Per McClatchy today:
Lieberman to speak at Republican convention
David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers
August 20, 2008
WASHINGTON — Joe Lieberman will be a featured speaker on the opening night of the Republican National Convention, capping an extraordinary political journey for a man who could have been this year's Democratic nominee for president had history taken a different turn.
Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic nominee for vice president under Al Gore — a ticket that lost to George W. Bush by 537 votes in Florida and by a 5-4 vote in the U.S. Supreme Court — will get a prime-time slot Sept. 1 at the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., party officials announced Wednesday.
The speaking role is the result of the four-term Connecticut senator's loyalty to Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Lieberman is often mentioned as a possible vice-presidential running mate for McCain.
_______________
Lieberman's views have infuriated many Democrats. He lost the Democratic senate primary in 2006 to anti-war activist Ned Lamont, but won the general election running as an independent. Liebermanwon by 10 points with the support of 70 percent of Republicans and 54 percent of independents. He got only a third of Democrats in a state he had represented in the Senate for three terms as a Democrat.
After winning re-election, he insisted that he was still a Democrat — a crucial decision, since Democrats needed his vote to form a Senate majority.
He also felt somewhat alienated from the party — and from Obama. Obama was one of the few Senate Democrats who gave Lamont money, and just before the primary he sent an e-mail to about 5,000 Connecticut residents urging them to back Lamont.
_______________
If the Democrats pick up more Senate seats and Lieberman no longer is needed to form a majority, Gary Rose, a professor of political science at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT said "there's a good chance he'll be more ostracized," and perhaps lose the chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
But if McCain wins, Rose noted, Lieberman would be in a coveted position. "I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a McCain administration," he said.
'Ya think maybe now the democratic leadership will begin the process of stripping Holy joe from his position of power in the Senate?
Probably not, as they are not noted for making stands and taking action based on principles. More often than not, it is "what do the polls say" and "how can I get re-elected to my cushy job" that run the decision-making process in Washington.
Where are all the true statesmen and women in US government? There sure won't be many displayed in the two major party's conventions the next couple of weeks . . . .
(Cross-posted from Moved to Vancouver)
No comments:
Post a Comment