterr @ 63
Ahhh. Even the mere idea of coats is appealing right now in Central Florida. I really miss New England at this time of year. And, go Lamont!
tommy yum @ 87
That is great Tommy!
GSD, yeah, I knew about the NH part.
Quinnipiac still has it at 51-40, as I recall.
I’m encouraged by ARG and Rasmussen, but always want to have a reason for believing (or not).
Anyone subscribed to Zogby?
The next round of polling will be released August 28th, which will include the first round of polling in Connecticut.
http://www.zogby.com/features/features.dbm?ID=238
I just “SPOTLIGHTED” this post to a bunch of people at the Associate Press.
tommy yum @ 83
Excellent!
tommy yum @ 88
WOW! Great news, tommy - a double high-five to ya!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 43
Christy, if anyone needs patterns for the redcoats, I’ve used this one and it doesn’t completely suck. Not as easy to use as Simplicity/McCalls, but pretty darned good. (Note to anyone wanting to make one, the armhole is significantly smaller than we’re used to in modern clothing. It’s tight and it’s supposed to be tight.)
–I love this idea.
(obligatory disclaimer, I’m not associated with the pattern maker or the vendor, I’ve just used the pattern a few times for friends who have a more modern fashion sense than I do. (I’m pretty much stuck in the late 16th century, early 17th))
RH 43–I’ve seen redcoats sold in lots of places around Boston…
On a related note: when did Dems become blue? I swear that in the pre-internets era (meaning, I can’t go by anything but my rickety memory) Dems were red. That was always, I assumed, to subliminally associate them with communists. Were they turned blue post-Cold War to subliminally associate Dems with “blue-blood”? Just curious…
John 100–good idea. I forgot about spotlight!
Go Tommy! This is great news.
DefJef at #73
IT’S A COMMUNIST PLOT I TELL YOU!!!
Oh. Comminism’s dead.
Well IT’S AN AL QUEDa PLOT!!!
or something.
“Lamont” — isn’t that French?
And he sure looks gay, doesn’t he?
Get L. Brent Bozell on the case, pronto.
Or his pal Joe Klein.
America’s Freedom cannot be put in danger by the American People!