“Joe Lieberman is writing a book about the Jewish Sabbath called “Gift of Rest.” I hear he’s been working on it 24/6.” –Jimmy Fallon
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Clyburn Urges Democratic Votes To Revive Public Option
October 15, 2010 — Ron ChusidThis is definitely a case of too little, too late (even if it is what I had suggested months ago). Back when there were not enough votes for the public option in the Senate due to the opposition of Republicans, one independent (Joe Lieberman), and one conservative Democrat (Ben Nelson) I suggested that the Democrats make this a campaign issue. The majority of the people (as well as majority of members of the Senate) were in favor. Make it a campaign issue and force Republicans to explain why they oppose this choice and go on the defensive. Instead the Democrats, after doing a poor job against the Republicans in the spin war, have been the ones on the defensive, desperately hoping voters won’t buy all the Republican misinformation being spread about the plan.
While most Democrats have tried to avoid discussing health care, there have been some exceptions. Majority Whip James Clyburn is even using the promise of a public option as a reason to keep the Democrats in control of Congress. The Hill reports:
Democrats could revive the public healthcare option if they maintain their majorities in Congress, the House Democrats’ third-ranking member said Friday.
“Reelect me, keep Democrats on the field. And when we come back next year, maybe we will get to the public option,” Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.) said during an appearance on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Clyburn has been traveling the country and making media appearances this week in an effort to drum up lagging voter enthusiasm on the Democratic side heading into the Nov. 2 midterms.
The public healthcare option was a top prize for liberal activists during the nearly two-year long debate over healthcare reform, but it was scrapped from the final legislation after support for it fell short in the Senate.
Campaigning for issues such as the public option could gain the support of many voters. At very least it would help motivate Democratic voters to turn out. Just giving Democratic voters more reason to turn out could change the outcome. Polls show that support for each party is very close, but far more Republicans than Democrats are expected to turn out to vote.
Sarah Palin Falls To Bush Levels Of Unpopularity, With Joe Lieberman Not Far Behind
October 7, 2010 — Ron ChusidGeorge W. Bush has the distinction of having a low approval rating of only 25 percent in the Gallup poll, just one percent above Richard Nixon who was forced to resign in disgrace. CBS News had his final approval rating even lower at 22 percent–which happens to be Sarah Palin’s current approval rating from the same organization. It appears that 22 percent might be the level of support a Republican politician can count on regardless of how incompetent they are.
More numbers from the poll:
Palin is viewed favorably by just 22 percent of Americans, according to the poll – including less than half (44 percent) of Republicans. Twenty-one percent of independents and 6 percent of Democrats view her favorably.
Forty-eight percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Palin. That includes 73 percent of Democrats, 44 percent of independents and 22 percent of Republicans.
Another politician has seen their support fall to the same ball park as the Bush/Palin level. A survey from Public Policy Polling found that only 24 percent plan to vote for Joseph Lieberman for reelection, although his approval rating remains barely over 30 percent:
Majorities of Democrats (72%), independents (63%), and Republicans (61%) alike say it’s time to swap out Lieberman for someone new.
Lieberman is one of the most unpopular Senators in the country, with only a 31% approval rating and 57% of voters disapproving of his job performance. He’s on slightly favorable ground with Republicans at a 46/41 approval rating. But he’s lost virtually any remaining support he had with Democrats at a 20/69 approval and independents are against him as well, by a 31/56 spread.
Joe Lieberman Thanks God For GOP Momentum
April 13, 2010 — Ron ChusidIn a moment which might come to define him as much as kissing George Bush in 2005, Joe Lieberman made a statement today which many Democrats might never forget:
“There were a lot of people, particularly Democrats, who were declaring after the 2008 election that we were beginning a period of Democratic dominance that would go on for decades,” Lieberman said during an interview with the conservative Newsmax magazine.
“Now, all of a sudden, the momentum is with the Republicans. And that’s — thank God — that’s the way people have spoken, you know? That’s our democracy.”
Lieberman actively campaigned for the Republican presidential candidate in 2008 and now has expressed support for Republican gains in Congress. At least he did vote with the Democrats on health care reform–but only after he helped kill the public option and Medicare buy-in.
Joe Lieberman, Not a Good Old-Fashioned New England Moderate Republican
January 27, 2010 — Ron ChusidIn an interview on Face the Nation, Joe Lieberman was asked if he could see himself as a Republican. Lieberman said, “it’s possible. A good old-fashioned New England moderate Republican.”
I see “a good old-fashioned New England moderate Republican” as one who would have broken with his party and opposed the Iraq war and who would have joined the Democrats in working towards health care reform without killing good ideas such as the public option and the Medicare buy-in.
Another False Internet Rumor: Lieberman Not Endorsing Brown
January 17, 2010 — Ron ChusidThere is an anonymous report on a blog claiming that Joe Lieberman is preparing to endorse Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race. While this should immediately raise doubts as to its accuracy, this is being quoted elsewhere. I imagine that a story suggesting that Lieberman plans to sell out the Democrats and further attempt to block health care reform has the feeling of truth to many.
The Hill reports that Lieberman has no plans to endorse anyone in the Massachusetts race, noting that conservative bloggers are floating this rumor. It is likely that this is intentional under the assumption that this might encourage some independents to vote for Brown over Coakley.
