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This morning Susan Bysiewicz announced to CT reporters that she would be a contender in the 2012 CT Senate race. While matching her up against Joe Lieberman (I-CT) we failed to question why she would be announcing this news now, why so early? She may have had a bit of knowledge not disclosed to the public. Lieberman will be hosting a supporter event at the Marriott hotel in his hometown of Stamford, CT tomorrow at 12:30 pm EST to announce his plans to either run for a 5th term or to call it quits. Kevin Rennie of Daily Ructions, a CT base blog predicts that Lieberman will announce his retirement from the US Senate. Tim Tagaris, the New Media Director for SEIU, and former new media director for likely 2012 Senate candidate Chris Murphy (CT-5), is up in arms, looking forward to the opportunity of ousting the often flip-flopping independent. Tagaris tweets today:
“Make no mistake, if Joe Lieberman decides not to run, it wasn’t his decision – the people of Connecticut decided for him.” and
“I will be running a Draft Lieberman movement if he announces his intent to retire tomorrow.”
The more pressing question is why would this notoriously tough campaigner decide to throw in the towel? Perhaps his sights are set on Attorney General Eric Holders spot in the lineup. It is possible that in lieu of Bysiewicz’s announcement and the speculation that Congressman Chris Murphy and Joe Courtney are amongst the many vying for his seat, Joe believes he will lose. Bysiewicz released a telephone poll given to 700 CT voters with her announcement that showed her ahead of possible GOP candidate Linda McMahon and current Senator Joe Lieberman.
The email that went out pertaining to the press conference scheduled for tomorrow came through a (.gov) sent from Press Aide Erika Masonhall. Interestingly, a government employed work email cannot legally be used for campaign-related activities, however if he is announcing his retirement, it is acceptable. With all the facts; early announcement, hometown setting, and the use of government email account, it looks like we could be saying goodbye to Joe Lieberman in 2012.
72 Comments
Really??!!?? THERE IS A GOD!!!!1111!!!! So I guess he’s all ready to
slideslink into some well-paying lobbyist gig for AIPAC?That internal polling cuts close to the bone, I’ll bet. This news makes my heart beat faster. Champagne for everyone!
Maybe this will allow HoJo to spend more time with his grandchildren urging them to enlist in the Army to fight in the wars he so rabidly supported. After all, it’s only fair that he gets to take a chance to have a relative come home in a “Transfer Tube” after all he’s done personally to sustain those shitty conflicts.
I will open the Korbel at 12:30 tomorrow when its official, but looks to be so.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
No tears shed on my part. Don’t let the door slam on your butt on the way out, LIEberman.
This is not something you put as a headline, when what you mean is “a person with a blog predicts that”.
Either that or a more powerful position in government.
It’s too bad he can’t make his retirement retroactive to 1994.
Say you’re gonna go, Joe!
And good riddance…
Well people with blogs have inside information at times, this is also augmented by my point that you cannot use a .gov email address to send out letters, invites, or announcements on campaign relate issues which would include a re-election announcement. He would be hurting himself and risk legal action if he did plan to announce that he IS running. However, if he is not running, it is perfectly acceptable to use a staff .gov email address to invite to an event where he plans to retire.
Of course. Remember he was obama’s mentor.
You beat me to it.
Lieberman was the worst malignancy to afflict the Democratic Party after the Dixiecrats retired, switched parties, or died off.
Except it is being reported by NY Times, The WaPo0, and the Hartford Courant so it’s not just “a person with a blog” predicting
My happiness at seeing him go is tempered by the thought of all the damage he will do till he leaves.
I wish Sen. Lieberman a peaceful retirement. And I wish he’d done it 6 years ago.
Boxturtle (*POP* Fizzzzzzzzzzzzz)
This calls for at least a Domaine Chandon, or possibly even Mumms. Or, if you prefer a good ale, a Stone Double Bastard.
HEY — Don’t harsh my mellow! The mere thought of him being offered a position in government gives me a SEVERE case of the collywobbles.
He’d make a great Secretary of the Inferior.
Lieberman to Retire in 2012
not so frigging fast everyone!
lieberman is a power fiend, he’s been corrupted and he has a seat in power, I do not believe he is going to go away
favre retired a number of times, sugar ray leanard, holms, ali.
I believe there are three possible scenarios;
“Deek!!!!..I’m not retiring as senator, I’m retiring as DEMOCRAT senator (yes, he would say that on perpous)…I am GOING to run AS A REPUBLICAN”
OR
“Obama asked me to stay on so stay on I will”
of course there could be;
“I can do more commentating as “the liberal voice” on the fox propaganda network”
so there you have it, you heard it from me first
Anyway we get rid of Joe is cool with me:) Take a bow FDL we all had a hand in making sure this day would come. Joe isn’t running because of low popularity The Lefty Blogs more than anyone made that happen by talking about the crap Joe was doing when the MSM was not mentioning any of it.
Thanks for those 3 GORGEOUS links. Those are the 3 best birthday presents I got today!
I am GOING to run AS A REPUBLICAN”
Buzz Kill:) who said Joe was a loyal Dem?
Party pooper!
Ed Henry on CNN just used terms like “stateman” and “moderate” in reference to Lieberman, saying that Lieberman is a victim of anti-incumbent sentiment across the country.
Seriously.
Lieberman is not a statement or a moderate. He’s a victim of his own assholishness. Democrats don’t want him. Republicans don’t want him.
Now all that’s left is to see how badly the Democrats screw up when finding someone to replace him.
It is my fondest hope that Joe will move to Israel because I don’t want him in our country. He does too much damage.
“Now all that’s left is to see how badly the Democrats screw up when finding someone to replace him.”
Oh, gawd… Now I’m going to have nightmares for weeks.
If he was announcing that he IS running I truly do not think he would choose the day after Susan Bysiewicz announces. This would prove that he felt he needed to defend himself against her, which would show weakness. Poor strategy if he is staying.
Oh Holy Joe, say it ain’t so!
Starting up the insurance and/or AIPAC lobbying gig in 5…4…3…
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out…
Putz.
With Joe, there’s always an angle.
It would be irresponsible not to point out that the VP slot on the No Labels ticket in 2012 is open.
Lieberman is a victim of anti-incumbent sentiment across the country.
Thats funny I thought anti-incumbent sentiment was just something that hurt Democrats and helped Tea baggers.
Joe was on McCain’s short list for VP he wanted Joe but was forced to take Sarah.
It was Blue Dogs like Joe who lost the most last election it looks like the blue Dogs expect to lose the next election too.
That means expect Obama not to change direction and save the economy.
Will Saudi Arabia provide him accommodations in one of its villas for deposed scoundrels?
absolutely true tcu
With his retirement and Conrad’s retirement that puts Dems down to 51 seats in the Senate… could be a bad thing.
No, wait. It’s Joe fucking LIEberman. Anything’s better than Joe.
Lieberman to retire December 23, 2012. *doh!*
Very good catch on the .gov email, Ryan.
Although we’ve seen Joe flout election rules before.
Connecticut isn’t going to elect a Republican, now that their Republican Senator is
retiringtaking a fat, lobbying gig.Happy B-day! I just finished some cake, as you share a birthday with one of my daughters. And yes, JoeLie quitting is a great gift.
Could it be these Blue Dogs are retiring (Kent Conrad as well) because they won’t have a hope in Hell of getting re-elected after Obama cuts everyones social security?
Bloomberg and Scarborogh
Don’t worry, AIPAC is already recruiting a new whore to take his place.
He’s going to cut Social Security all by himself? Damn… /s
moderate Republican.
This may be the start of the mass exodus of Dems retiring. When W. was leaving office, we saw the same thing…mass exodus of GOP retiring and what not. Look at how bad W. destroyed the brand for the GOP. Obama will do the same thing with SS. He’ll destroy the Dem brand by cutting SS which will leave us with a GOP House, Senate and President again in 2012. Which is exactly what our current Moderate Republican President wanted all along for him and his cronies. So okay, this is the worst case scenario….someone give me the best case scenario on how Dems keep the WH, Senate and get the House back.
Of course! Just to spite us, Shmoe retires after the world ends :(
Easy, have Obama dig out his campaign speeches and do (or at least attempt) what he promised.
So Obama, apparently single-handedly the way you’re describing it, will step onto the third rail of American politics and cut Social Security all alone? Give me a freaking break.
That is a good point i did not think of that. The other day I sat on the No Labels weekly conference call and at the end of it Joe made basically a campaign pitch saying “the best way you can support people who fight for you without labels is to make a donation to them.” There is a good change he may be putting all he has into the presidential election at some point…
He’s going to have to. Bowles and Simpson failed him.
ha ha ha .. well said ..
***”Joe believes he will loose”***
Actually, should be “lose.”
The only thing Joe is “loose” with is the truth. Oh, and ethics. Also.
Obama and friends have been working mightily to turn off the power & make that “third rail” much less threatening.
Just look around you, and listen to all the “oh the scary, scary deficit” talk, and the “entitlements are out of control” murmurings.
Cutting social security is no longer regarded as the “third rail.”
***”someone give me the best case scenario on how Dems keep the WH, Senate and get the House back.”***
The real problem is that there are pitifully few “Democrats” — in the true sense of the word — to hold the Senate, House and/or White House.
“Real” Democrats are afraid to speak out against Obama. Cowardly Blue Dogs love him.
With continued “Democratic control” of the WH and Senate like this, I’m not so sure “Republican control” would be worse. At least there’d be some opposition to the terrible policies, once the “R” tag was attached to them. [
Finally some good news. I think the worst case scenario was Joe got the Republican nomination and somehow managed to cobble together a winning coalition of Republicans, crazy independents, and low-information Democrats.
Couldn’t come too soon. But what, oh, what, will Mr. Obama do without his explicitly chosen mentor sitting in the Senate and sitting on top of and obstructing meaningful oversight of the DHS.
Who could possibly do less to conduct such oversight than Holy Joe? In the spirit of bipartisan comity, and assuming the Dems retain a majority in the Senate, I imagine that Mr. Obama will propose to his former colleagues that DHS oversight be given to a Republican.
emptywheel is upstairs!
Blindspots and Fear of the Working Class
time is running out to remind myself that my contempt for Joe Lieberman will never subside.
A phrase that will enter the FDL Hall of Fame!
I should have it silk-screened onto my firedoglake.blogspot collector’s edition T-shirt!
I’d prefer that the LieberHutt is not out on his own recognizance. Can’t we rig up a carbonite freeze for this guy? Since he’s in suspended animation in quite the compact form, we can rack him in a secure facility next to Chenus Dickius, KissOfDeathus Henrius and the others. The bennies are that we’d know exactly where they are and what they’re not doing at all times. Meanwhile, we can work on that fifth dimension mental asylum facility for later.
The Dem establishment seems to like him.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46343.html
Just as applicable today as it was then.
I’d settle for retroactive to 2006.
Too bad there’s no government ‘czar of smarm’.
He plans to come in third?
Because I don’t think he can convince the Ds to vote for him, and the Rs won’t vote for him because he was a D….
They haven’t been able to convince may people outside the media and the teabaggers (who seem to believe anything they’re told).
The polls are still ranking jobs and the economy as te top worries; the deficit is down around #6.
The Dem establishment likes a lot of things that don’t make sense outside the bubble. Like the WaPoo.
{ Mod, you cleaned that up. Thanks! :) }
You’re welcome.
/~~~
He’s just fleeing Oz in his big balloon before he gets deposed by his own people (in the next election).
Marion–In case you haven’t received the lastest memo: The Republicans have the majority in the House. The Senate, which is supposedly held by the Democrats, is actually OWNED by corporate America. Throw in a couple free radicals, such as Obama’s 2% Social Security tax holiday he passed with tax cuts for the wealthy, and you end up with ‘Fill in your favorite Republican Legislator here,’ saying things like, OBAMA WANTS TO RAISE TAXES ON THE AMERICAN WORKER!!! (when the time to raise the Social Security back to its 2010 levels) and the deficit hounds screaming about the $14 Trillion debt ceiling (which has nothing to do with SS solvency) and you end up with the spineless-W.lite (Which is Obama) caving as usually to corporate America.
Hurrah!
My I smell a rat decoder is going off again. In light of WikiLeaks doc dumps, I would be watching closely for not only certain heads of state to announce “their retirement so they can spend more time with their family” schtik, but also diplomats, corporate and media moguls as well as their well-paid parrots, military contractors, etc. Really anyone in the public eye made known by their media puppets could be next. While watching events unfold closely, remark whose names come up. It would be interesting to make a list just to see how things turn out when they are exposed in some manner. These things always raise more questions than have answers. Remember, Lieberman announced on his CNN INTERVIEW RECENTLY THAT HE WANTED ASSANGE EXTRADITED to the U.S. It has already been made perfectly clear that Lieberman’s loyalty lies not with his party or constituents, but to himself. We owe a debt of gratitude to Julian Assange and WikiLeaks for breaking through the wall of secrecy surrounding what our government is doing in our name with our money. Will Lieberman be exposed in WikiLeaks? I await my rat decoder to ding. I am on the edge of my seat. Let us watch who next announces their “retirement.” I am glad that WikiLeaks has struck fear into the hearts of DeathEaters all over the world. It is just a taste of the fear and insecurity that has plagued untold millions throughout the world since despots first kept a secret for personal gain. “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed” Luke 12:2-3