# \[Sen. Joe Lieberman\] What is wrong with people in Connecticut? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 10, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039 "2005-12-10T14:03:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/21 "2005-12-10T20:37:51Z")
Sen. Lieberman was elected in 2000, so the people of Connecticut haven’t had an opportunity to vote on him for five years. (Not that they won’t re-elect him next year.) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/22 "2005-12-10T20:44:30Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Isn’t it sort of traditional, though, not to criticize the president in times of war, or to argue about foreign policy generally? You know, that whole “Politics stops at the water’s edge” sort of thing? No. Not as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/23 "2005-12-10T20:54:54Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Isn’t it sort of traditional, though, not to criticize the president in times of war, or to argue about foreign policy generally? You know, that whole “Politics stops at the water’s edge” sort of thing? No, it isn’t, not at all. ---
**Author:** ![HeelB4Zod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19adc/32.png) [@HeelB4Zod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeelB4Zod)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/24 "2005-12-10T20:55:35Z")
> [@Wake up call](#): > > While Jesse Helms was a Senator, I refused to set my foot in North Carolina. As a former resident of North Carolina, I offer you my sincere gratitude for your decision. ---
**Author:** ![HeelB4Zod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19adc/32.png) [@HeelB4Zod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeelB4Zod)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/25 "2005-12-10T20:57:35Z")
> [@Wake up call](#): > > While Jesse Helms was a Senator, I refused to set my foot in North Carolina. As a former resident of North Carolina, I offer you my sincere gratitude for your decision, **Wake up call**. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/26 "2005-12-10T21:11:18Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > No, it isn’t, not at all. From CBS News [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/14/opinion/printable1042130.shtml](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/14/opinion/printable1042130.shtml) Mr. Bush, Meet Mr. Taft Nov. 14, 2005 (The American Prospect) This column was written by Michael Tomasky. Taft, the conservative Ohio senator who is a hero to many of today’s conservatives, gave a speech at the Executive Club of Chicago in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. There are a number of paragraphs that are just grand, but here’s the best one, which is worth quoting in full: > [@Taft](#): > > As a matter of general principle, I believe there can be no doubt that criticism in time of war is essential to the maintenance of any kind of democratic government … too many people desire to suppress criticism simply because they think that it will give some comfort to the enemy to know that there is such criticism. If that comfort makes the enemy feel better for a few moments, they are welcome to it as far as I am concerned, because the maintenance of the right of criticism in the long run will do the country maintaining it a great deal more good than it will do the enemy, and will prevent mistakes which might otherwise occur. Drink in those words. That’s not William Fulbright two years into the Vietnam War. It’s not Ted Kennedy last week. It’s Mr. Republican, speaking — when? Not mid-1943, or even March 1942. Taft delivered this speech… on December 19, 1941 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/27 "2005-12-11T02:28:51Z")
**wake up call** , I share your feelings about the two senators, but by your logic, how can you tolerate being at the Dope? It is dominated by Americans and, after all, Americans elected Bush to the highest office in the land. If you are an American, how can you stand yourself? Baby. Bathwater. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/28 "2005-12-11T03:02:09Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I fail to see any “moderation” in someone who is A-OK with any form of censorship. I don’t suppose you’d like to provide a cite for Lieberman being A-OK with a form of censorship. So far you haven’t. You did underline the quote “in matters of war we undermine presidential crediblity at our nation’s peril.” That’s not a call for censorship. That’s the truth. Undermining the President’s credibility is obviously dangerous. That’s why it’s usually a good idea to elect a credible president. Unfortunately the American people didn’t do so. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/29 "2005-12-11T03:48:23Z")
It’s just possible, **wake up call** , that people in CT are voting for Lieberman because they agree with other positions that he holds, or because he’s been an effective Senator. ---
**Author:** ![Stormfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@Stormfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stormfield)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/30 "2005-12-11T04:15:24Z")
To answer the OP: there is nothing wrong with the people in Connecticut. There are more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state, and so any Democrat running for a State or Federal office has a built-in advantage. Lieberman is slightly left of center on social issues, and in 2000, very few people knew that the U.S. would be fighting a war in Iraq a few years later, so his views on war weren’t relevant. However, if we’re still in this war in the summer of 2006, he’ll have a very tough time being re-nominated, let alone being re-elected, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/31 "2005-12-11T04:29:51Z")
> [@Stormfield](#): > > However, if we’re still in this war in the summer of 2006, he’ll have a very tough time being re-nominated, let alone being re-elected, IMO. I’m not sure about that. The saying always goes that local issues are more important than national ones. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/32 "2005-12-11T05:04:12Z")
I’m not sure why Lieberman would have a hard time getting elected. He’s fairly entrenched now, any democrat trying to defeat him for the nomination would be destroyed because the DNC would be helping Joe out. Plus, 77 Senators voted to authorize the war in Iraq, it’s not like he’s some sort of looney fringe Democrat, more Democrats voted for the resolution than voted against (I think, I can’t remember the exact composition of the Senate then.) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/33 "2005-12-11T05:06:17Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Yes, please show Lieberman the door. Replace him with someone more like Howard Dean or Nancy Pelosi. That’s the ticket to electoral success. The great part about Dean’s position in the Democratic party is that the GOP doesn’t have to pay for it. It’s not often you can get a victim to pay for the assault. Lieberman shot way up on my list when he came out against any attempts to invalidate military votes during his run for VP. If Senator Lieberman wants to change parties he is welcome in mine. Every time he speaks in public it is without the rhetorical crap that Dean flings. I may not agree with everything Lieberman says but I will listen to him with the respect he has earned. And that’s what wins elections. In fact, I would have voted for Lieberman over Bush if he had been the lead on the ticket (minus Gore). ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/34 "2005-12-11T05:15:26Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I can’t remember the exact composition of the Senate then [According to this, twenty-nine Dems supported it, out of fifty then in the Senate](http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/35 "2005-12-11T05:34:57Z")
Mr. Lieberman is, in fact, the exact opposite of many of my positions. He represents to me the worst of both worlds, the social restrictions of the conservative, and the financial liberalism of the democrats. He’s a lot like Bush. That said, he’s closer to a democrat than a republican. Still, he’s got the incumbent advantage, and the entrenched power, he’s done things for his state… If he were new, he’d be toasty. As it is, he’s good for the long haul. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/36 "2005-12-11T21:30:41Z")
Well, the guy who ran against Lieberman in 2000 turned out to be a pedophile. He’s now in federal prison. There’s certainly a backlash developing against Lieberman in the Democratic base–he’ll definitely face a primary challenge. Lowell Weicker is talking about resurrecting himself and running on an anti-war platform. That, to me, is an opening for the Republicans, if they can find a decent candidate. As for the OP, the answer is “not a damn thing.” ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/37 "2005-12-11T21:56:54Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > I don’t suppose you’d like to provide a cite for Lieberman being A-OK with a form of censorship. So far you haven’t. You did underline the quote “in matters of war we undermine presidential crediblity at our nation’s peril.” That’s not a call for censorship. That’s the truth. Undermining the President’s credibility is obviously dangerous. That’s why it’s usually a good idea to elect a credible president. Unfortunately the American people didn’t do so. Food for thought then. Censorship is censorship, no matter if it is self imposed, or government imposed. In saying that “underminers” are “undermining something or other”, he is saying “we” need to stop criticising. President Bush’s credibility while the country is at war puts the nation in danger. In short, doubters are “ourselves dangerous???”. Every day, he sounds more and more like Bush and Cheney. Below is a Lieberman flipflop. First, Lieberman argues that anyone who questions is “undermining” or “dangerous somethng or other”. BUT earlier, Lieberman directly questioned Bush’s credibility. Flip flop. Flip flop. If it is the truth now, that no one should undermine or endanger, why was it not the truth, when the opposite tack served Lieberman better? But, there is no danger in undermining the president’s credibility. It will either stand or fall on its own merits (eventually). I personally think his credibility was gone a long time ago. Just like you do. There is no reason to give him a pass on it, just because of a war he instigated. Back the president because we are at war. But he started the war. But we are at war so we gotta back him. That is some sort of circular reasoning, and it makes my head buzz. No thanks, I’ll pass. [http://thinkprogress.org/2005/12/10...rman-flashback/](http://thinkprogress.org/2005/12/10...rman-flashback/) > [@Think Progress](#): > > Lieberman Flashback: Questioning Bush’s Credibility Is Central To Democracy > > On Wednesday, Sen. Joe Lieberman argued that anyone who questions President Bush’s credibility while the country is at war puts the nation in danger. Lieberman, 12/7/05: > > \*\*It’s time for Democrats who distrust President Bush to acknowledge that he will be the commander in chief for three more critical years and that in matters of war we undermine presidential credibility at our nation’s peril. > \*\* > But when he was running for President, Lieberman directly questioned Bush’s credibility on the war. In fact, he argued that doing so was an essential part of our democracy. Lieberman, 7/28/03: > > **In our democracy, a president does not rule, he governs. He remains always answerable to us, the people. And right now, the president’s conduct of our foreign policy is giving the country too many reasons to question his leadership. It’s not just about 16 words in a speech, it is about distorting intelligence and diminishing credibility. It’s not about searching for scapegoats; it’s about seeing, as President Kennedy did after the Bay of Pigs, that presidents stand tall when they willingly accept responsibility for mistakes made while they are in charge.** [Press Conference with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) Re: War in Iraq, 7/28/03] > > When he was running for President, Lieberman questioned Bush’s credibility on the war because that’s what he needed to do to get votes. Now, after his campaign flopped, he is attacking people who question Bush’s credibility on the war because that’s what he needs to do to get attention. > > For Lieberman, this is about political opportunism, not principle. Flip flop. Flip flop. Flip flop. Flip flop. Flip flop. Flip flop. Flip flop. Flip flop. It’s hard to take Lieberman’s new found “patriotism” seriously, once you know the other part of the story. ---
**Author:** ![Wake\_up\_call](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dec6dc/32.png) [@Wake\_up\_call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wake_up_call)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/38 "2005-12-12T06:53:55Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > How can one boycott a state? The same way that Bill O’Riley boycotts France!! The same way that the US Administration enacts economic sanctions against some countries. The same way you isolate people when you do not want to have anything to do with them, including going anywhere near them, let alone visiting or spending a penny in their state. Just ignore them and leave them alone to vegetate, grow up, evolve, or Wake Up. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/39 "2005-12-12T07:30:23Z")
> [@Wake up call](#): > > The same way that Bill O’Riley boycotts France!! By yelling about it on TV? > [@](#): > > The same way you isolate people when you do not want to have anything to do with them, including going anywhere near them, let alone visiting or spending a penny in their state. All that because _you_ disapprove of some of the actions of one of their Senators? > [@](#): > > Just ignore them and leave them alone to vegetate, grow up, evolve, or Wake Up. Oh, you threw your own name into your post. That’s… cute. ---
**Author:** ![Wake\_up\_call](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dec6dc/32.png) [@Wake\_up\_call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wake_up_call)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039/40 "2005-12-12T08:17:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Was this related to something, or did you just feel like throwing out a anti-Semitic remark? Actually, the [Free Ham](http://swap.qth.com/) confrontations with Joseph Lieberman go back a [long way](http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/elec19.htm). Just ask William Bennett. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-joe-lieberman-what-is-wrong-with-people-in-connecticut/335039.md?page=3)